Abstract: A monolithic nonplanar ring oscillator (NPRO) laser with a large piezo-electric tuning range and high frequency slew rate, denoted as a ?NPRO, is described. A tuning range of 3.5 GHz with 192 volts applied, corresponding to a tuning coefficient of 18.2 MHz/volt was experimentally demonstrated. This performance was achieved by making the solid-state gain element small, with a small distance between a piezo-electric element bonded to the solid-state gain element and a first lase plane in the solid-state gain element. The entire nonplanar ring lasing path within the solid-state gain element may lie within the half of the solid-state gain element closest to the bonded piezo-electric element. This large frequency modulation span and wide frequency modulation bandwidth, combined with unsurpassed coherence and high power, make this an attractive laser for frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) LIDAR.

Abstract: A passively Q-switched laser with adjustable pulse parameters and a method of controlling the pulse parameters is described. The laser has a pumped spot size in a gain element that may be adjusted to control the pulse energy. The laser has a laser resonator that may have a variable resonator length to control the pulse duration.

Abstract: A passively Q-switched laser with intracavity pumping is described. The passively Q-switched laser has an optically pumped gain element and a saturable absorber element. The optically pumped gain element is situated in an extended cavity of a VECSEL (Vertical Extended Cavity Surface Emitting Laser) so that the gain element is pumped by a circulating pump beam of the VECSEL. The passively Q-switched laser may produce output pulses at an eye-safe wavelength using a low gain laser transition and may use a plurality of surface emitting gain regions to pump the passively Q-switched laser.

Abstract: A laser resonator assembly and a method of assembly of the laser resonator assembly are described. The laser resonator assembly has a gain element and an output coupler that are placed in a gain element frame and output coupler frame, respectively. The output coupler may also be a saturable absorber element so that the laser resonator assembly emits Q-switched pulses. The frames provide heat dissipation and can be easily aligned and permanently affixed in an appropriate alignment. A laser using the laser resonator assembly can be assembled in a low-cost manner.

Abstract: A passively, Q-switched laser is described. The laser may operate at an eye-safe lasing wavelength of 1.34 microns and use a gain element of Nd:YVO4 and a saturable absorber element of V:YAG with a space separating the gain element and saturable absorber element. The Q-switched laser is pumped by a grating stabilized laser diode. The laser may be used in laser ranging applications.

Abstract: A passively, Q-switched laser operating at an eye safe wavelength of between 1.2 and 1.4 microns is described. The laser may operate at a lasing wavelength of 1.34 microns and use a gain element of Nd:YVO4 and a saturable absorber element of V:YAG. The systems and methods to produce short pulses having a pulse duration less than 1 ns and high energy pulses having pulse energies greater than 2 ?J are described.

Abstract: A frequency modulated, continuous wave (FMCW) laser using a microchip gain medium, an optical coupling element, and a tuning element is described. The laser may be part of a coherent laser ranging system.

Abstract: A passively, Q-switched laser operating at an eye safe wavelength of between 1.2 and 1.4 microns is described. The laser may operate at a lasing wavelength of 1.34 microns and use a gain element of Nd:YVO4 and a saturable absorber element of V:YAG. The position of the resonator axial mode spectrum relative to a gain peak of the gain element is controlled to yield desired characteristics in the laser output.

Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements for latching a transceiver to a host printed circuit board (PCB) are described. The transceiver is secured to its electrical sockets by a latch that does not extend or only minimally extends beyond the transceiver footprint and height. In some embodiments the latch includes a thermal bridge that provides a heat transfer path between the transceiver and host substrate.

Abstract: A passively, Q-switched laser operating at an eye safe wavelength of between 1.2 and 1.4 microns is described. The laser may operate at a lasing wavelength of 1.34 microns and use a gain element of Nd:YVO4 and a saturable absorber element of V:YAG. The position of the resonator axial mode spectrum relative to a gain peak of the gain element is controlled to yield desired characteristics in the laser output.

Abstract: A sealed integrating reflective enclosure contains a laser diode, coupling optic, and input ends of transport fibers. A detector is positioned to capture stray scattered radiation emanating from the laser diode emitters and rear facets, coupling optic and transport fiber input ends. The detector is positioned such that stray radiation undergoes at least one reflection within the enclosure before being detected by the detector. The detector can be positioned inside the integrating enclosure, or outside the integrating enclosure opposite a detection hole that is sealed by a translucent diffuser or window. The reflected integrated light detected by the detector is an accurate indication of the optical output generated by the laser diode and coupled into the transport fibers.

Abstract: A coupling system for enhanced light coupling between a laser diode and an optical fiber that includes a laser diode having an emitting surface for generating an asymmetric beam with a fast axis that is more divergent than an orthogonal slow axis thereof, an optical fiber having an input end and a delivery end, a first microlens mounted on the input side surface of the fiber, and a second microlens disposed between the laser diode and the first microlens. The input end of the optical fiber includes a beveled end surface disposed at an oblique angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber, and a light input side surface opposing the beveled end surface and aligned with the emitting surface of the laser diode to capture the beam emitted therefrom. The angle of the beveled surface is selected such that the beam entering the input side surface from the laser diode is total internally reflected by the beveled surface along the longitudinal axis of the fiber.

Abstract: A composite laser diode enclosure, and a method of making the same, having a first enclosure sealed within a second enclosure. Each enclosure having a thermally conductive base plate, a side wall band attached to the base plate, and a lid attached to the side wall band to hermetically seal each enclosure. The materials forming the side wall band and lids are selected so that high quality metallurgical bonds are formed between the base plates and the side wall bands, and between the side wall bands and the lids. The first enclosure contains a laser diode, coupling optics, and input ends of optical fibers for delivering the laser diode output out of the enclosures. The second enclosure contains the first enclosure, TE coolers, thermistors, and a PC board with an optical detector, E-prom, interlock circuit and voltage protection circuit. Thermistors monitor the temperature of each enclosure.

Abstract: An optical fiber delivery system having a semiconductor light source that produces an optical output. A plurality of first optical fibers each has an input end and an output end. The input ends are optically coupled to the semiconductor light source to receive the optical output, and the output ends are bundled together. An optical connector positions the input end of a second fiber, relative to the first fiber output ends, to receive the optical output from the first fibers. Either each of the first fibers, or the second fiber, have a tapered segment with a core and a cladding tapered down smoothly in diameter to reduce the spot size of optical output.

Abstract: An optical system is disclosed for improving the brightness symmetry of a beam emitted from a laser diode where the beam has a large width and a narrow height. The optical system includes a tilt plate for displacing one half of the width of the beam downwardly. A first beam steering prism functions to tilt the remaining, second half of the beam width in a plane parallel to the width dimension so that the second half travels towards the first half. A second beam steering prism is provided to tilt the second half of the beam so that its propagation axis is parallel to the propagation axis of the first half and wherein the second half is stacked above the first half. The optical system functions to improve the brightness symmetry of the beam by a factor of about five. The corrected beam can be used to improve the performance of a solid state laser which is end pumped by a broad area laser diode or a laser diode bar.