Abstract: A method for amplifying light in a fiber laser comprising the steps of (a) providing a fiber laser having a laser active dopant; (b) pulse pumping the fiber with a pump having a peak power rating, at a predetermined frequency and at a predetermined duty cycle, wherein the duty cycle is less than one so as to define an effective frequency which substantially minimizing the buildup of ASE; and (c) transmitting a signal pulse after each pumping pulse.

Abstract: A waveguide configuration comprising a core, a first cladding, a second cladding, and a buffer. The core includes an index of refraction and an acoustic shear velocity. The first cladding extends about the core and has an acoustic shear velocity which is less than that of the core and an index of refraction which is less than the core. The second cladding extends about the first cladding. The second cladding has an acoustic shear velocity which is greater than that of the first cladding and less than the acoustic shear velocity of the core. The second cladding has an index of refraction which is less than that of an optical mode. The buffer extends about the second cladding.

Abstract: A waveguide configuration comprising a core, a first cladding, a second cladding and a buffer. The core includes an index of refraction and a shear velocity. The first cladding extends about the core, has a shear velocity that is less than that of the core and has an index of refraction which is less than the core. A second cladding extends about the first cladding and has a shear velocity which is greater than that of the first cladding. An optical mode of the waveguide configuration has an index of refraction greater than that of the second cladding. The buffer extends about the second cladding. The core comprises one of a rare-earth dopant and an undoped glass fiber. The first cladding is selected from the group consisting of: Boron doped glass fiber, Fluorine doped glass fiber, and, Boron and Fluorine doped glass fiber. The second cladding has a higher relative doping concentration of Boron, Fluorine, or Boron and Fluorine than the first cladding and also contains Aluminum.

Abstract: A narrow linewidth, injection seeded, Q-switched Er fiber ring oscillator, that provides over 600 ?W of average output power at 500 Hz, with 1.2 ?J per pulse, before the output appears to be significantly affected by stimulated Brillouin scattering. This laser configuration provides multiple advantages in LIDAR systems because it offers the possibility of broad and rapid tunability.

Abstract: A waveguide configuration comprising a core, at least one cladding and a buffer. The core includes Al and Yb. The respective amount Yb in the divalent state is such that any indirect and direct losses of Yb in the divalent state are exceeded by the gain attributable to Yb in the trivalent state. The at least one cladding extends about the core. The at least one buffer extends about the outermost of the at least one cladding.

Abstract: A waveguide configuration comprising a core, a first cladding, a second cladding, and a buffer. The core includes an index of refraction and an acoustic shear velocity. The first cladding extends about the core and has an acoustic shear velocity which is less than that of the core and an index of refraction which is less than the core. The second cladding extends about the first cladding. The second cladding has an acoustic shear velocity which is greater than that of the first cladding and less than the acoustic shear velocity of the core. The second cladding has an index of refraction which is less than that of an optical mode. The buffer extends about the second cladding.

Abstract: A waveguide configuration comprising a core, at least one cladding and a buffer. The core includes Al and Yb. The respective amount Yb in the divalent state is such that any indirect and direct losses of Yb in the divalent state are exceeded by the gain attributable to Yb in the trivalent state. The at least one cladding extends about the core. The at least one buffer extends about the outermost of the at least one cladding.

Abstract: A waveguide configuration comprising a core, a first cladding, a second cladding and a buffer. The core includes an index of refraction and a shear velocity. The first cladding extends about the core, has a shear velocity that is less than that of the core and has an index of refraction which is less than the core. A second cladding extends about the first cladding and has a shear velocity which is greater than that of the first cladding. An optical mode of the waveguide configuration has an index of refraction greater than that of the second cladding. The buffer extends about the second cladding. The core comprises one of a rare-earth dopant and an undoped glass fiber. The first cladding is selected from the group consisting of: Boron doped glass fiber, Fluorine doped glass fiber, and, Boron and Fluorine doped glass fiber. The second cladding has a higher relative doping concentration of Boron, Fluorine, or Boron and Fluorine than the first cladding and also contains Aluminum.

Abstract: A waveguide configuration including a core having an index of refraction and a shear velocity, a first cladding extending about the core having a shear velocity which is less than that of the core and an index of refraction which is less than the core, a second cladding extending about the first cladding, the second cladding having a shear velocity which is greater than that of the first cladding, wherein an optical mode has an index of refraction greater than that of the second cladding, and a buffer extending about the second cladding.

Abstract: The method of the invention controls the acoustic waves to be guided away from the portion of the waveguide which guides the light. Thus, acoustic waves are guided into the cladding. A substantial reduction in the SBS effect is then realized in the core that guides light. The method of the invention is applicable to single clad optical waveguides, such as optical fibers, as well as dual clad optical fibers and other waveguides. A preferred dual clad (a.k.a. dual core) waveguide structure permits realization of a pump laser system having reduced SBS effect in the core used for guiding transmitted light to be pumped (amplified). A second core guides acoustic waves outside the core used for guiding transmitted light, and also guides pump light which amplifies the light transmitted in the core for light transmission. Pumping may also be assisted by cladding the second “pump” core with a cladding that is anti-guiding for light and guiding for acoustic waves.