Abstract: A laser system produces pulses having wavelengths between 2000 nm and 2100 nm, peak output powers greater than 1 kW, average powers greater than 10 W, pulse widths variable from 0.5 to 10 nsec, pulse repetition frequencies variable from 0.1 to over 2 MHz, and a pulse extinction of at least 60 dB. Pulses from a diode laser having a wavelength between 1000 nm and 1100 nm are amplified by at least one fiberoptic amplifier and applied as the pump input to an Optical Parametric Amplifier (OPA). A cw laser provides an OPA seed input at a wavelength between 2000 nm and 2200 nm. The idler output of the OPA having difference frequency wavelength between 2000 nm and 2100 nm is further amplified by a crystal amplifier. The fiberoptic amplifier can include Ytterbium-doped fiberoptic. The crystal amplifier can include a Ho:YAG, Ho:YLF, Ho:LuAG, and/or a Ho:Lu2O3 crystal.

Abstract: A phase controller for rapid, accurate, stable phase shifting of a continuous wave (cw) laser output combines and adjusts reference paths from before and after an EOPM to obtain maximum constructive interference when the EOPM control voltage is zero. A control voltage V for maximum destructive interference is then determined and regulated to produce and maintain a 180 degree phase shift. The output phase can then be shifted by switching the control voltage to the output of a voltage shifter that shifts V by a specified percentage. The phase shifter can divide the control voltage in half to provide a 90 degree phase shift. The cw laser can function as a seed to a pulsed laser, thereby controlling the pulse phases. Quadrature phase laser pulse pairs can be used for quadrature LiDAR detection. Embodiments include a plurality of voltage shifters for 4-phase quadrature shifting and/or shifting between arbitrary phase values.

Abstract: The system and method for reducing Yb to Er bottlenecking in a single frequency Er:Yb-doped fiber laser amplifier. The system is pumped off peak at about 935-955 nm. The off-peak pumping reduces bottlenecking and increases the optical and slope efficiency of the system by about 10% as compared to an EYDFA system pumped on-peak.

Abstract: An integrated broad spectral band waveguide optical parametric oscillator (OPO) is disclosed. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a single pump laser is used to drive multiple oscillator (OPO) channels. The waveguide OPO is preferably made of orientation patterned gallium arsenide. The pump laser can be, for example, a fiber laser, a diode laser or a solid-state laser.

Abstract: A narrow line width optical parametric oscillator (OPO) (10) is used a pump for a tunable optical parametric oscillator to enable it to produce a mid and long wavelength IR output over a wide 5–20 micron bandwidth. The pumping OPO (10) is then set up to be non-colinearly phase matched. To enable the pumping OPO (10) to exhibit the narrow line width, it is seeded with a narrow line width seeding source. The result is output energy having an extremely narrow 4 nanometer line width. The narrowness of the pumping OPO (10) output is derived first by using non-colinear phase matching in the pumping OPO (10) and secondly by using seeding in the pumping of the pumping OPO (10).

Abstract: The laser includes a resonant cavity formed between a first mirror and a second mirror. An unsensitized Erbium-doped crystal gain medium for producing laser gain is disposed within the resonant cavity. A saturable absorber is disposed within the resonant cavity. A pump source is positioned to energize the gain medium. The saturable absorber, the laser gain, the resonator length, and the second mirror being selected so that output pulses having a duration of less than 75 nanoseconds are generated by the laser.

Abstract: The present invention is an amplifier for amplifying an optic signal. The amplifier includes a signal source transmitting the signal, which includes a signal portion in the L-band. The signal first passes into a first signal manipulator. The first signal manipulator is one or more collimators and/or concentrators and, in some embodiments, can include dichroics or optical manipulators known to those skilled in the art. An input pump is aligned to overlap the signal with pump light. From the first signal manipulator, the signal and the pump light intersects the erbium doped crystal, wherein the pump light excites the crystal and the signal impinges the crystal, amplifying the signal.

Abstract: A modified V-groove structure in a double clad laser system permits multiple emitter side pumping of a fiber laser. In one embodiment, a stack of at least five emitters have individual outputs coupled into the inner cladding, with as many sources as desired coupled to the fiber to raise the cumulative pumping power to in excess of 2-KW, thus to achieve a 1-KW fiber laser.

Abstract: The present invention uses a novel crystal host to minimize parasitic upconversion and lifetime quenching processes by increasing the distance between active dopant ions in the matrix. As a result, erbium that could previously only be useful at low levels may now be incorporated at much higher concentrations without adverse effects. In addition, this host has long excited-state-lifetimes, making it more effective as an energy storage device for pulsed laser applications.

Abstract: The present invention is an amplifier for amplifying an optic signal. The amplifier includes a signal source transmitting the signal, which includes a signal portion in the L-band. The signal first passes into a first signal manipulator. The first signal manipulator is one or more collimators and/or concentrators and, in some embodiments, can include dichroics or optical manipulators known to those skilled in the art. An input pump is aligned to overlap the signal with pump light. From the first signal manipulator, the signal and the pump light intersects the erbium doped crystal, wherein the pump light excites the crystal and the signal impinges the crystal, amplifying the signal.

Abstract: The present invention is an amplifier for amplifying an optical signal. The signal to be amplified passes into and then from a first optical manipulator. The first manipulator is at least one or more collimators and/or concentrators. The amplifier includes an input pump which produces pump light overlapping the optical signal as the signal passes from the first manipulator. The amplifier further includes a plurality of ion-doped crystalline hosts to be excited by the pump light and impinged by the signal. Finally the signal passes through a second manipulator, which is also one or more collimators and/or concentrators, and exits the amplifier.

Abstract: The present invention uses a novel crystal host to minimize parasitic upconversion and lifetime quenching processes by increasing the distance between active dopant ions in the matrix. As a result, erbium that could previously only be useful at low levels may now be incorporated at much higher concentrations without adverse effects. In addition, this host has long excited-state-lifetimes, making it more effective as an energy storage device for pulsed laser applications.