Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for optical beam shaping and diffusing, a method for making the apparatus, and a method for using the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a crystalline material object shaped to fit within an optical train and with a pattern of surface texture along an optical path. Surface removal processes are applied to a portion of a surface of an object made of a crystalline material to form a surface texture pattern at that portion of the surface of the object. The surface texture pattern depends upon: (1) the identity of the crystalline material and (2) the orientation of crystal lattice axes within the object with respect to the portion of the surface of the object where the pattern of surface texture is to be formed. Processes for making the apparatus include, but are not limited to, mechanical grinding, ablating, chemical etching, plasma etching, ion milling, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A highly adaptable system for creating colorful spectral displays or for achieving a prismatic effect using visible light is provided. The invention includes a fixed-angle or monolithic prismatic element fabricated from plate glass mirror material. A compound version of this monolithic element wherein multiple single elements have been affixed to one another for the purpose of creating a more complex spectral display is also provided. The invention also includes a prism-like device that utilizes a standard mirror, mirrors, or other materials with highly reflective surfaces and water or a similar fluid that disperses light in a predictable manner at or on a specific target. Both the fixed prismatic elements and the adjustable light dispersing elements may be arranged into one or more arrays that may be used to create complex spectral displays on a variety of surfaces while utilizing one or more available light sources or a moving light source such as the sun.

Abstract: A variable dispersion slope compensator with a high-accuracy and a low-cost structure for compensating the dispersion slope compensation error accompanying variations in the zero-dispersion wavelength in transmission fibers in long-distance, high-speed WDM (wavelength division multiplexing) transmission systems.

Abstract: A method and system are presented for use in imaging broadband light. A plurality of substantially narrowband light components of the broadband light are passed through an array of spectral imaging modules. Each of the spectral imaging modules is configured for imaging light of a respective substantially narrow spectral band with minimal aberrations. This technique provides for producing an image with minimal aberrations over the entire spectral range of the broadband light.

Abstract: The light redirecting films include a thin optically transparent substrate having a pattern of non-interlocking individual optical elements oriented and placed to produce a desired surface coverage of at least one of the surfaces of the transparent substrate of the transparent substrate occupied by the optical elements. At least some of the optical elements may have at least one flat surface and at least one curved surface that may intersect each other to a greater extent on the curved surface than on the flat surface to increase the relative percentage of flat surface area to curved surface area of the intersecting optical elements to increase the on axis gain of light passing through the film.

Abstract: A chromatic dispersion compensator whereby the amount of dispersion and the group delay time can be easily adjusted. A dispersion unit, a transmitting lens and a group delay generation unit are arranged along the optical axis of incident light. The dispersion unit separates the incident light into beams of respective different wavelengths. The transmitting lens is arranged across the optical paths of the beams of different wavelengths separated by the dispersion unit, and refracts the beams at different angles according to their respective incidence positions. The group delay generation unit is arranged across the optical paths of the beams of different wavelengths refracted by the transmitting lens, causes the beams to undergo propagation delay for periods corresponding to their respective incidence positions, and converges and emits the beams of different wavelengths. Consequently, the beams of different wavelengths are imparted group delay corresponding to the refracting angles of the transmitting lens.

Abstract: An optical arrangement and method of filtering include a beam splitter that accepts an incident beam and transmits light from the incident beam of a first polarization and reflects light from the incident beam of a second polarization. The transmitted light is a first beam and the reflected light is a second beam. A first spectral filter, receives the first beam, reflects a first spectral band of the first beam, and transmits the remainder of the first beam. A second spectral filter receives the remainder of the first beam and reflects a second spectral band of the first beam. The first and second spectral filters can also receive the second beam and reflect similar first and second spectral bands. The spectral bands are then returned to the beam splitter, where they may be directed toward a dispersal element or an array of photodetectors.

Abstract: A reflector comprises a core and a first dielectric mirror formed over at least a portion of the core to reflect light having a preselected wavelength. The reflector may comprise a plurality of dielectric mirrors formed concentrically over the first dielectric mirror to reflect light having the preselected wavelength. The multiple dielectric mirrors may have different diffraction indices. A layer of such reflectors deposited onto the reflective surface of a projection screen may enhance the reflective selectivity of the screen to the preselected wavelength. Reflectors formed to reflect different wavelengths may be deposited onto the reflective surface to enhance selectivity to the different wavelengths and minimize reflection of ambient light.

Abstract: A light diffusing body and transmission type screen, which can reduce the shift of the color tone of the light source light seen through the light diffusing body and prevent the phenomenon that the white light source seen through the light diffusing body looks colored, is provide. The light diffusing body 1 of the present invention comprises a transparent resin and spherical micro-particles having a different refractive index from that of the said transparent resin, wherein the relation between the maximum value (Emax) and the minimum value (Emax) of the effective scattering efficiency values (E) obtained for each center wavelength in the wavelength ranges of blue, green and red by dividing the sum of scattering cross-sections of all spherical micro-particles contained in the unit area of the aforementioned light diffusing body 1 by the sum of geometrical cross-sections of all these spherical micro-particles satisfies Emin/Emax?0.90.

Abstract: The present invention relates to various optical elements, related manufacturing methods and systems incorporating the optical elements. In at least one embodiment an optical element is provided that improves a vision systems capability to accurately measure a spectral characteristic of a distant light source.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical component provided with a demultiplexing function capable of reducing an insertion loss and downsizing, and a wavelength dispersion compensator using such an optical component.

Abstract: A highly adaptable system for creating colorful spectral displays or for achieving a prismatic effect using visible light. The invention includes a fixed-angle or monolithic prismatic element fabricated from plate glass mirror material. A compound version of this monolithic element wherein multiple single elements have been affixed to one another for the purpose of creating a more complex spectral display is also provided. The invention also includes a prism-like device that utilizes a standard mirror, mirrors, or other materials with highly reflective surfaces and water or a similar fluid that disperses light in a predictable manner at or on a specific target. Both the fixed prismatic elements and the adjustable light dispersing elements may be arranged into one or more arrays that may be used to create complex spectral displays on a variety of surfaces while utilizing one or more available light sources or a moving light source such as the sun.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling a minute object such as a cell by using a holographic optical tweezers that comprises a laser light source 1, holographic plate 3 having a specified pattern to form a hologram with light emitted from the light source, and a transparent plate that holds a liquid including a minute object, wherein the holographic plate 3 is irradiated with laser light emitted from the laser light source 1, and the laser light passed through the holographic plate 3 is focused in a sample solution 7 held on the transparent plate 6 to form a hologram having a pattern according to the pattern of the holographic plate 3 in the sample solution 7.

Abstract: A light filtering apparatus includes a first dispersion device, a spatial filter and a second dispersion device. The first dispersion device is arranged to cause spatial dispersion of an incident light beam as a function of its frequency. The spatial filter is arranged to filter the dispersed light beam so as to produce a spatially filtered resultant beam. The second dispersion device is arranged to recombine the dispersed and filtered light beam so as to produce an output light beam having a substantially similar spectrum at any position within the output beam cross-section.

Abstract: A privacy screen for a display (e.g., a LCD) having a polarizing film and a birefringent film is described. The privacy screen transmits substantial amounts of light emanating from the display in an orthogonal (or near-orthogonal) direction while not transmitting substantial amounts of horizontal, non-orthogonal light emanating from the display. In this manner, a privacy effect results in that the display is viewable by someone only when that someone is essentially directly in front of the display.

Abstract: Various configurations of a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA) generator in combination with a mirror to compensate for chromatic dispersion. A VIPA generator produces a light traveling from the VIPA generator. In some embodiments, a variable curvature mirror is positioned to reflect the light back to the VIPA generator. A rotation axis around which the mirror is rotated and a translation path for the rotation axis are provided, to change the curvature of the mirror where the output light is reflected. In other embodiments, a plurality of mirrors have different surface curvatures. A holder has a rotation axis and holds the plurality of mirrors equidistantly from the rotation axis. The holder is rotatable around the rotation axis to bring a different, respective mirror in position to reflect light produced by a VIPA generator back to the VIPA generator. In other embodiments, a rotating mirror is rotatable about a rotation axis to reflect light produced by a VIPA generator to a respective fixed mirror.

Abstract: A linear opto-frequency chirp amount variable apparatus using a dielectric multilayer film mirror, which does not require the optical axis to be realigned each time the amount of a chirp is to be varied includes a pair of opposed, parallel, dielectric, multilayer film mirrors, and a movable mirror between the dielectric multilayer film mirrors. The movable mirror is inclined so that oblique, incident light, projected into the space between the two dielectric multilayer film mirrors, is reflected between them a plurality of times and then is reflected by the movable mirror into a direction parallel to the dielectric multilayer film mirror surfaces and in an incidence plane defined by the incident light and a plane-normal to each dielectric multilayer film mirror and toward the incident light. Moving the movable mirror forwards and backwards, parallel to the multilayer film mirrors changes the amount of a chirp.

Abstract: An optical apparatus for producing chromatic dispersion. The apparatus includes a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA) generator, a mirror and a lens. The VIPA generator receives an input light at a respective wavelength and produces a corresponding collimated output light traveling from the VIPA generator in a direction determined by the wavelength of the input light, the output light thereby being spatially distinguishable from an output light produced for an input light at a different wavelength. The mirror has a cone shape, or a modified cone shape. The lens focuses the output light traveling from the VIPA generator onto the mirror so that the mirror reflects the output light. The reflected light is directed by the lens back to the VIPA generator. In this manner, the apparatus provides chromatic dispersion to the input light.

Abstract: A device (1) for generating and projecting light marks (MP, ML) in which projection optics (P) have a cylindrical lens (Z). The cylindrical lens (Z) can be irradiated by a light beam bundle (L2) such that a central beam bundle (L2Z) radiates completely through a cylinder portion area (A) and at least one marginal beam bundle (L2R) travels directly past the edge of the outer surface of the cylinder portion area (ZA). A light mark (ML) in the shape of a line is projected by the central beam bundle (L2Z), while a light mark (MP) in the shape of a point is projected through the marginal beam bundle (L2R).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for control of optical trap arrays and formation of particle arrays using light that is in the visible portion of the spectrum. The method and apparatus provides a laser and a time variable diffractive optical element to allow dynamic control of optical trap arrays and consequent control of particle arrays and also the ability to manipulate singular objects using a plurality of optical traps. By avoiding wavelengths associated with strong absorption in the underlying material, creating optical traps with a continuous-wave laser, optimizing the efficiency of individual traps, and trapping extended samples at multiple points, the rate of deleterious nonlinear optical processes can be minimized.

Abstract: A wavelength selective switching device and method for selectively transmitting optical signals based on wavelength utilizes diffraction to spatially separate the optical signals of different wavelengths such that the optical signal of a selected wavelength can be selectively transmitted. The wavelength selective switching device selectively rotates the polarization components of the optical signals such that the polarization states of the polarization components are the same in both incoming and outgoing directions at the diffraction grating. Thus, a diffraction grating with a high grating line frequency (e.g. greater than 900 grating lines per mm for signals in the 1550 nm wavelength range) can be used for diffracting the polarization components of the optical signals in both the incoming and outgoing directions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for holding a beam splitter element having an optically active beam splitter layer in an optical imaging device, the beam splitter element being connected to at least one support element that is fastened in the housing of the imaging device. The connection between the beam splitter element and said at least one support element is designed in such a way that the position of the beam splitter layer of the beam splitter element remains nearly constant relative to the housing independently of temperatures and of thermal stresses acting upon the beam splitter element.

Abstract: A method capable of quantitatively evaluating the intensity of scintillation caused by surface unevenness. Light from a white light source is made incident on a surface of an object to be measured through a matrix filter. Reflected light or transmitted light from the object is photographed with a CCD camera and taken into a computer as data. Image processing for the luminance distribution of the captured light is performed to obtain a standard deviation of dispersion of the luminance distribution. The value of the standard deviation obtained is defined as a scintillation value of the surface of the object.

Abstract: An optical apparatus for producing chromatic dispersion. The apparatus includes a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA) generator, a mirror and a lens. The VIPA generator receives an input light at a respective wavelength and produces a corresponding collimated output light traveling from the VIPA generator in a direction determined by the wavelength of the input light, the output light thereby being spatially distinguishable from an output light produced for an input light at a different wavelength. The mirror has a cone shape, or a modified cone shape. The lens focuses the output light traveling from the VIPA generator onto the mirror so that the mirror reflects the output light. The reflected light is directed by the lens back to the VIPA generator. In this manner, the apparatus provides chromatic dispersion to the input light.

Abstract: A wavelength selective switching device and method for selectively transmitting optical signals based on wavelength utilizes diffraction to spatially separate the optical signals of different wavelengths such that the optical signal of a selected wavelength can be selectively transmitted. The wavelength selective switching device selectively rotates the polarization components of the optical signals such that the polarization states of the polarization components are the same in both incoming and outgoing directions at the diffraction grating. Thus, a diffraction grating with a high grating line frequency (e.g. greater than 900 grating lines per mm for signals in the 1550 nm wavelength range) can be used for diffracting the polarization components of the optical signals in both the incoming and outgoing directions.

Abstract: Optical properties of a screen on which an image is being projected are considered. A patterned surface is given a predetermined pattern of color pixels whereby a degree of wavelength selectivity is employed to improve the color qualities of the projected image. A system is provided wherein there is a matching of emission characteristics of a projector to the screen's reflective characteristics.

Abstract: A wavelength blocker including an input port for launching an input beam of light, first dispersing means for dispersing the input beam of light according to wavelength, an array of independently addressable elements for selectively blocking a portion of the dispersed beam of light, second dispersing means for receiving the passed dispersed beam of light and for producing a single multiplexed beam of light therefrom, and an output port for transmitting a modified output beam of light. The array of independently addressable elements are designed such that the wavelength blocker is capable of blocking a variable number of non-consecutive channels without significantly affecting the unblocked channels.

Abstract: There are provided a light diffusing sheet and a nonglare sheet, which have good diffusion efficiency, can provide bright and high-contrast images and can reproduce high-quality images with reduced unnecessary scattered light and free from image haze and blur. The light diffusing sheet and the nonglare sheet comprise a light diffusing agent which, in use, is dispersed in a transparent base material.

Abstract: A wavelength dispersion compensating apparatus of the invention comprises: a VIPA plate capable to output incident lights at different angles according to wavelengths; a variable dispersion diffraction grating which can angularly disperse the lights of respective wavelengths output from the VIPA plate, in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of angular dispersion in the VIPA plate and also capable to change an amount of the angular dispersion; a light return apparatus which condenses the output lights from the variable dispersion diffraction grating and reflects them by a mirror, to return them to the VIPA plate side; and a stage rotation mechanism which rotates a movable stage on which the lens and the mirror are mounted, according to a diffraction angle in the variable dispersion diffraction grating, so as to enable wavelength dispersion and wavelength dispersion slope to be given to a WDM light, to be changed independently.

Abstract: A surface configuration obscures an object from detection by night vision devices, ultraviolet devices and infrared devices. The surface configuration is three dimensional, having spaced inner and outer surfaces. A wall defines a plurality of enclosed cells, and projections extend from the inner surface within the cells. The cells can be hexagonal, round or otherwise shaped. The projections can be flat sided or curved. The shapes of the cells and materials used provide sound muffling.

Abstract: A multi-band direct prism comprising at least first and second prismatic elements of disparate refractive indices facilitates the contemporaneous analysis of dispersed emergent light energy within at least two distinct and predetermined sets of energy wavelengths wherein one wavelength within each of the at least two wavelength sets emerges from the direct vision prism with no net angular deviation.

Abstract: An optical functional sheet characterized in that, at least within the sheet, a light diffusing phase and a transparent phase each extend along a direction perpendicular to the surface of the sheet and are alternately arranged along the sheet surface direction. The optical functional sheet has a smooth surface that can be surface-treated or laminated with another functional sheet and is provided with a light collecting effect due to the internal arrangements thereof that is capable of collecting both light diverging transversely and light diverging longitudinally using a single sheet. Thus, the sheet can be useful for applications such as the backlight for liquid crystal displays.

Abstract: A light diffusing film including a film including crystalline polymer compound C laminated to at least one face of an internal light-diffusing film including an islands-in-a-sea structure including a sea component of thermoplastic resin A and an islands component of thermoplastic resin B, wherein thermoplastic resins A and B have different refractive indexes.

Abstract: An optical diffusing layer comprising a resin coated layer having a surface fine concavo-convex structure, wherein an average of peak-to-peak distance (Sm), an average of center line surface roughness (Ra), and an average of ten-point surface roughness (Rz) on the surface with fine concavo-convex structure satisfy specified equations, is capable of maintaining antiglare property and screen glare simultaneously controlled, when applied to an LCD in which high definition is required.

Abstract: An antiglare film applicable to polarizers or displays includes a light-transparent resin, first light-transparent particles dispersed on surface of the light-transparent resin and second light-transparent particles dispersed inside the resin. The first light-transparent particles have a same refractive index as that of the resin and particle diameters of 9 to 500 nanometers that provide a less roughness surface of the resin in order to prevent from large angle diffusion to the interior light and improve clarity of image. The second particles have a different refractive index from the resin so as to diffuse the exterior light that comes to the antiglare film so as to decrease glare. The antiglare film can be made by one time of coating. The two layer light-transparent particles provide light interference and achieve a low reflectivity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for control of optical trap arrays and formation of particle arrays using light that is in the visible portion of the spectrum. The method and apparatus provides a laser and a time variable diffractive optical element to allow dynamic control of optical trap arrays and consequent control of particle arrays and also the ability to manipulate singular objects using a plurality of optical traps. By avoiding wavelengths associated with strong absorption in the underlying material, creating optical traps with a continuous-wave laser, optimizing the efficiency of individual traps, and trapping extended samples at multiple points, the rate of deleterious nonlinear optical processes can be minimized.

Abstract: An electrically adjustable spectrometer uses collimated, P-polarized light made incident on a surface of an optically transparent liquid crystal input material. The material transmits the light to a boundary surface between the input material and an output optically transparent material. The input material is preferably highly dispersive, making Snell component values at the boundary surface markedly different for different wavelengths. The output material is preferably of low dispersion and high birefringence. Only one wavelength at the boundary surface has a Snell component value tangent to its corresponding index surface in the output section. Within this section, the ray vector for this wavelength is parallel to the boundary surface. Because optical energy propagates in the ray vector direction, only the narrow range of wavelengths having ray vectors substantially parallel to the boundary surface reach an output of the device.

Abstract: Disclosed are a protective diffusion film, which does not scratch a lens film and a liquid crystal display device, does not become a refuse source or the like, and also has a suitable level of concealment effect, a process for producing the same, a surface light source device, and a liquid crystal display device. This protective diffusion film is used in a surface light source device provided with a lens film wherein the protective diffusion film is provided on a light outgoing surface of the lens film, and comprises: a transparent substrate layer; and a protective diffusion layer which is provided on the transparent substrate layer in its surface at least on the lens film side, has fine concaves and convexes on its surface, protects members which come into contact with the protective diffusion film, and is light diffusive.

Abstract: A method and system for determining location and value of dispersion compensating modules (DCMs) in an optical network is provided. The method comprises evaluating possible DCM values and locations and successively adding selected combinations to the network until the dispersion limits of the network are met. This systematic method is applicable to a variety of network topologies. In one embodiment, the method for determining the location and value of the DCMs uses the amount of compensated effective dispersion over all lightpaths that pass through the DCM to select the combinations. In another embodiment, the method is repeated a number of times with different selections of DCM value and location combinations, and the method providing the least number of DCMs and the lowest DCM values is chosen.

Abstract: Various methods, apparatuses, and systems in which a chromatic dispersion compensation module includes a beam spatial orientation device to separate an optical signal into a first polarized light signal and a second polarized light signal. The second polarized light signal has the posited polarization of the first polarized signal. A wavelength-dependant delay path couples to the beam spatial orientation device. A polarization rotator couples to the wavelength-dependant delay path such that the first polarized light signal reflects into the wavelength-dependant delay path in substantially the opposite direction of the second polarized light signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical arrangement provided for a spectral fanning out of a light beam (1), preferably the detection beam path of a confocal microscope, especially for the subsequent splitting of the fanned out beam (2) out of the dispersion plane thereof. The optical arrangment is also provided for detecting the fanned out spectral regions (4), whereby the incoming light beam (1) is focused on a pinhole (7). The invention is characterized in that the pinhole (7) has a polygonal passageway (8) in order to realize a high dynamic response when the light beam is split into spectral regions (4) or into spectral colors.

Abstract: A method for determining optimal locations and values of dispersion compensating modules (DCMs) in an optical network is provided. The method comprises repeatedly evaluating possible combinations of DCM values and locations and adding to the combination having the lowest score until a solution of DCMs is formed that satisfies the dispersion limits of the network. This method provides an optimal solution with, for example, the lowest value of DCMs necessary to meet dispersion specifications. In one embodiment, the method for determining the optimal location and value of the DCMs uses a priority queue to store the different combinations of DCM values and locations. Modifications to the method include variations in the score function, for example to minimize the total cost of the DCMs. In another embodiment, a series of priority queues are used to improve the efficiency of the method by reducing the amount of processing required to sort the priority queues.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide an easily producible light diffusing sheet which is rich in the amount of entering light from one side, can emit uniform diffused light with no variation of brightness from the opposite side by controlling optical loss at a small degree, and does not generate wrinkles when heated by light and heat from the light source.

Abstract: A surface configuration obscures an object from detection by night vision devices, ultraviolet devices and infrared devices. The surface configuration is three dimensional, having spaced inner and outer surfaces. A wall defines a plurality of enclosed cells, and projections extend from the inner surface within the cells. The cells can be hexagonal, round or otherwise shaped. The projections can be flat sided or curved.

Abstract: A tunable optical dispersion compensator may direct a light beam onto a first optical component such as a diffraction grating to separate the light beam into discrete spatial elements. A first lens may image the spatial elements to effect a Fourier transform at a shaped phase optical structure where unwanted phase shifts between the spatial elements are compensated by changing time delays between the elements. An inverse Fourier transform may be performed on the compensated spatial elements to reconstruct a light beam for return to a fiber optical network.

Abstract: The light diffusing plate includes an unrecognizable structure having an optical refractive power, passing areas through which a collimated light incident from a side of the unrecognizable structure passes and a non-passing area other than the passing areas, which has relatively low light transmissivity compared with the passing areas, wherein both materials of the passing areas and non-passing area are applied simultaneously. The display apparatus includes this light diffusing plate, a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight unit. The image display apparatus includes an image display device having a matrix structure and a light diffusing plate including an unrecognizable structure which has an optical refractive power and is provided on a viewing side of a display screen of the image display device. The light diffusing plate has an excellent light diffusing efficiency, and can preferably reduce a contrast drop to be caused by a surface reflection.

Abstract: A water purification system 2 includes a pulsed source of UV light. This UV light is emitted by a pulsed laser 12, and the UV light pulses are incident upon water passing though a pulsed UV generator 10. The UV light pulses also strike crystalline members 36, such as diamonds and quartz crystals, which are also disposed within the flow path. The combination of incident UV light pulses and UV light dispersed by crystals 36 having differing crystal structures and differing sizes has been found to be effective in destroying organic pathogens including microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses.

Abstract: A dispersion compensator is formed by an angular dispersion element, a diffracting optical element, and a reflecting mirror. By forming a reflecting surface in free-formed surfaces which are different between Y-Z plane and X-Z plane and shifting a reflecting position on a reflecting surface per wavelengths, dispersion and dispersion slope are compensated by having an optical path length difference per wavelengths. By doing this, it is possible to realize a dispersion compensator which can compensate dispersion and dispersion slope simultaneously with low loss.

Abstract: An optical system (20) provides a variable dispersion that helps to collect multi-spectral information on an object within the field of view. The system (20) includes at least two sets (24, 26) of optical elements (42x 42y, 44x, 44y) that have minimal deviation of a center wavelength and a non-zero deviation of at least one other wavelength. By rotating the sets of optical elements (24, 26) relative to one another or together, the degree of wavelength dispersion and the direction of the wavelength dispersion can be varied, respectively. By selectively rotating the sets of optical elements, the system also can be operated in a non-dispersed “white light” mode with no net dispersion at the image plane.

Abstract: The present invention provides an easily aligned, all-reflective, aberration-free pulse stretcher-compressor in a compact geometry. The stretcher-compressor device is a reflective multi-layer dielectric that can be utilized for high power chirped-pulse amplification material processing applications. A reflective grating element of the device is constructed: 1) to receive a beam for stretching of laser pulses in a beam stretcher beam path and 2) to also receive stretched amplified pulses to be compressed in a compressor beam path through the same (i.e., common) reflective multilayer dielectric diffraction grating. The stretched and compressed pulses are interleaved about the grating element to provide the desired number of passes in each respective beam path in order to achieve the desired results.