Abstract: Provided are a machining device (10), a machining unit, and a machining method that irradiate a workpiece (8) with a laser beam to perform cutting or boring machining of the workpiece (8). The invention has a laser output device (12), a guiding optical system (14) that guides a laser beam, and an irradiating head (16) that guides a laser beam and irradiates the workpiece (8) with the laser beam. The irradiating head (16) integrally rotates a first prism (52) and a second prism (54) with a rotation mechanism, thereby rotating a light path of the laser beam around a rotational axis of the rotation mechanism and irradiating the workpiece (8) while rotating the position of irradiation to the workpiece.

Abstract: A laser pulse shaper device includes shaper unit including first dispersive element for spatially separating spectral components of laser pulses, second dispersive element for parallelizing and deflecting spectral components into Fourier plane of dispersive elements, and mirror for back-reflecting of laser pulses via dispersive elements, and light modulator in Fourier plane of dispersive elements, which is capable of modulating spectral components of laser pulses, wherein beam path of shaper unit includes forward beam path from first dispersive element via second dispersive element to mirror and return beam path from mirror via second dispersive element to first dispersive element, and focusing device is arranged at input side of forward beam path before first dispersive element for focusing spatially separated spectral components of laser pulses to Fourier plane of dispersive elements. Furthermore, a method for stretching or compressing laser pulses is described.

Abstract: When the laser light source is caused to standby, the temperatures of semiconductor lasers are changed by approximately 3° C. from the temperature when the laser light source is always being used. With a temperature change of approximately 3° C., the wavelengths of the laser light generated by the semiconductor lasers change approximately 0.3 nm. This change hardly has any effect at all on optical fiber amplifiers, but the conversion efficiencies at the respective wavelength conversion elements of the wavelength conversion optical system change, and, particularly, deep ultraviolet light is hardly generated at all any longer. Therefore, even while the laser light has been made incident to the wavelength conversion optical system, there is no longer damaging of the wavelength conversion elements. Therefore, it is possible to provide a laser light source standby method that is able to shorten the start up time of the laser light source.

Abstract: A tunable narrow linewidth laser is provided, wherein an adjustable etalon structure is employed to simultaneously tune the wavelength of the laser transmission and the length of the laser cavity. The etalon structure is an effective, relatively thick shear plate comprised of transparent matched wedge-shaped substrates and a pair of parallel, partially transmissive mirrors with a space therebetween. Rotation of the etalon structure relative to the laser input changes the angle of incidence to the first substrate and the etalon angle, thereby changing the wavelength of the laser light and also changing the length of the external laser cavity. Thus, reliable frequency tuning is achieved, without mode hopping.

Abstract: An optical transmitter includes a laser configured to emit light, a power of the light increasing with temperature decreasing, a Faraday rotator configured to rotate a polarization direction of the light in accordance with the temperature, and a first polarizer that has a principal axis inclined at a given angle and inputs the light output from the Faraday rotator.

Abstract: A tunable laser light source having emission wavelengths in a visible or an adjoining spectral region includes a rotationally disposed laser substrate having more than one emission wavelength, a drive unit coupled to the laser substrate, a pulsed light source having a pulse transmitter, a trigger device, and a signal-delay unit. The trigger device, the signal-delay unit and the pulse transmitter are sequentially connected downstream of the drive unit.

Abstract: To make it possible to use a type I nonlinear optical crystal or a quasi phase matching element as a third harmonic generation crystal there is provided a semiconductor laser, a solid state laser medium that outputs a fundamental wave, a second harmonic generation crystal that outputs a second harmonic wave from the fundamental wave, and a third harmonic generation crystal that outputs a third harmonic wave from the fundamental wave and the second harmonic wave. A quasi phase matching elements is utilized as the second harmonic generation crystal. It is possible to use a type I nonlinear optical crystal or a quasi phase matching element as the third harmonic generation crystal.

Abstract: Systems and methods generate laser pulse trains for material processing. In one embodiment, stable laser pulse trains at high repetition rates are generated from a continuous wave (CW) or quasi-CW laser beams. One or more laser pulses in the laser pulse train may be shaped to control energy delivered to a target material. In another embodiment, multiple laser beams are distributed to multiple processing heads from a single laser pulse, CW laser beam, or quasi-CW laser beam. In one such embodiment, a single optical deflector distributes multiple laser beams among respective processing heads.

Abstract: A pulsed light generator of the invention includes: an excitation light source; a fiber grating into which excitation light from the excitation light source enters; a rare-earth doped optical fiber optically coupled with the fiber grating, in which a rare-earth element is doped into a core, serving as an optical transmitting section; an optical switch including a deflection element for causing a Q-switching operation; a first optical fiber that causes light from the rare-earth doped optical fiber to enter into the optical switch; and a second optical fiber for waveguiding pulsed light output from the optical switch. One surface side of the optical switch, into which light enters, is subjected to anti-reflection treatment with a reflectance with respect to a wavelength of the pulsed light output from the optical switch being 0.1% or less.

Abstract: This invention relates to a monolithic folded F-P cavity used for semiconductor laser, which is composed of a monolithic optical element. The monolithic optical element is made of the material having low propagation loss for a certain spectrum range. Light entering through an input/output coupling surface of the monolithic optical element is reflected several times between the input/output coupling surface and at least two high reflection surfaces within the monolithic optical element, and then at least one part of the light exits through the input/output coupling surface along the path which is collinear with the incident light but in an opposite direction. By means of integrating reflecting and coupling parts of the folded F-P cavity within a single monolithic optical material, this invention greatly improves the reliability of the F-P cavity, and has other advantages, such as insensitive to outside interferences, smaller size, simpler structure and easy usage.

Abstract: There is provided a mode-locked laser including: a resonator having a pair of resonance mirrors; a solid-state laser medium, disposed in the resonator and outputting oscillating light due to excitation light being incident thereon; an excitation unit that causes the excitation light to be incident on the solid-state laser medium; a mode-locked element, disposed in the resonator for inducing mode locking; and a temperature adjusting unit that adjusts the temperature of the pair of resonance mirrors such that oscillating light of a specific frequency is output from the resonator.

Abstract: A wavelength conversion apparatus capable of keeping high wavelength conversion efficiency for a longer time than ever before is provided. A wavelength conversion apparatus includes: a wavelength conversion section including a nonlinear optical crystal, and performing wavelength conversion of incident laser light by allowing the incident laser light to pass through the nonlinear optical crystal; and a relative position control section, when wavelength conversion is performed by the wavelength conversion section, relatively displacing the incident position of the incident laser light in an incident plane into which the incident laser light enters of the nonlinear optical crystal in a direction including a projection direction component of a +C axis to the incident plane in the nonlinear optical crystal or a direction orthogonal to the projection direction component.

Abstract: Systems and methods generate laser pulse trains for material processing. In one embodiment, stable laser pulse trains at high repetition rates are generated from a continuous wave (CW) or quasi-CW laser beams. One or more laser pulses in the laser pulse train may be shaped to control energy delivered to a target material. In another embodiment, multiple laser beams are distributed to multiple processing heads from a single laser pulse, CW laser beam, or quasi-CW laser beam. In one such embodiment, a single optical deflector distributes multiple laser beams among respective processing heads.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser light source having a structure that has high durability to support high power output. The laser light source is an optical device that pulse-oscillates laser light and has a resonator, a rare earth element doped fiber, pumping means, Q switch means, and a condensing lens. The resonator forms a resonance optical path. A fiber is inserted on the resonance optical path and outputs radiation light by supply of pumping energy. The pumping means continuously supplies pumping energy to the fiber. The Q switch means modulates resonator loss of the resonator. The condensing lens condenses the radiation light whose spot size has been expanded and which propagates from the fiber to the Q switch means.

Abstract: Multiple laser resonators share a common acousto-optic Q-switch. The Q-switch is driven by a radio-frequency (RF) transducer that causes an acoustic wave to propagate in the Q-switch. Turning off the RF transducer discontinues propagation of the acoustic wave and causes each of the laser resonators to deliver an optical pulse. The finite velocity of the acoustic wave causes the pulses to be delivered temporally spaced apart.

Abstract: A WDM communication system having two optical-frequency comb sources (OFCSs) that are substantially phase-locked to one another, with one of these OFCSs used at a transmitter to produce a WDM communication signal and the other OFCS used at a receiver to produce multiple local-oscillator signals suitable for homodyne detection of the WDM communication signal received from the transmitter. In one embodiment, the transmitter has (i) a first OFCS adapted to generate a first frequency comb and (ii) an optical modulator adapted to use the first frequency comb to generate a WDM communication signal having at least two beacon lines for transmission to the receiver. The receiver has a second OFCS adapted to produce a second frequency comb having the beacon frequencies, with the phases of the corresponding comb lines being locked to the phases of the beacon lines of the received WDM signal.

Abstract: A hand-held laser pointer is disclosed wherein the laser beam is isolated from unwanted hand tremor motions of the laser pointer housing. A laser beam is directed toward a pair of passively inertially stabilized mirrors disposed within the housing that are biased to a neutral position by a spring and damper. Both the laser beam that exits the housing and the laser dot appearing at a target are minimally affected by laser jitter associated with hand tremor.

Abstract: A symmetrization device and laser diode system using such a device is shown. The device has adjacent lens components transforming beamlets from a laser diode array. Each lens component has input and output surfaces, each having a profile in the propagation direction of the beamlets and a contour perpendicularly thereto. The profiles of the input and output surfaces and distances therebetween are selected to permute the divergence along the slow and fast axes of the beamlets. The contour of each surface matches the cross-sectional shape of the beamlets thereat.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing radio frequency waves, whereby a pulse laser for producing light pulses having a predetermined spectrum of frequency modes and a predetermined recurrence frequency is operated. The light pulses of the pulse laser are detected by means of a detector device, and corresponding electrical output signals forming the radio frequency signals are produced. Said pulse laser is actuated in a stabilized manner by means of an optical reference signal in such a way that the recurrence frequency of the light pulse is fixed. The invention also relates to a radio frequency generator for implementing said method.

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a plurality of light emission sources, a drive circuit for pulse-driving the plurality of light emission sources in order in a predetermined period, a moving reflecting mirror for swinging in order in an incidence direction of light from each of the light emission sources in response to the pulse driving timing of each of the light emission sources and reflecting light beams from the light emission sources in order approximately in the same direction, and a combining optical system for guiding the light reflected by the moving reflecting mirror into a light valve.

Abstract: In the semiconductor laser module testing device, a temperature control power source changes a temperature of a wavelength locker module, and a wavelength monitoring bias circuit detects an output of a wavelength monitor in the changed temperature range and computes a correlation between a temperature of a semiconductor laser and a wavelength of light output therefrom. Moreover, the wavelength of the output light is locked by controlling the temperature of the wavelength locker module while feeding back the output of the wavelength monitor by a wavelength feedback circuit based on the obtained correlation between the temperature and the wavelength.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical deflector driven by an electrical signal, and a wavelength tunable external resonator using the same. The optical deflector of a triangle shape, capable of controlling the refractive index of a beam depending on the electrical signal, is positioned between a reflection mirror and a diffraction grating in a Littman-Metcalf mode external resonator or between a lens and the diffraction grating in a Littrow mode external resonator. Thus, even with the reflection mirror and the diffracting grating fixed, the refractive index of the beam generated from a laser diode can be controlled by adjusting the electrical signal applied to the optical deflector, so that beam having a specific wavelength can be focused and the wavelength can be rapidly and consecutively tuned.

Abstract: A process for operation of a laser device (1) is described, whereby circulating light pulses each comprising spectral components according to a plurality of longitudinal modes of a resonator configuration (3) are generated in the resonator configuration (3) and subjected to a compensation of group velocity dispersion, and a predetermined linear dispersion is introduced into the light path of the resonator configuration (3), so that at least one mode has a predetermined frequency and/or the mode distance between the modes has a predetermined value. Furthermore, regulations for stabilizing the laser device on the basis of this process and applications of the regulations for the generation for stabilized, ultra-short light pulses, generation of optical frequencies and in the frequency and/or time measuring technique as well as in the spectroscopy are described.

Abstract: A laser transmitter assembly of the present invention is configured for placement within a firing chamber of a user firearm and to have minimal interference with a firearm extractor during charging of the firearm. The laser assembly emits a beam of laser light toward a firearm laser training system target in response to actuation of the firearm trigger to simulate firearm operation. Further, the laser assembly is manufactured to project a concentric laser beam relative to the firearm barrel, thereby enabling use without having to align the assembly with the firearm bore sight.

Abstract: A slab laser includes a laser-resonator and a plurality of generally-triangular prismatic slabs of a solid-state gain-medium located in the resonator. The prismatic slabs are cooperatively arranged such that laser-light circulating in the laser-resonator follows a convoluted path through the prismatic slabs. Each of the prismatic slabs changes the direction of the convoluted path at least once by about one-hundred-eighty degrees.

Abstract: In an external mirror type semiconductor laser composed of a semiconductor laser having a structure wherein a reflection factor is reduced on one end plane thereof, and a lens as well as a grating type reflector disposed on the side of the end plane, respectively, the lens is shifted in the direction orthogonal to a light axis, and an incident angle of the light outputted from the end plane to the grating type reflector is changed, whereby an external mirror type wavelength tunable laser having a simple structure and tuning a radiated wavelength can be realized.

Abstract: A communication control device has a central processing unit (3), an input data buffer (14), an output data buffer (15), a readout reload register (17), an output reload register (18), and a timer (19) located between an input terminal (1) and an output terminal (2). The timer (19) reads count values stored in both the reload registers (17, 18) alternately, that have already been set by the central processing unit (3) according to a protocol to be processed, and performs a counting operation based on the count values. Communication data items stored in both the data buffers (14, 15) are latched based on a time out output from the timer (19).

Abstract: A laser cavity assembly includes means (12, 13, 14; 14", 56, 57) defining respective optical resonance cavities (20, 22) for stimulated radiation of different wavelengths, which cavities include at least some common volume. Such means includes window means (13, 14) for emission of radiation amplified in the respective cavities. Means (15, 54) in one of said cavities is responsive to stimulated radiation emitted by a laser medium at one of the wavelengths to emit radiation at another of the wavelengths. Dual mode means (12, 54) has respective selectable first and second modes at which the laser cavity assembly is adapted to emit laser radiation predominantly at the respective wavelengths. Also disclosed are a novel Q-switch device and a combination laser oscillator and dual mode means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a highly repetitive laser employing a rotating wedge, and more specifically, a laser employing a rotating wedge which can provide a laser beam having a uniform spatial intensity profile with a high repetition rate. The highly repetitive laser of the invention is characterized by positioning a rotating wedge between a main resonator and a focusing lens to change the point in which a laser beam emitted from the main resonator is focused, in a laser which comprises a main resonator consisting of a laser medium, a passive Q-switching material and partially reflective mirrors and an auxiliary resonator consisting of a focusing lens and a cell.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for precisely wavelength-tuning single longitudinal mode tunable laser beams by utilizing a wedge prism are disclosed in which, instead of a tuning mirror, a prism is rotated, so that a single longitudinal mode can be maintained without causing a mode hopping of the longitudinal mode, thereby precisely tuning the wavelength. That is, a wedge prism 4 is inserted into the single longitudinal mode tunable laser resonator, and the prism is rotated, thereby precisely tuning the wavelength of the laser beams.

Abstract: An optical ring data distribution interconnect network system has a control unit that provides process data to a plurality of processing elements positioned about a reference circle to form a ring array and a coupled to the control unit for optically processing the processed data. A plurality of interconnects connect the processing elements to one another. According to none embodiment of the present invention, each interconnect includes input means coupled to the control unit to provide an input plurality of non-overlapping pixels. Each pixel is positioned one rotation unit from adjacent pixels. Each pixel is positioned one rotation unit for adjacent pixels along a reference circle forming a ring. A first prism means is coupled to the input means and has a first reflection base plane to generate a reflected optical data array.

Abstract: A method of altering a refractive index, as for an optical waveguide, as in a buried heterostructure laser, by inducing disordering in a region of a semiconducotr body comprises exposing a surface portion of the semiconductor body to plasma etching, coating at least a part of the surface portion with an oxide layer, heat treating the semiconductor body.

Abstract: A CO.sub.2 TEA laser Q-switch uses an intra cavity rotating prism (70) with internally reflecting surfaces (76, 78) at near the critical angle to produce a variable optical loss such that the gain of the laser is switched as the prism rotates through the critical angle. The nitrogen tail portion of the laser output pulse can be eliminated by switching the gain just after the main pulse at the beginning at the tail. An opto-electronic timing device (100), which includes a graded index glass rod (101) rotating with the Q-switch prism, generates a pulse (88) to initiate the laser discharge at the proper lead time before the prism switches the resonator gain.

Abstract: In the resonator of a laser generator, variable mode selective structure is provided to permit electrically actuated adaptation of beam parameters to required operating conditions. Such structure can be implemented with one or more pivotal plates, each having a different aperture, that are selectively pivoted into the beam path to effectively provide a variable mode diaphragm. In another embodiment, a spatial light modulator comprising a reversing prism with a variable position concave plate positioned adjacent its reflection surface and operating according to the optical tunnel effect can be used to selectively vary the effective diameter of the laser beam.

Abstract: A CO.sub.2 TEA laser utilizing an intra-cavity rotating prism Q-switch (70) for angularly switching the resonator gain by periodically causing the resonator mirrors (54, 56) to be in alignment. An opto-electronic timing device (79), which includes a graded index glass rod (76) rotating with the Q-switch prism, generates a pulse to initiate the laser discharge at the proper time before the mirrors are aligned so that the laser output pulse occurs when peak gain is achieved. The Q-switch speed of rotation is chosen such that the time interval in which the mirrors are aligned is not long enough to support the tail portion of the pulse typical of the gain switched CO.sub.2 TEA laser.

Abstract: Method and means are disclosed for rapidly tuning a laser over a large number of wavelengths. The means of the present invention includes first and second reflecting means which define the optical resonating cavity of a laser, and further includes a dispersive means adapted to sequentially select and direct one and only one of the wavelengths of light from the beam emitted by a laser's amplifying medium along a path back through the laser's amplifying medium as one of the reflecting means is continuously rotated. One embodiment of the present invention forms the rotating reflecting means as a faceted polygonal solid with at least one face thereof being a Littrow reflective grating. A pulsed laser is adapted to tune to a different wavelength of light each time some or all of the grating faces of the polygonal solid are rotated to intercept the longitudinal axis of the laser.

Abstract: An improved folded cavity laser having particular application to holographic imaging is disclosed. The laser includes a lasing medium, such as for example a ruby rod, which is optically or electronically "pumped" in order to provide laser light. The medium includes first and second optical surfaces disposed at opposite ends of the lasing medium. A retro-reflecting roof mirror is disposed in optical alignment with the second optical surface of the lasing medium. A transverse mode selector is provided in optical alignment with the first surface of the lasing medium in order to surpress all transverse modes except those of a desired character. In the present embodiment, the transverse mode selector includes two apertures of approximately two millimeters diameter in order to obtain a laser output with a TEM.sub.00 mode.

Abstract: An improved prism which polarizes and retroreflects a light beam which is incident thereto at the Brewster's angle. The principles of the Brewster window, corner reflector, and total internal reflection, such as at the ends of a laser cavity, is incorporated into a single optical device. When correctly polarized light, with respect to the Brewster angle entrance to the prism, strikes the specially shaped right angle prism at the Brewster's angle, the light will be retroreflected straight back paralled to the incoming beam without significant losses.

Abstract: A laser device especially intended to generate ultrashort light pulses, wein the laser path is defined by an interferometer (I) providing substantially total reflection, a partial reflector (OM) for decoupling, and a stimulatable laser medium (D) between the interferometer and the partial reflector, the interferometer comprising a beam splitter (1, 2) through which the light pulses are transmitted substantially without loss to a total reflector (4, 5) which reflects the component beams back to the beam splitter, and a device (3) for varying the ratio of the path lengths travelled by the component beams between the beam splitter and the total reflector.