Abstract: There is provided a mode-locked laser device including: a resonator; a solid-state laser medium that is disposed in the resonator and outputs oscillation light in accordance with the incidence of excitation light; a saturable absorber that is disposed in the resonator and induces soliton mode-locking; a group velocity dispersion correction component that is disposed in the resonator and controls group velocity dispersion in the resonator; and an excitation portion that causes excitation light to be incident at the solid-state laser medium, wherein a resonator length of the resonator is at least a resonator length with which soliton mode-locking is inducible and is less than a resonator length with which non-soliton mode-locking is inducible.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of controlling a frequency-converted diode laser system are disclosed. The diode laser systems can include embodiments of thermally coupled elements facilitating temperature stabilization. Aspects of some methods include monitoring the output of a stabilized diode laser system to reduce noise of the output laser beam. Other aspects of some methods include adjusting the temperature of a frequency converter based on noise in the output beam, and/or the current provided to drive the diode laser. Systems incorporating such control aspects, and others, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A high-efficiency white-light-emitting device that includes a polariton light emitter that emits UV or blue light to a down-converting material that converts the polariton emissions to white light. The polariton light emitter includes an active region situated within a resonant optical cavity formed on a substrate. The down-converting material can comprise a luminophoric phosphor or other material. The polariton light and down-converting material can be arranged in a single apparatus to provide a white-light-emitting device that can be used for lighting and instrumentation. The device can also be configured for high-frequency modulation to provide optical signals for communications and control systems.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention relate to electronically tunable ring resonators. In one embodiment of the present invention, a resonator structure (300,1200) includes an inner resonator disposed on a surface of a substrate, and a phase-change layer (304,1204) covering the resonator. The resonance wavelength of the resonator structure can be selected by applying of a first voltage that changes the effective refractive index of the inner resonator and by applying of a second voltage that changes the effective refractive index of the phase-change layer.

Abstract: An image projector having one or more broadband lasers designed to reduce the appearance of speckle in the projected image via wavelength diversification. In one embodiment, a broadband laser has an active optical element and a nonlinear optical element, both located inside a laser cavity. The broadband laser generates an output spectrum characterized by a spectral spread of about 10 nm and having a plurality of spectral lines corresponding to different spatial modes of the cavity. Different individual spectral lines effectively produce independent speckle configurations, which become intensity-superimposed in the projected image, thereby causing a corresponding speckle-contrast reduction.

Abstract: A light emitting device includes first and second cladding layers and an active layer therebetween including first and second side surfaces and first and second gain regions, a second side reflectance is higher than a first side reflectance, a first end surface part of the first gain region overlaps a second end surface part of the second gain region in an overlapping plane, the first gain region obliquely extends from the first end surface to a third end surface, the second gain region obliquely extends from the second end surface to a fourth end surface, a first center line connecting the centers of the first and third end surfaces and a second center line connecting the centers of the second and fourth end surfaces intersect, and the overlapping plane is shifted from the intersection point toward the first side surface.

Abstract: A wavelength tunable system including a laser having a lasing cavity and an external cavity, the cavities having a common optical axis; a reflective grating fixed in the external cavity; a collimating lens between the lasing cavity and the reflective grating; and an adjustable reflective mirror defining one end of the external cavity and optically coupled to the fixed reflective grating, the adjustable reflective mirror pivots about the fixed reflective grating, and a method of use as defined herein.

Abstract: An optical resonator includes a master resonator configured to resonate an electromagnetic wave, one structure or a pair of structures adjacent to each other, each of which is arranged at a position that overlaps one of resonance modes of the master resonator, is made up of a material in which a real part of a permittivity assumes a negative value, and an absolute value of the real part is larger than an absolute value of an imaginary part of the permittivity, and has a size which makes scattering that the electromagnetic wave suffers be Rayleigh scattering, and one or a plurality of particles, each of which is laid out near the structure by a distance smaller than the size of the structure.

Abstract: A laser diode having nano patterns is disposed on a substrate. A first conductive-type clad layer is disposed on the substrate, and a second conductive-type clad layer is disposed on the first conductive-type clad layer. An active layer is interposed between the first conductive-type clad layer and the second conductive-type clad layer. Column-shaped nano patterns are arranged at a surface of the second conductive-type clad layer to form a laser diode such as a distributed feedback laser diode.

Abstract: A light emitting device includes a substrate, a first cladding layer, an active layer, and a second cladding layer formed in that order, and a reflective part formed above the substrate and separated from the active layer. At least a portion of the active layer constitutes a plurality of gain regions, which forms at least one gain region pair, a first gain region of which is provided in one direction and a second gain region is provided in another direction different from the one direction. At least a portion of an end surface of the first gain region and the second gain region overlap with each other. Light emitted from the end surface of the first gain region is reflected by the reflective part, and propagates in the same direction or in the focusing direction with light emitted from the end surface of the second gain region.

Abstract: A wavelength tuneable external-cavity laser module comprises a gain medium in thermal contact with a thermally stabilized substrate; an end mirror, and a phase element for controlling the phase of the optical beam and being positioned within the external cavity between the gain medium and the end mirror, wherein said phase element comprises a material having a refractive index that varies in response to changes in temperature and has a transmissivity substantially independent of wavelength across said predetermined wavelength range. The thermally-controllable phase element is configured so as to induce a phase variation that compensates the drop in the output power due to ageing or to external temperature variation. A heating element is placed in thermal contact to the phase element. By thermally controlling an intra-cavity phase element it is possible to vary continuously the output power as a function of the injection current.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a first laser cavity including a set of high-reflector gratings coupled in series and a second laser cavity including a set of high-reflector gratings coupled in series. Each high-reflector grating has an associated spectral bandwidth. The first laser cavity is configured to receive at a first end optical energy having a first spectral bandwidth and the second laser cavity is configured to receive at a first end optical energy having a second spectral bandwidth. A fiber coupler is coupled to a second end of the first laser cavity and to a second end of the second laser cavity. The fiber coupler is configured to receive optical energy from the first laser cavity having a third spectral bandwidth greater than the first spectral bandwidth, and receive optical energy from the second laser cavity having a fourth spectral bandwidth greater than the second spectral bandwidth.

Abstract: A laser-induced optical wiring apparatus is provided wherein optical wiring is realized by digital operations of a laser oscillator. The apparatus includes optical ring resonator formed of a loop-shaped optical waveguide on substrate. At least two optical gain sections are provided on the optical ring resonator. When each optical gain section is activated, a laser oscillator including the optical ring resonator and optical gain sections is enabled to oscillate. In this state, the gain of at least one of the optical gain sections is changed in accordance with an input signal, thereby changing the optical route gain of the optical ring resonator to change the oscillation state of the laser oscillator. A change in the laser oscillation state is detected by the optical gain section other than the at least one optical gain section, whereby an output signal is acquired.

Abstract: In the case of a lens array type homogenizer optical system, the incident angle and intensity of a laser beam 1 entering a large-sized lens (long-axis condenser lens 22) of a long-axis condensing optical system, which is provided on the rear side, are changed for every shot by performing laser irradiation while long-axis lens arrays 20a and 20b are reciprocated in a direction corresponding to a long axial direction of a linear beam (X-direction). Therefore, vertical stripes are significantly reduced. Further, the incident angle and intensity of a laser beam 1 entering a large-sized lens (projection lens 30) of a short-axis condensing optical system, which is provided on the rear side, are changed for every shot by performing laser irradiation while short-axis lens arrays 26a and 26b are reciprocated in a direction corresponding to a short axial direction of a linear beam (Y-direction). Therefore, horizontal stripes are significantly reduced.

Abstract: Provided is a laser apparatus including: a DFB fiber laser 40 including, as an amplitude medium, a rare earth doped silica optical fiber codoped with a high concentration of aluminum; an optical feedback path 50 formed by a ring-shaped optical fiber; and an optical coupler 70 a) feeding back a part of an output of the DFB fiber laser 40 to the DFB fiber laser 40 via the optical feedback path 50, and b) outputting, to outside, another part of the output of the DFB fiber laser 40, where the optical fiber forming the optical feedback path 50 is longer than a length at which a relaxation oscillation noise in the output to the outside becomes ?110 dB/Hz.

Abstract: A nitride semiconductor laser device is formed by growing a group III nitride semiconductor multilayer structure on a substrate. The group III nitride semiconductor multilayer structure has a laser resonator including an n-type semiconductor layer, a p-type semiconductor layer and a light emitting layer held between the n-type semiconductor layer and the p-type semiconductor layer. The laser resonator is arranged to be offset from the center with respect to a device width direction orthogonal to a resonator direction toward one side edge of the device. A wire bonding region having a width of not less than twice the diameter of an electrode wire to be bonded to the device is formed between the laser resonator and the other side edge of the device.

Abstract: A large diameter optical waveguide, grating, and laser includes a waveguide having at least one core surrounded by a cladding, the core propagating light in substantially a few transverse spatial modes; and having an outer waveguide dimension of said waveguide being greater than about 0.3 mm. At least one Bragg grating may be impressed in the waveguide. The waveguide may be axially compressed which causes the length of the waveguide to decrease without buckling. The waveguide may be used for any application where a waveguide needs to be compression tuned. Also, the waveguide exhibits lower mode coupling from the core to the cladding and allows for higher optical power to be used when writing gratings without damaging the waveguide. The waveguide may resemble a short “block” or a longer “cane” type, depending on the application and dimensions used.

Abstract: In a structure having a two-dimensional photonic crystal in which structures having different refractive indices are disposed at a two-dimensional period and comprising a structure emitting in a direction perpendicular to a resonance direction of light propagating in the in-plane direction of the two-dimensional photonic crystal, wherein the structure comprises a one-dimensional photonic crystal in which components having different refractive indices are arranged at a one-dimensional period, and, the light propagating in the in-plane direction of the two-dimensional photonic crystal is reflected by a photonic band edge of the one-dimensional photonic crystal.

Abstract: In an external cavity wavelength tunable laser device including an external cavity (20) which includes a semiconductor optical amplifier (2) and performs laser oscillation operation by feeding back external light, a wavelength tunable mirror (7) having at least a single peak reflection spectrum characteristic within a laser wavelength tuning range is placed on one end of the external cavity (20), and a Fabry Perot mode interval determined by the effective length of the external cavity (20) is not less than 1/10 times and not more than 10 times the reflection band full width half maximum of the wavelength tunable mirror (7).

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: A core includes a first core, and a second core covering a side surface of the first core, and is formed in a polygonal shape when viewed from a Z direction. A metal film is placed on a side surface in the core, and is formed so that a width of an interface between the metal film and the core is narrower than a width of the side surface of the core.

Abstract: A flexible microcavity structure made of organic materials using spin-coating technique for allowing large area structures using a roll-to-roll process. The structure includes at least one first polymer layer, at least one second polymer layer, and a cavity layer. The cavity layer has quantum dots embedded therein for realizing an electrically pumped microcavity emitter. The at least one first polymer layer alternates with the at least one second polymer layer, respectively, to form a pair of distributed Bragg reflecting mirrors. The cavity layer is sandwiched between the pair of distributed Bragg reflecting mirrors.

Abstract: A novel polarization maintaining optical fiber, which can be used as a high-power polarization maintaining fiber laser or amplifier, is described. Insensitivity of the polarization state to external fiber bending and temperature changes is accomplished by minimizing polarization mode-coupling via reducing stresses inside the fiber core via increasing the fiber diameter. Alternatively, polarization mode-coupling can be minimized by an optimization of the fiber coating to minimize stresses at the interface between the fiber and the coating. As a result insensitivity to polarization mode-coupling is obtained at greatly reduced values of birefringence compared to small-diameter fibers. The fiber is of significant use in any application where polarization stability is important, and will be useful in telecommunications applications in particular for reducing polarization mode dispersion. An implementation in a parabolic pulse-producing fiber laser is also described as one specific high power example.

Abstract: Provided is a two-dimensional photonic crystal surface emitting laser which can suppress light leaking outside in an in-plane direction of the two-dimensional photonic crystal and an absorption loss in an active layer caused by the latter layer serving as an absorbing layer without contributing to light emission, and can improve light use efficiency. The surface emitting laser has a laminated structure in which an active layer and a photonic crystal layer are laminated in a vertical direction, has a resonance mode in an in-plane direction of the photonic crystal, and light is extracted in a vertical direction to a surface of the photonic crystal, wherein the laminated structure has a multi-refractive index layer including a central region made of a high refractive index medium and a peripheral portion made of a low refractive index medium with a lower refractive index than that of the high refractive index medium.

Abstract: A method includes: positioning a laser in the cavity in an end of a slider, wherein the laser has an output facet positioned adjacent to a first wall of the cavity to define a first gap between the output facet and the first wall of the cavity, and filling at least a portion of the first gap adjacent to the output facet. An apparatus including a slider including a cavity in a trailing end of the slider, a laser positioned in the cavity and having an output facet positioned adjacent to a first wall of the cavity to define a first gap between the output facet and the first wall of the cavity, and a sealing material filling at least a portion of the first gap adjacent to the output facet is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical resonator, laser apparatus and a method of generating a laser beam inside an optical resonator. The optical resonator (10) includes an optical cavity (12) and an optical element (104.1, 104.2) at either end there-of, operable to sustain a light beam (108) therein, characterised in that each optical element (104.1, 104.2) is a phase-only optical element operable to alter a mode of the beam (108) as it propagates along the length of the optical resonator (10), such that in use the beam (108) at one end of the optical resonator (10) has a Gaussian profile while the beam (108) at the other end of the optical resonator (10) has a non-Gaussian profile.

Abstract: Provided is an external cavity laser light source. The light source includes a substrate, an optical waveguide, and a current blocking layer. The optical waveguide includes a passive waveguide layer, a lower clad layer, an active layer, and an upper clad layer that are sequentially stacked on the substrate and is divided into regions including a linear active waveguide region, a bent active waveguide region, a tapered waveguide region, and a window region. The current blocking layer was formed an outside of the active layer to reduce leakage current. The linear and bent active waveguide regions have a buried heterostructure (BH), and the tapered waveguide region and the window region have a buried ridge stripe (BRS) structure. The passive waveguide layer a width substantially equal to a maximal width of the tapered waveguide region at least in the bent active waveguide region, the tapered waveguide region, and the window region.

Abstract: Devices having whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) resonators configured to meet requirements of various applications and facilitate fabrication of such devices.

Abstract: Spectroscopic analysis systems and methods for analyzing samples are disclosed which exploit inelastically scattering radiation to amplify optical signals from an irradiated sample. Samples are irradiated in a chamber having a resonant cavity containing a plurality of affixed reflectors, where selective Stokes scattered radiation is transmitted to a detector for determination of sample identity. Coupling the spectroscopic analysis system and method with a nucleic acid sequencing system is also disclosed for determining nucleic acid sequences.

Abstract: A new broadband source having a discrete set of spectral emission lines having high peak power in each line is provided by placing a gain medium in a reflective cavity comprising reflective front and back surfaces. A cavity feedback factor less than unity is achieved by providing reflectivity of one surface substantially lower than the reflectivity of the other surface such that spontaneous emission in the gain medium is linearly amplified just below the lasing threshold. In an alternative arrangement, a movable external back surface placed at a prescribed distance from the gain medium provides a means to achieve a free spectral range and finesse of the emission lines to match a pitch of a detector array in a SD-OCT system. By simultaneously providing high power to each detector element of the array, sensitivity and imaging speed of SD-OCT system are significantly improved.

Abstract: A laser gain medium includes an optical medium configured to transmit a laser beam and having an incident face, a first face, a second face opposing to the first face; and gain media configured to amplify the laser beam while reflecting the laser beam. At least one of the gain media is joined on a first face of the optical medium as a first face gain medium, and at least one of the remaining gain media is joined on a second face of the optical medium as a second face gain medium. The laser beam is incident into the optical medium, and is amplified by the first face gain medium and the second face gain medium while being alternately reflected by the first face gain medium and the second face gain medium.

Abstract: A laser source (10) for emitting a set of sequential, different wavelength output beams (12) includes a gain medium (16), a feedback assembly (26) and a control system (30). The gain medium (16) includes a first facet (16A), and the gain medium (16) generates a beam (12A) that exits the first facet (16A). The feedback assembly (26) includes a feedback device (40) and a device mover (42). The feedback device (40) is positioned in the path of the beam (12A) that exits the first facet (16A) and the feedback device (40) redirects at least a portion of the beam (12A) back to the gain medium (16). The device mover (42) continuously adjusts an angle of incidence (?) of the beam (12A) on the feedback device (40). The control system (30) selectively directs pulses of power to the gain medium (16) as the device mover (42) is continuously adjusting the angle of incidence (?) of the beam (12A).

Abstract: The present invention provides a laser oscillator using an electroluminescent material that can enhance directivity of emitted laser light and resistance to a physical impact. The laser oscillator has a first layer including a concave portion, a second layer formed over the first layer to cover the concave portion, and a light emitting element formed over the second layer to overlap the concave portion, wherein the second layer is planarized, an axis of laser light obtained from the light emitting element intersects with a planarized surface of the second layer, the first layer has a curved surface in the concave portion, and a refractive index of the first layer is lower than that of the second layer.

Abstract: An external-cavity one-dimensional multi-wavelength beam combiner that performs wavelength beam combining along a stacking dimension of a laser stack formed of a plurality of laser arrays, each laser array configured to generate optical radiation having a unique wavelength, and each of the plurality of laser arrays including a plurality of laser emitters arranged along an array dimension of the laser stack. The multi-wavelength beam combiner includes a cylindrical telescope configured to image each of the laser emitters along a slow axis of the laser emitters, a transform lens arranged to intercept the optical radiation from each of the plurality of laser arrays and combine the optical radiation along a stacking dimension of the laser stack to form a multi-wavelength optical beam, and a diffraction element positioned at a region of overlap of the optical radiation to receive and transmit the multi-wavelength optical beam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a VCSEL device comprising an optical gain medium (8) arranged between a first DBR (9) and a second DBR (7). The first and the second DBR form a laser cavity and are designed to allow self-contained lasing in the laser cavity, said second DBR (7) being partially transparent for laser radiation resonating in the laser cavity. An optical element is arranged on a side of the second DBR (7) outside of the laser cavity on the optical axis of the laser cavity. The optical element has a concave surface (5) facing the second DBR (7) and being designed to reflect a portion of laser radiation emitted through the second DBR (7) back into the laser cavity. The ratio R/d of the radius of curvature R of the concave surface (5) and the distance d between the concave surface (5) and the gain medium (8) is in the range between 1 and 2. With the proposed VCSEL device a high power output with an improved mode distribution and mode stabilization is achieved.

Abstract: A tuning methods of an External Cavity Laser Diode (ECLD), comprises steps of: (1) providing a laser light to a grating so as to tilt the grating to an optical axis of a collimated laser light, (2) adjusting the orientation of the grating relative to the collimated laser light, (3) monitoring singleness of longitudinal mode and optical power of a light emitted from the grating, (4) calculating an orientation of the grating to exhibit intended optical power at which the singleness of longitudinal mode shows at least predetermined value, (5) adjusting the grating orientation or the optical axis of the collimated laser light to the calculated grating orientation.

Abstract: A multi-pass optical cell with an actuator for actuating a reflective surface is provided. In one preferred embodiment, an apparatus is provided comprising a first reflective surface, a second reflective surface, and a support structure supporting the first and second reflective surfaces. The support structure positions the first and second reflective surfaces to create an optical cell. The apparatus also comprises a source and a detector, which are positioned such that light emitted from the source is reflected in the optical cell at least one time between the first and second reflective surfaces before reaching the detector. The apparatus further comprises an actuator coupled with and operative to actuate the first reflective surface. In some embodiments, the actuator rotates the first reflective surface. Also, in some embodiments, the multi-pass optical cell is an open path multi-pass optical cell, while, in other embodiments, the multi-pass optical cell is a closed path multi-pass optical cell.

Abstract: An optical resonator configured to be tuned using a charge-based memory cell includes an optical cavity configured to transmit light and receive injected charge carriers; a charge-based memory cell in proximity to or within the optical cavity, the memory cell containing a number of trapped charges which influence the resonant optical frequency of the optical resonator. A method of tuning an optical resonator includes applying a voltage or current to a charge-based memory cell to generate a non-volatile charge within the memory cell, the nonvolatile charge changing a resonant frequency of the optical resonator.

Abstract: A mode selection technique in a laser is described wherein a recess is formed in a surface of a waveguide in the laser. The recess provides a region of free space propagation within the waveguide which preferentially selects the lowest order mode. A mode selective RF excited CO2 slab laser, having a stable resonator in the waveguide dimension and a negative branch unstable resonator in the non-waveguide dimension, is constructed and the position and size of the recess is considered to provide low order mode selection.

Abstract: There is provided a light source unit which includes a luminescent light source which receives excitation light so as to emit light of a predetermined wavelength band, excitation light sources which shine excitation light on to the luminescent light source, a reflection space having the luminescent light source in an interior thereof and an emission space which emits luminescent light source light emitted from the reflection space from an emission port whose area is made smaller than the area of the luminescent light source and a projector which employs the light source unit.

Abstract: A dual-cavity single longitudinal mode (SLM) laser oscillator generates a pulsed laser signal having a long pulsewidth, long coherence length, and good shot-to-shot energy stability. The laser oscillator has a first cavity between an output coupler and a rear mirror and a second cavity between the output coupler and an intra-cavity mirror disposed between the output coupler and rear mirror. High-loss cavity optics and a passive Q-switch achieve a very high number of round trips that reduce the number of cavity modes down to two or three. The dual cavity design further discriminates between the remaining modes and allows SLM operation. The laser oscillator and an amplifier can be used as a pump laser for a laser system that generates red, green, and blue pulses for holographic recording. A wavelength conversion stage uses optical parametric amplifier(s), doubling crystals, and sum-frequency mixers to produce RGB light from the pump pulses.

Abstract: A two-dimensional photonic crystal plane emission laser of the invention includes a two-dimensional photonic crystal which has a two-dimensional photonic crystal area and a light reflecting area, and which selects a wavelength of light to be generated in an active layer. The light reflecting area is formed in such a manner that when light leaking from the two-dimensional photonic crystal area and reflected on a reflecting surface of the light reflecting area is returned to the two-dimensional photonic crystal area, the reflection light is combined with a standing wave residing in a propagating direction of the reflection light without disturbing its resonant state.

Abstract: In an external cavity wavelength tunable laser device including an external cavity (20) which includes a semiconductor optical amplifier (2) and performs laser oscillation operation by feeding back external light, a wavelength tunable mirror (7) having at least a single-peak reflection spectrum characteristic within a laser wavelength tuning range is placed on one end of the external cavity (20), and a Fabry-Perot mode interval determined by the effective length of the external cavity (20) is not less than 1/10 times and not more than 10 times the reflection band full width half maximum of the wavelength tunable mirror (7).

Abstract: A laser device includes a cavity and a control portion. The cavity has an optical amplifier, a wavelength selectable portion having a changeable transmission wavelength range, and a mirror. The control portion controls the wavelength selectable portion so that the transmission wavelength range of the wavelength selectable portion is changed to a given range. The control portion controls the wavelength selectable portion so that the cavity outputs a desirable lasing wavelength light and optical intensity of the desirable lasing wavelength light is a given value, after controlling the wavelength selectable portion so that the cavity outputs the desirable lasing wavelength light.

Abstract: A wavelength variable laser smaller in size than the conventional one can be achieved by arranging a gain chip, an etalon filter and a fifth reflective mirror on an AlN submount and longitudinally integrating the gain chip in which a 45° mirror and a lens are integrated and the etalon filter. A laser cavity has a structure in which light passes through an active layer from a first reflective mirror realized by an end surface of the gain chip, is reflected by the 45° mirror at an angle of 90° and then passes through the lens. The light having passed through the lens is converted into parallel light, passes through the etalon filter and reaches the fifth reflective mirror and is then reflected. The reflected light returns through the same optical path and reaches the first reflective mirror realized by the end surface of the gain chip.

Abstract: A solid state laser device is provided. The active element has a double slope portion defining a right angle between the slopes, wherein the pump light beam is directed into one of the slopes, and wherein an output coupler configured to output a laser beam from the active element is located on a portion of the active element, opposite of the double slope portion, the double slope portion is configured such that the laser beam travels at least twice along the long axis of the active element; and a second double slopes portion located at the edge opposite of the first double sloped portion, wherein the second double slopes portion is perpendicular to the first double slopes portion, and wherein the second double slopes portion is configured such that the laser beam travels back and forth along the long axis of the active element at least one more time.

Abstract: An ultrashort-pulse laser that has a resonator that includes a laser gain medium, dispersion compensation optics, and a deformable optical element adapted to change its shape and consequently one or more characteristics of pulses output from the cavity.

Abstract: A semiconductor diode laser having a broad vertical waveguide and a broad lateral waveguide is disclosed emitting laser-light in a single vertical mode and a single lateral mode narrow beam. The vertical waveguide comprises a coupled cavity structure, wherein light, generated in the active medium placed in the first cavity leaks into the second cavity and returns back. Phase matching conditions govern the selection of a single vertical mode. A multi-stripe lateral waveguide comprises preferably a lateral photonic band crystal with a lateral optical defect created by selected pumping of multistripes. This approach allows the selection of a single lateral mode having a higher optical confinement factor and/or a lower absorption loss and/or a lower leakage loss compared to the rest lateral optical modes. This enables a single lateral mode lasing from a broad area field coupled laser array.

Abstract: The basic gain medium enclosure for laser devices comprises two parallel lateral mirrors which geometrically define the extent of the gain medium enclosure and which allow the formation of lateral stationary sinusoidal waves.

Abstract: A polymer film laser is provided that comprises a plurality of extruded polymer layers. The plurality of extruded polymer layers comprises a plurality of alternating dielectric layers of a first polymer material having a first refractive index and a second polymer material having second refractive index different than the first refractive index.