Abstract: A high power (HP) fiber circulator is configured with a case enclosing a plurality of optical components which are arranged so as to define multiple ports. The fiber circulator further includes a plurality of launching and receiving fiber components each of which has spliced delivery and pigtailed passive fibers selectively coupling a HP input signal into and receiving a HP output signal from respective input and output ports. The passive fibers of each fiber component have respective protective coatings spaced from one another and each covering the cladding of the fibers. A light stripper, extending between the protective coatings, is operative to substantially remove cladding-supported light from one of the passive fibers before it reaches the protective coating of the other passive fiber.

Abstract: A method of processing a work material using a laser can include directing a laser beam of optical energy from a laser to a work material; processing the work material with the laser beam of optical energy in accordance with at least one processing parameter to modify the work material, the processing of the work material having associated therewith an optical signature; sensing a characteristic of the optical signature; and varying the at least one processing parameter responsive to the sensing of the characteristic of the optical signature. Other related methods are disclosed, as are laser processing systems, which systems can be used to practice the methods.

Abstract: Optical fiber apparatus having a wavelength of operation, that comprises an optical fiber including a core comprising an active material for providing light having the operating wavelength responsive to the optical apparatus receiving pump optical energy having a pump wavelength; a cladding disposed about the core; at least one region spaced from the core; and wherein the optical fiber is configured and arranged such that at the wavelength of operation the optical fiber can propagate a plurality of modes and wherein the optical fiber comprises a fundamental mode that is primarily a mode of the core and at least one higher order mode (HOM) that is a mixed mode of a selected mode of the core and of a selected mode of the at least one region.

Abstract: A high power pulsed laser system is configured with at least two gain blocks and with at least one saturable absorber (SA) coupled to the output and input of the respective gain blocks. The SA is configured so that Qsat_sa<Qsat_gb, wherein Qsat_sa is a saturation energy of the SA, and Qsat_gb is a saturation energy of the gain blocks. The SA is further configured with a recovery time ?<1/f providing for the substantially closed state of the SA, wherein the f is a pulse repetition rate, and with the recovery time ? smaller than a round trip time Tround_trip=2*(L1+L2)*n/c, where L1, L2—lengths of the respective gains gain blocks, n—a refractive index of active media, c—a speed of light in vacuum.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a modular fiber laser system operative to controllably guide a beam which is launched from a feeding fiber into a process fiber so that the high-aperture component is coupled and guided in cladding of the process fiber, and a low-aperture component is coupled into the core of the fiber. The laser system further has a reflective element configured with light-reflecting and light-transmitting portions. The high-aperture component at least partially decouples from the cladding into the core so that the core radiates the high-aperture and low-aperture components. The high-aperture component is incident upon the light-reflecting portion and backreflected into the process fiber so that a sensor array, which is located between the feeding and process fibers, detects the reflected light.

Abstract: A laser system includes a multimode fiber (MMF) receiving a single-mode input beam and a mechanical oscillator coupled to the MMF. The oscillator is operative to modulate a phase of interference wave by periodically extending the fiber total length at such a frequency that a cross-coupling coefficient between fundamental and at least one high-order modes is substantially minimized.

Abstract: Optical apparatus, comprising an optical fiber having a wavelength of operation, the optical fiber comprising an inner core, the inner core supporting a fundamental mode and at least first and second higher order modes (HOMs) at the wavelength of operation; a first ring-shaped core region spaced from and disposed about the inner core; a second ring-shaped core region spaced from and disposed about the ring-shaped core region; and wherein the optical fiber is configured and arranged such that the first HOM optically interacts with the first ring-shaped core region and the second HOM optically interacts with the second ring-shaped core region.

Abstract: A laser assembly is configured with a frequency conversion laser head operative to shift a fundamental frequency of input light to the desired frequency of an output light. The frequency conversion laser head includes a dump means operative to guide an unconverted output light at the fundamental frequency outside the case of the frequency conversion laser head. The dump means is configured with a guide optics operative to couple the output light at the fundamental frequency to a fiber terminating outside the case of the frequency conversion laser head.

Abstract: A high power fiber laser system has a combiner configured of a plurality of single mode (SM) fibers which are fused together so as to define an output end of the fiber combiner. The fused SM fibers radiate respective fiber outputs, which collectively define a multimode (MM) combiner output. The SM fibers each are configured with such an optimally small numerical apertures (NA) that the MM combiner output is characterized by a minimally possible beam quality factor (M2) for the plurality of SM fibers. To reduce the possibility of burning of the components of the fiber laser system with a multi-kilowatt combiner output, a coreless termination block is fused to the output end of the fiber combiner and configured so as to provide expansion of the combiner output without modifying the minimally possible M2 factor thereof.

Abstract: An optical fiber apparatus having a wavelength of operation comprises an optical fiber comprising a core; a pump cladding disposed about the core for receiving pump optical energy having a pump wavelength; and a second cladding disposed about for tending to confine pump optical energy to the pump cladding. The core can comprise a rare earth material for providing optical energy having the wavelength of operation responsive to the optical fiber receiving the pump optical energy, and the fiber can further comprise at least one ring core spaced from the core, the ring core defined by inner and outer diameters and comprising the cross sectional area therebetween. The ring core can comprise an absorbing material for absorbing optical energy having the wavelength of operation.

Abstract: A laser system includes a multimode fiber (MMF) having a permanent perturbation region which is provided at the predetermined distance from the upstream end of the MMF. The perturbation region is configured so that propagating fundamental and at least one high-order mode (HOM) originated upstream from the perturbation region are split into multiple HOMs which are substantially in counterphase. Hence, the HOMs destructively interfere with and substantially cancel one another.

Abstract: A powerful fiber laser system is configured with at least one large-area multi-clad rare-earth doped fiber, which is configured with a MM core capable of propagating a single mode laser emission at a first wavelength, and with at least one pumping assembly capable of generating an optical pump output at a wavelength shorter than the first wavelength of the rare-earth doped fiber. The pumping assembly has a plurality SM fiber lasers coupled to a SM-MM combiner which is operative to lunch the pump output into the cladding of the rare-earth doped fiber so that the powerful fiber laser system is operative to deliver a power of up to 20 kW.

Abstract: A homogeneous foam is obtained by providing a plate formed with numerous capillary tubes which divide a gas stream into elementary gas components spaced equidistantly from one another upon entering a foaming composition. The gas stream is controllably interrupted to obtain a succession of gas doses supplied to the plate in a time and pressure-controlled manner; the plate is controllably displaced to allow gas bubbles to separate from the plate between consecutive gas doses.

Abstract: A folding and glueing device (30) for folding and applying glue to the closure flaps (5) of blanks in continuously moving "wrap-around" sleeve packaging machines comprises a pair of coaxial and interconnected rotary members (14, 18), at least one driven rotary bar (26) borne in a rotary manner by and between the pair of rotary members (14, 18), transmission means (15, 28, 27) adapted to rotate the rotary bar (26) in phase relationship with the rotation of the pair of rotary members (14, 18), a closure blade disposed and secured along the rotary bar (26) and spray glueing means (22) positioned between the pair of rotary members (14, 18) in a central zone that does not interfere with the path described by the rotary bar (26) which is caused to move along a circular path by the rotary members (14, 18).

Abstract: Machine with two generally converging threaded rotors (5) for the extrusion of plastomers, elastomers and the like, comprising a structure (1, 2, 3) supporting a housing (4) containing the rotors (5), a casing (6) containing a pair of reducers (7), a device (11) for generating the movement and devices (10) for synchronized transmission thereof to the two reducers (7), wherein said housing containing the rotors (5) and said casing (6) containing the reducers are rigidly fixed to the support structure (1, 2, 3) and integrally connected together via a housing (8) arranged between the two and containing first means (8a, 8c) for supporting the rotors (5), said rotors being formed in two separate parts (5a, 5b), removably joined to one another, said devices (10) for synchronized transmission of the movement being integral with the bottom part of the said casing (6) and having a high-speed shaft (12) arranged along an axis forming an angle with the axis of the associated rotor (5) and coaxial with the high-speed sha

Abstract: An antidrip edge composition of fine-powder glass formers, cellulosic polymer and water to which a mineral acid is added has a pot-life lengthener for the dispersion is subjected to vacuum and/or agitation and/or vibration to remove bubbles, upon application to a glass sheet, prevents escape of an alkali silicate solution forming a fire-resisting intervening layer between that glass sheet and another glass or plastic sheet applied thereto.

Abstract: An automatic shower control for the flow to a shower head by a detection device and its control and evaluation circuitry which detects the presence of a user and includes switching device for activation and deactivation of the control. An intensity selective evaluation of the detector signal indicates whether the signal derives from an object in a close proximity range or a normal proximity range to the detector and the system is switched on by the presence of an object in the close proximity range. During operation in the normal proximity range, which can terminate when the user leaves this range, water shut off can also be effected by movement of an object into the close proximity range.

Abstract: Mixing machine for elastomers, plastomers and the like, comprising a closed mixing chamber (8) having housed inside it the rotors (4) rotating about respective parallel and horizontal axes of rotation (4a), wherein said chamber (8) has semi-cylindrical walls (6) with axes (6a) parallel to the axes (4a) of rotation of the rotors (4) and symmetrically translated with respect to the latter, said translation being effected outwards in a direction lying on the horizontal plane containing said axes of the walls (6) and the rotors (4) and perpendicular to the latter.

Abstract: Machine for the extrusion of polymers and the like, comprising a pair of threaded rotors (5) with axes which are generally converging with respect to each other and means (7) for synchronized transmission of the movement to the said rotors (5), wherein each rotor (5) is made to rotate by means of its own actuating motor (8).

Abstract: The method of forming a multilayer printed circuit board includes applying a photopolymerizable coating append having a solid content of 70 to 95% by weight and a viscosity of 10 to 60 Pa.s of 25.degree. C. to a surface of the applicator cooled to a temperature of 5.degree. C. by a metering roll surface of which is controllably maintained at a temperature range from 25.degree. to 60.degree. C., so that the coating agent is deposited on opposite sides of a board and has an application viscosity of 20 to 100 Pa.s at a coating speed of 5 to 20 m/min to form a film thickening of 10 to 200 .mu.m.