Abstract: A system and a method for tracking a target and for compensating for atmospheric turbulence is described. In an embodiment, the system includes at least two light sources each emitting a light beam to the target; at least two collimators that collimate the light beam of the associated light source; and a reference device to reflect a portion of the light beam exiting from all the collimators. The system also includes: at least two targeting modules to lead the light beam from the light source to reach a predetermined zone of the target; at least two detection modules to receive and detect the portion of the beam reflected by the reference device; a module for determining angle of deviation; a module for determining phase deviation; and an adjustment module for adjusting each of the light sources in order to compensate for atmospheric turbulence.

Abstract: A method and system for adjusting the profile of a laser wavefront formed by at least a laser beam to a desired laser wavefront profile, the laser beam or beams presenting random phases and intensities, comprises a mixing module, configured to generate, from interference phenomena among the laser beam or beams, a laser field, a second intensity measuring module configured to measure the mixed intensities of the laser field portions, a calculation unit configured to calculate one or several phase correction values of the phase of the laser beam or the phases of laser beams, from the intensities of the laser beams, the mixed intensities and one or several predetermined target phases, and a phase adjustment module configured to apply the phase correction value or values obtained from the calculation unit to the laser beam phases.

Abstract: An optical device able to change the direction of propagation of a light beam. The optical device allows a wide range of adjustment of the direction of the light beam, said optical device including, in the direction of propagation of the light beam, an overall divergent group of lenses and an overall convergent group of lenses. The overall divergent group of lenses contains, in the direction of propagation of the light beam, a fixed lens, and an optical module comprising at least one movable optical element able to change the direction of propagation of the light beam emerging from the overall divergent group of lenses.

Abstract: A system and a method for tracking a target and for compensating for atmospheric turbulence, the system comprising at least two light sources with each emitting a light beam to the target, at least two collimators to collimate the light beam of the associated light source, a reference device to reflect a portion of the light beam exiting from all the collimators, at least two targeting modules to lead the light beam from the light source to reach a predetermined zone of the target, at least two detection modules to receive and detect the portion of the beam reflected by the reference device, a module for determining angle of deviation, a module for determining phase deviation and an adjustment module for adjusting each of the light sources in order to compensate for atmospheric turbulence.

Abstract: Optical device for adjusting the spatial distribution of a laser beam. The device (1) comprises an assembly (2) of two matrices (3, 4) of lenses (5a), said matrices (3, 4) being identical and arranged parallel to one another with a uniform spacing between them, said assembly (2) being traversable by a laser beam (6), and controllable activating means (10) capable of modifying the spacing between the two matrices (3, 4) to create a zoom effect.

Abstract: An active element slab for a laser source is presented. The active element slab includes at least one input surface of a pump beam, a first section in the shape of an elongated bar along a longitudinal axis that includes a first doped matrix configured to absorb the beam pump to amplify a laser beam travelling longitudinally, a second section that covers at least partially the first section, the second section that includes a second doped matrix configured to absorb the laser beam and of being transparent to the pump beam.

Abstract: A method and system for adjusting the profile of a laser wavefront formed by at least a laser beam to a desired laser wavefront profile, the laser beam or beams presenting random phases and intensities, comprises a mixing module, configured to generate, from interference phenomena among the laser beam or beams, a laser field, a second intensity measuring module configured to measure the mixed intensities of the laser field portions, a calculation unit configured to calculate one or several phase correction values of the phase of the laser beam or the phases of laser beams, from the intensities of the laser beams, the mixed intensities and one or several predetermined target phases, and a phase adjustment module configured to apply the phase correction value or values obtained from the calculation unit to the laser beam phases.

Abstract: An active element slab for a laser source is presented. The active element slab includes at least one input surface of a pump beam, a first section in the shape of an elongated bar along a longitudinal axis that includes a first doped matrix configured to absorb the beam pump to amplify a laser beam travelling longitudinally, a second section that covers at least partially the first section, the second section that includes a second doped matrix configured to absorb the laser beam and of being transparent to the pump beam.

Abstract: According to the invention, a plurality of elementary laser beams (fi) are generated, the phases of which are adjusted by an electro-optical feedback loop (6, 7i, 8i, 9) implementing the matrix equation of a phase-contrast filtering device (6).

Abstract: An optical device able to change the direction of propagation of a light beam. The optical device allows a wide range of adjustment of the direction of the light beam, said optical device including, in the direction of propagation of the light beam, an overall divergent group of lenses and an overall convergent group of lenses. The overall divergent group of lenses contains, in the direction of propagation of the light beam, a fixed lens, and an optical module comprising at least one movable optical element able to change the direction of propagation of the light beam emerging from the overall divergent group of lenses.

Abstract: The invention concerns a laser amplification system comprising a pumping device and at least one thick amplifier disc having a first face, which is reflective at the wavelengths of a pulsed laser beam of the laser amplification system and of a pump beam of the pumping device, as well as at least one heat-dissipation component to which this first face of the amplifier disc is firmly secured, the saturation fluence of the active medium of the amplifier disc being equal to or less than 3 J·cm?2.

Abstract: The laser cavity is of the unstable type and is provided with a passive Q-switch, the passive Q-switch comprising a saturable absorber that has an absorption gradient, so that the absorption profile of the saturable absorber is inhomogeneous over the cross section of the beam travelling in the laser cavity.

Abstract: The device (1) comprises a controllable illumination module (2) comprising a laser source (3) capable of emitting a laser pulse, a controllable high-speed shutter (5), and an activatable control unit (6) which controls said illumination module (2) and said shutter (5) simultaneously, and which synchronizes the generation of laser pulses by the illumination module (2) and the opening of the shutter (5) so as to move said shutter (5) into an open position, an adjustable time lag after the generation of a laser pulse, and this over an adjustable opening period, said illumination module (2) and said shutter (5) forming part of an assembly (12) having mechanical integrity.

Abstract: The invention concerns a laser amplification system comprising a pumping device and at least one thick amplifier disc having a first face, which is reflective at the wavelengths of a pulsed laser beam of the laser amplification system and of a pump beam of the pumping device, as well as at least one heat-dissipation component to which this first face of the amplifier disc is firmly secured, the saturation fluence of the active medium of the amplifier disc being equal to or less than 3 J·cm?2.

Abstract: Method and laser oscillator for the generation of a laser beam—According to the invention with a view to adjusting, inside said laser oscillator (1), the phase of each of the N elementary laser beams (FLE.1, FLE.2, FLE.N) generated on the basis of said laser oscillator (1) in such a way that said elementary laser beams are in phase, the deviation between the phase of an individual elementary laser beam (FLE.1) and the phases of the N?1 other elementary laser beams (FLE.2, FLE.N) is converted into a level of luminous intensity by means of at least one optical filtering element to which at least a part of each elementary laser beam is directed.

Abstract: The laser cavity is of the unstable type and is provided with a passive Q-switch, the passive Q-switch comprising a saturable absorber that has an absorption gradient, so that the absorption profile of the saturable absorber is inhomogeneous over the cross section of the beam travelling in the laser cavity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a laser cavity with central extraction by polarisation for coherent coupling of intense intra-cavity beams. The laser cavity (1) according to the invention comprises an extraction unit (7) with central extraction, which divides the laser cavity (1) longitudinally into two functional portions (P1, P2), namely a first portion (P1) including the active components (3), which amplifies the laser beams (4), and a second portion (P2) which performs coherent coupling of the laser beams (4).

Abstract: Optical device for adjusting the spatial distribution of a laser beam. The device (1) comprises an assembly (2) of two matrices (3, 4) of lenses (5a), said matrices (3, 4) being identical and arranged parallel to one another with a uniform spacing between them, said assembly (2) being traversable by a laser beam (6), and controllable activating means (10) capable of modifying the spacing between the two matrices (3, 4) to create a zoom effect.

Abstract: The system (1) has at least one Fabry-Pérot cavity (3) with an adjustable gap (E), of which a gap value known as the nominal value allows a laser beam (4) of corresponding frequency to pass through said Fabry-Pérot cavity (3), controllable piezoelectric actuation means (5A), capable of causing said gap (E) to vary, within a range of gap values including said nominal value, and a control unit (6) to control said actuation means (5A) so that it causes the gap (E) to vary in accordance with a periodic time function.

Abstract: The device (1) comprises a controllable illumination module (2) comprising a laser source (3) capable of emitting a laser pulse, a controllable high-speed shutter (5), and an activatable control unit (6) which controls said illumination module (2) and said shutter (5) simultaneously, and which synchronises the generation of laser pulses by the illumination module (2) and the opening of the shutter (5) so as to move said shutter (5) into an open position, an adjustable time lag after the generation of a laser pulse, and this over an adjustable opening period, said illumination module (2) and said shutter (5) forming part of an assembly (12) having mechanical integrity.