Abstract: A two-step solid state optical switch system includes an electro-optical material positioned between a first electrode and a grounded second electrode. A voltage source is electrically connectable to the first electrode by an ON switch. When the ON switch is closed, a plurality of field effect transistors establish electrical contact between the voltage source and the first electrode to charge the first electrode and change the optical characteristics of the electro-optical material. An OFF switch, which is also electrically connectable to the first electrode, includes a plurality of field effect transistors, which establish electrical contact between ground and the first electrode when the OFF switch is closed. With the closing of the OFF switch, any voltage on the first electrode is removed to restore the optical characteristics of the electro-optical material.

Abstract: A high power end-pumped laser system for use with a regenerative amplifier includes an assembly for generating a plurality of collimated laser beams and a focusing element for focusing the plurality of laser beams onto a common focal volume. To generate the plurality of collimated laser beams, the assembly employs an array of diode lasers and an array of collimating microlenses. The microlens array is positioned relative to the laser diode array to place each collimating microlens in the beam path of a respective diode laser. The resultant plurality of collimated laser beams are emitted from the assembly substantially parallel to each other and they are all then passed through a cylindrical collimating lens with the result that the beams are collimated in two planes. The output of the cylindrical collimating lens is then focused by a lens to a focal volume. For operation of the system, the focal volume is located in a laser medium to allow the medium to be end-pumped.

Abstract: A device for mapping the topography of the cornea of an eye has a light source for directing a beam of collimated monochromatic light characterized by a flat wave front onto the cornea. Positioned between the light source and the cornea is an objective lens for focusing this flat wave front toward the cornea as a converging spherical wave front. The light reflected from the cornea passes back through the objective lens to establish a reflected wave front having deviations from the flat wave front caused by aberrations on the cornea that are indicative of corneal topography. This reflected wave front is then segmentally focused by a lens array into a pattern which reveals the deviations for use in mapping the topography of the cornea.

Abstract: A method for reshaping the cornea comprises an initial step of determining the precise volume of corneal tissue which must be removed in order to attain the desired vision correction. A pulses laser beam, having a pulse energy density sufficient to cause photoablation of corneal tissue near the threshold of the plasma regime, is directed onto the eye for removal of relatively large portions of tissue from the precisely determined volume to establish a corrected surface. A pulsed laser beam, having a pulse energy density sufficient to cause photoablation of corneal tissue substantially below the threshold of the plasma regime, is then directed onto the corrected surface to take away relatively small portions of corneal tissue and thereby smooth the corrected surface.

Abstract: A single cavity laser device comprises a diode pumped laser medium having a relatively high gain but a relatively low power. With this medium, a control laser beam is generated. Also positioned in the cavity is a second laser medium having a relatively large gain volume which is pumped by an array of laser diodes at a relatively low gain to create a reservoir of excited state ions. Positioned between these two diode pumped laser mediums is a beam expander which focuses the control laser beam onto the second laser medium to substantially fill the gain volume of the second laser medium. Stimulation of the excited ions in the gain volume of the second laser medium by photons in the control beam efficiently generates a laser beam of relatively high power.