Abstract: A high power single mode (“SM”) laser system includes an amplifier configured with a monolithic fiber to rod fiber waveguide which is structured with a multimode (“MM”) core and at least one cladding surrounding the core. The MM core is configured with a small diameter uniform input region receiving and guiding a SM signal light, a mode-transforming frustoconical core region expanding outwards from the input region and a relatively large diameter uniform output portion. The high power laser system is further structured with a MM pump light delivery fiber having a numerical aperture NA2, which is at most equal to that one of the output core portion. The amplifier and pump light output fiber traverse an unconfined delivery cable and terminate upstream from a mirror which is configured to focus the incident pump light into the core of the amplifier in a counter-propagating direction.

Abstract: A clad absorber unit is provided on a passive fiber of a high power fiber laser system and operative to trap and remove high order modes propagating along the clad of the passive fiber. The mode absorber has a composition made from one or more liquid metals and alloys thereof which are placed in the opening formed in the sheath of the passive fiber. The composition is configured to remove from the cladding the MM light having a predetermined light power which heats the composition at a temperature lower than a threshold temperature at which the absorber may be damaged.

Abstract: Laser processing systems and methods are capable of moving a laser beam while maintaining consistent laser beam characteristics at processing locations. The laser processing systems generate a collimated laser beam having a consistent Z axis power density along at least a portion of a length of the laser beam and dither the collimated laser beam along one of the X and Y axes. The dithering of the collimated laser beam facilitates consistent laser processing on a three-dimensional surface, for example, to provide consistent deposition of a coating in a laser cladding process. A laser processing system may include a beam delivery system that provides both the collimation and the dithering of the collimated laser as well as an adjustment of the beam diameter of the collimated beam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a head assembly for a laser processing system, preferably a fiber laser processing system. An assembly system allows a secure and a slidingly focusing displacement of a focusing lens assembly relative to a beam path in a laser processing system. The assembly system provides easy replacement of desired focusing lens assemblies. Adaptive modifications are operative to provide computerized processor control of the focusing displacement and detection of an installed optical assembly and position thereof.

Abstract: A universal fiber optic connector includes a housing and a fiber attachment element configured to attach an optical fiber in the housing. The attachment element positions the optical fiber such that an end face of the fiber is held within the housing. The fiber end face is positioned such that a beam of light emerging from the fiber end face has a defined wavefront located at a specified interface.

Abstract: A laser illuminated projector system is configured with multiple Red, Green and Blue laser sources. The Green laser source has an all fiber master oscillator power amplifier configuration in which pump light is coupled into the output end of the fiber amplifier in a counter-propagation direction rendering the structure of the Green source and therefore projector system compact. The Green laser source is operative to emit signal light pulses at about 1064 nm wavelength with a pulse repetition reaching of up to about 3000 kHz, pulse duration between about a 100 fm to about 100 psec, an average power between 1.5 W to above 30 W, a peak power above 5 MW, a pulse energy exceeding 100 ?J and a beam quality parameter M2 ranging between 1.2 and 1.5. The thus configured Green laser source substantially reduces speckle otherwise visible on the laser illuminated screen.

Abstract: A pulsed laser system may include a Raman fiber that is configured to act as multiple wavelength Raman laser. The fiber is configured to receive a pulsed input beam from an input source and convert the input beam to an output beam having narrow band outputs at first and second frequencies v1 and v2.

Abstract: A high power fiber laser system is configured with a pump cascade and a laser cascade. The pump cascade includes a fiber amplifier provided with a MM core which is doped with ions of rare-earth element including either Er or Yb/Er. The MM core of fiber amplifier is configured with a double bottleneck-shaped cross section. The laser cascade has a fiber laser configured with a core which is doped with Tm ions. The pump light generated by the amplifier is coupled into the upstream end of the Tm laser.

Abstract: A method for marking a thin workpiece is designed to prevent deformation of the workpiece. A plurality of lasers are opposed to respective opposite sides of the workpiece so as to both sides are heat treated. The lasers can operate synchronously with the respective emitted beams aligned with one another. As a result, the workpiece does not exhibit signs of deformation upon the completion of the marking. The workpiece is made either from plastic or metals and has a thickness not exceeding 2 millimeters. The lasers each are configured as either a fiber laser or a gas laser. The marking can be performed by lasers which are configured uniformly or non-uniformly and includes annealing, engraving and ablating. The marking can be performed synchronously or sequentially. The multi-surface marking could also be used to cause “distortion of the surface in a more controlled or desired fashion.

Abstract: An optical crystal can be mounted to a mounting block configured to receive the crystal. A base portion on the mounting block utilizes two walls forming a corner and a single biasing spring clip to secure the crystal. The spring clip applies forces in two different directions substantially orthogonal to the two walls. The spring clip is based off a symmetrical geometry which applies nearly the same force application in both directions. The spring also features rounded bend regions that contact the crystal in such a way as to reduce the presence of point loads or stress risers. The length of contact along the crystal is maximized, allowing for proper force distribution and a sufficient surface are contact for static holding capabilities.

Abstract: A laser safety control system is configured with a power source module directly coupled to an AC source and including a galvanically isolated DC/DC converter with at least one output capacitor, and a safety mechanism. The safety mechanism has first and second safety channels which operate independently from one another so as to switch the normal operating regime of the power source module to the safe regime. In the normal operating regime, its DC output has a high voltage, whereas in the safe regime the DC output has a low voltage lower than the high voltage. The safety channels each include a shutdown circuit operative to switch the DC/DC converter off and a discharging circuit operative to discharge the output capacitor. The switching off DC/DC converter and discharging of the output capacitor define the safe regime of the power source module.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for material processing with a laser beam, in particular laser welding. It is comprised of a machine guided protective housing with an outlet opening surrounding the laser beam that is pointed at the material during processing. To create a machine for laser beam welding which ensures improved operator and personal safety without completely enclosing the machine, it is suggested that the protective housing contains at least one sensor which measures certain chemical or physical properties. The sensor is connected to the machines control unit which compares the current values with reference values for a measure and, depending on current/reference value comparison, interrupts the laser beam or prevents laser beam activation. In addition a method and arrangement for improved operator and personal safety for operation of such a machine is presented.

Abstract: A welding tool is configured with a housing enclosing a fiber laser system which is operative to produce a weld seam for connecting two workpieces. The fiber laser system includes a focusing optic configured to focus the output beam of the system so that it propagates through an elongated slit formed in the bottom of the housing. The fiber laser system is capable to move along a predetermined path extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the slit and limited by the perimeter thereof. The output beam od generated only when the slit sots upon at least one of the workpieces.

Abstract: An ultra-high power fiber laser system includes a single-piece fiber booster configured with fiber and straight short rod fiber portions which have in common a core configured with a numerical aperture?0.1. The rod fiber portion has a length?a few tens of centimeters and has a frustoconical cross-section expanding from the uniformly configured fiber portion. The core extending along the fiber portion supports a single mode (SM) or very low number of HOMs, whereas the large-diameter end of the frustoconical core portion supports a fundamental mode and high order multiple modes. The disclosed booster is energized by a pump source configured to emit pump light with such a density that while amplification of the fundamental mode continues in the central area of the core, a peripheral non-overlapped area of the core is bleached. The disclosed booster emits signal light in substantially a fundamental mode.

Abstract: A high power pump ultra bright low-noise source is configured with a multimode (“MM”) seed source outputting a MM smooth, low-noise signal light at a desired wavelength in a wavelength range between about 974 and 1030 nm, a MM Yb fiber wavelength converter operative to convert emission of a plurality of high power (“HP”) semiconductor laser diodes at a sub-pump wavelength ?sp to a pump output at the desired wavelength ??, wherein ??=????sp<0/1?sp. The Yb-doped MM wavelength converter is configured with noise levels substantially identical to those of the low-noise signal light, brightness (“B”) substantially equal to ?×B, wherein n is a number HP semiconductor laser diodes, and B is brightness of each HP laser diode, and output power (“Po”) substantially equal to nPd, wherein Pd is a power of each HP laser diode, and n is the number thereof.

Abstract: A high power fiber laser system is configured with a combiner end fiber spliced to a combiner output fiber. The system further includes a light stripper extending along the combiner end and output fibers and configured with sequentially located zones which are provided with respective refractive indices. In a forward propagating direction of light signal, the upstream zone includes polymeric material with the refractive index higher than that of the cladding of the combiner end fiber. This zone is configured to remove the backreflected core guided light bled into the cladding of the combiner through a splice between combiner end and output fibers. The intermediate zone includes polymeric material configured with a refractive index lower than that of the cladding of the combiner output fiber so it can prevent clad guided signal light from decoupling the cladding under the material.

Abstract: Individually operable laser diodes in an array are associated with optical fibers for treatment of a material. Each laser diode has a generally Gaussian or similar profile. A guide block receives optical fiber terminal distal ends and enables irradiation of a surface for treatment with overlapping profiles. A control system controls individual laser diodes to achieve desired illumination profiles for a given process. The process is performed in a suitable environment which may include a vacuum system, controlled gaseous environment, or in a doping medium such as a surface coating or even a liquid. Optional relay optics interposed between the terminal distal ends and the treatment material allows distant relaying and reimaging. An optical isolator assembly may be interposed between the relay optics and the treatment material. The system and related methods allow direct irradiation from laser diodes to treat materials.

Abstract: A clad mode stripper is provided on a passive double-clad fiber guiding amplified light signal downstream from a gain block. The fiber is configured with an upstream end stripped from a protective coating. A light absorbing mixture is applied to the exposed cladding of the fiber receiving unwanted pump light. The mixture includes a host material and a plurality of diffusers which are operative to scatter cladding light incident thereon and embedded in the host material so as to define upstream and downstream decoupling zones. The diffusers are selected from either silicone polymers with a refractive index lower than that of the host material or from metal particles and lower the effective refractive index of the mixture so that it at most equal to that of the cladding. The mixture is operative to gradually remove substantially entire unwanted light guided by the cladding so that the downstream decoupling zone is heated at a temperature lower than that of the upstream zone.

Abstract: A fiber Raman laser is configured with a microstructured double clad passive fiber which has an inner cladding receiving and guiding a high intensity pump light. The double-clad passive fiber farther has a eon surrounded by the inner cladding and an outer cladding. An arrangement of air holes is configured to define the inner, waveguiding cladding so that an NA of the latter varies between about 0.25-0.9 allowing this to reduce the diameter of the inner cladding. The passive fiber is characterized by a substantial overlap between the pump light and 1st stokes in the care and further includes an absorber operative to substantially suppress the signal light at the 2nd strokes so that the Ge-doped fiber outputs a SM, bright radiation at up to kW levels.

Abstract: A fiber connector system provides a pigtailed monolithic terminal block of a fiber connector configured to alter a space distribution of laser output radiation. The output facet of the pigtailed monolithic terminal block is configured to alter the divergence of an output beam allowing collimation, focusing, or any desired distribution without additional optical circuitry. The fiber connector system is operative to couple two fibers from respective different fiber devices and allows positioning additional optical components there between.