Abstract: A laser-active optical fiber for a fiber laser or an optical fiber amplifier contains a laser-active fiber core (2) comprising an undoped inner region (22) which is surrounded by an outer region (24) that is doped with a laser-active material. In this manner a high-power laser beam may be generated which has a mode structure, present in the form of a ring mode, which in particular is suitable for laser machining.

Abstract: An apparatus for deflecting a laser beam includes a deflecting mirror disposed in a holder, a lever, a rotatable coupler, and a drive member. The mirror is pivotable about a first pivot axis lying on a surface of the mirror, and the holder is rotatable about a second pivot axis oriented substantially perpendicular to the first pivot axis to cause the mirror to rotate about the second pivot axis. The lever is coupled to the mirror along a first lever axis parallel to and separated from the first pivot axis. The rotatable coupler is coupled to the lever along a second lever axis parallel to and separated from the first pivot axis, the coupler is rotatable about the second pivot axis, and the rotatable coupler and the holder are longitudinally translatable relative to each other along the second pivot axis. The drive member is coupled to the holder, and the drive member is longitudinally translatable along the second pivot axis to cause the mirror to rotate about the first pivot axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the functionality of an optical element includes a detector and a light source whose radiation is reflected to the detector by a surface of the optical element facing the detector and the light source.

Abstract: A stable resonator for solid-state lasers which exhibit a thermally induced lensing effect, includes a laser rod, a rear mirror and a semi-reflecting output mirror. The invention is characterized in that the rear mirror has an extremely asymmetrical configuration, allowing the laser rod to move totally or almost totally toward the side of the output mirror. The laser rod is curved in a convex manner on one end in order to achieve a refractive effect, and a convex rear mirror is provided. As a result of the extreme asymmetry, the resonator has a beam quality as a function of the pump power with a comparably flat maximum even at relatively short resonator lengths in contrast to the state of the art. The effects of the thermal lens have practically no influence on processing results. Starting pulse behavior lies below the detection limit.

Abstract: A system for the reforming of a laser beam having a circular sector shaped beam cross section into a laser beam with a rectangular beam cross section, incorporates a mirror whose surface is shaped as the circular sector of a reflective parabolic rotational body. With only one mirror, and with only minor image aberrations, the circular sector shaped laser beam can be reformed into a rectangular laser beam.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the beam guiding of a laser beam with at least one optical element and with a housing that has a first housing section, which can be fitted at least partially into a support body of a power laser or beam guiding system or can be attached thereto, and a further housing section that at least partially encloses the optical element, wherein a one-piece housing is provided, into which the optical element can be fitted, and wherein a bearing surface for the optical element is provided, which bearing surface at least partially encloses the housing opening and has a coating with a surface that is harder than the housing material.

Abstract: A device for beam guiding a laser beam with at least one optical element, which is positioned with a retaining element to a supporting section, and with a clamping element, which fixes the optical element to the supporting section of a housing section, wherein the housing section having the supporting section has a fastening section on which the clamping element engages for the central introduction of a retaining force and positions the optical element to the supporting section with the interposition of at least one retaining element.

Abstract: A laser has at least two coaxial electrode tubes spaced apart to provide a laser cavity therebetween and a cooling system including cooling coils about the outer surface of the outer electrode and about the inner surface of the inner electrode and in heat exchange contact therewith. Support pipes are provided about the outside of the outside cooling coil and about the inside surface of the inner cooling coil. The cooling coils are deformed into improved heat exchange contact with the electrode tubes by internal pressure and may be softened by annealing or the like before the application of the deformation pressure.

Abstract: A laser processing machine incorporates a gas flushed beam guiding chamber (3) and an optical element (2) bounding the beam guiding chamber (3) on the beam input side serves the optical element to direct the laser beam (4) into the beam-guiding chamber (3), and a flushing gas intake opening (10) is provided in the beam-guiding chamber (3) near the optical element (2). An optical diaphragm aperture (7, 21) is provided in the beam guiding chamber (3) for shaping the laser beam (4) and it is designed to also serve as a restrictor for the flushing gas. The diaphragm subdivides the beam guiding chamber, and, since only the part of the beam guiding chamber between the optical element and the diaphragm is subject to positive pressure, the amount of flushing gas needed for flushing is reduced.

Abstract: A processing apparatus is provided which includes a stretch-forming apparatus and a beam processing unit or apparatus, which can be controlled by a common control unit. The beam processing unit can be a laser beam processing unit, which permits a sheet metal piece to be subjected to an additional laser processing step before, during and/or after a stretch-forming process.

Abstract: A device for treating a substrate with laser radiation is described. The device has a rotating polygon mirror with N reflecting surfaces which are used to direct a laser beam via a system of converting focusing lenses, whereby the focal planes of the lenses are located on a surface of the substrate. Active reflecting surfaces direct the laser beam onto the converging lens system, and subsequently on the substrate, while inactive reflecting surfaces have a different inclination to the active reflecting surfaces in relation to the converging lens system. The laser beam from the surfaces is directed onto an absorber. The large number of inactive reflecting surface helps to reduce serial hole density. When the laser is switched on and off while the inactive reflecting surfaces are being scanned, further reduction of serial hole density can be achieved.

Abstract: The invention relates to a laser-processing unit, in particular a laser-welding unit, having a laser beam source (2) for generating a laser beam (LS) and having a pivotable focusing unit (8) for pivoting the laser beam (LS) about two axes of rotation (x, y) and for focusing the laser beam (LS) in a focus (F). A dichroic mirror (4) is arranged in the beam path of the laser beam (LS) between the laser beam source (2) and the focusing unit (8), which mirror is assigned an observation device (20) in such a manner that the optical axis (22) of this device coincides with the axis (24) of the laser beam (LS) as it propagates downstream of the dichroic mirror, as seen in the direction of propagation of the laser beam (LS).

Abstract: A gas laser includes a control to modify the distribution of the intensity of the laser light over the laser beam cross section produced in the lasing gas within at least one laser tube by at least two electrodes and a voltage supply unit by means of which a voltage can be fed to electrodes. A discharge area forms in the lasing gas and this can be affected by adjusting the amplification profile of the laser over the excitation cross section of the laser tube.

Abstract: The invention describes an apparatus for changing objective lenses in a microscope, the microscope being used primarily with a microscope stage that has a so-called fixed stage arrangement. The disposition of the objective lens turret in the microscope makes it possible to avoid damaging manipulators or samples during an objective lens change. The damage is avoided due to a lateral tilt of the rotational axis of the objective lens turret relative to the first and the second side walls of the microscope. The lateral tilt of the turret also ensures that a particular part of the sample remains located in the field of view of the microscope after the lens change. The entire process of objective lens change, as well as the magnification setting and focusing necessary for the purpose, is performed in a completely automatic and motorized fashion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for the superficial heating of tissue by means of a pulsed light source. According to the invention a series of light pulses is applied to the tissue surface. The first part of this series is configured such that the tissue surface and, by heat conduction, tissue areas situated below the tissue surface are rapidly heated to a defined target temperature without tissue removal. The subsequent part of the series results in oscillation of the temperature of the tissue areas located below the tissue surface around a value which is slightly lower than the target temperature.

Abstract: A gas laser (1) has an optics system and a mode-masking diaphragm in the beam guiding chamber of the laser resonator. The optics system is adjustable between two settings in each of which any higher-order modes of the laser beam (3) are masked out. The Gaussian mode (9) can be generated in one of the two settings, and the ring mode (10) in the other setting. An appropriate control permits switching between Gaussian and ring modes depending upon the intended processing operation.

Abstract: A gas laser gas has an elongated cavity in which are disposed a first elongated electrode tube having an inner diameter, and a second elongated electrode tube disposed coaxially within the first electrode tube and having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the first electrode tube and spaced therefrom so as to provide a gas discharge chamber therebetween. The second electrode tube provides a gas exit chamber therewithin, and the first electrode tube is spaced from the wall of the cavity to provide a gas entry chamber thereabout. The electrode tubes permit gas to flow therethrough from the gas entry chamber to the gas exit chamber. The electrodes may be formed from a gas permeable material such as sintered metal, or formed from a non-permeable material with openings therein. The electrodes may have coolant flowing therethrough.

Abstract: An HF-excited gas laser has a laser tube of ceramic material containing a laser gas, and the tube includes a chemical component which will preclude passage therethrough of secondary radiation of a wavelength within a proscribed range which would interact with the material of the laser tube to create defects therein. The chemical component to prevent damage to the laser tube may be provided as a layer on its inside surface which is essentially impermeable to and/or reflects the secondary radiation back into the lasing gas. Alternatively, the material of the laser tube may incorporate the chemical component, preferably over the portion of the wall adjacent its inner surface.

Abstract: A laser beam generating assembly for materials processing includes a resonator to generate a linearly polarized laser beam, and a beam forming assembly which includes mirrors to orient the polarization plane of the laser beam in a prescribed orientation relative to the vertical and a delay plate which has its reflective surface oriented so that the polarization plane of the beam impinges thereon is at an angle of 45°. The delay plate serves to produce a polarized laser beam with a rotating polarization vector, and in particular an elliptical or circular polarization of the laser beam.

Abstract: A laser resonator is described, with a first and a second end mirror and with coaxial electrodes between which laser radiation reflected back and forth in the direction of an axis of symmetry of the laser resonator passes azimuthally segment by segment through a resonator volume with an annular cross section. The invention is distinguished in that the second end mirror is a substantially conical mirror that deflects the laser radiation striking it to respective azimuthally opposite regions of the resonator volume.