Abstract: An optical fiber connector apparatus may include a ferrule having a hollow through its center. The hollow is sized and shaped to receive an optical fiber such that an end of each of the optical fiber is located at an endface of the ferrule. The endface of the ferrule is partitioned into a first section and a second section. The first section is perpendicular to an axis of the ferrule and the second section is angled with respect to the first section. When the connector is assembled, the ferrule can butt couple to a similarly configured second ferrule such that the perpendicular second portions of the endfaces of the ferrules are physically touching. The angle of the angled portions sets a distance between portions of the endfaces corresponding to endfaces of optical fibers received in the ferrules thereby setting a gap between the fiber endfaces.

Abstract: Output pulses from an optical system having a seed source and an optical amplifier coupled to the seed source may be controlled by controlling a power of a seed signal from the seed source. The seed signal may be varied between a minimum value and a maximum value in a way that the seed signal exhibits one or more pulse bursts. Each pulse burst may contain one or more pulses. During an inter-pulse period between successive pulses within a pulse burst or between successive pulse bursts, the power of the seed signal may be adjusted to an intermediate value that is greater than the minimum value and less than the maximum value. The intermediate value is chosen to control a gain in the optical amplifier such that a pulse or pulse burst that follows the period exhibits a desired behavior.

Abstract: A nonlinear optical crystal can be mounted to a mounting block configured to receive the crystal. The crystal can be mounted to the mounting block with a face of the crystal abutting a surface of the mounting block. An adhesive secures the crystal to the mounting block by adhering to the bottom and/or sidewall of the channel and to at least corresponding a portion of the bottom and/or side face of the crystal proximate an edge of the crystal.

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: Methods and systems for increasing the threshold for stimulated Brillouin scattering are described. A seed source may generate one or more chirped seed pulses characterized by a pulse duration ?, and a frequency chirp. The pulse duration ? may be greater than about 2 nanoseconds. A photonic crystal amplifier amplifies the seed pulses to produce one or more amplified pulses characterized by a peak power P greater than about 1 kilowatt. The pulse duration ?, frequency chirp, and the photonic crystal fiber may be selected such that a threshold for stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in the photonic crystal fiber is greater than the peak power P.

Abstract: Output pulses from an optical system having a seed source and an optical amplifier coupled to the seed source may be controlled by controlling a power of a seed signal from the seed source. The seed signal may be varied between a minimum value and a maximum value in a way that the seed signal exhibits one or more pulse bursts. Each pulse burst may contain one or more pulses. During an inter-pulse period between successive pulses within a pulse burst or between successive pulse bursts, the power of the seed signal may be adjusted to an intermediate value that is greater than the minimum value and less than the maximum value. The intermediate value is chosen to control a gain in the optical amplifier such that a pulse or pulse burst that follows the period exhibits a desired behavior.

Abstract: Control of average wavelength-converted power and/or wavelength converted pulse energy is described. One or more seed pulses may be generated and amplified with an optical amplifier to produce one or more amplified pulses. The amplified pulses may be wavelength converted to produce one or more wavelength converted pulses characterized by an average wavelength-converted power or pulse energy. Wavelength-converted power or pulse energy may be controlled by adjusting wavelength conversion efficiency without substantially changing the amplified power or pulse energy. Average wavelength-converted power may be controlled over a time scale comparable to a pulse period of the amplified pulses without adjusting an average power of the amplified pulses over the time scale comparable to a pulse period of the amplified pulses.

Abstract: Methods and systems for increasing the threshold for stimulated Brillouin scattering are described. A seed source may generate one or more chirped seed pulses characterized by a pulse duration ?, and a frequency chirp. The pulse duration ? may be greater than about 2 nanoseconds. A photonic crystal amplifier amplifies the seed pulses to produce one or more amplified pulses characterized by a peak power P greater than about 1 kilowatt. The pulse duration ?, frequency chirp, and the photonic crystal fiber may be selected such that a threshold for stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in the photonic crystal fiber is greater than the peak power P.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing a thermal load on an optical head are described. Waste light is captured at one or more locations in the optical head and directed to a location that is thermally isolated from the one or more locations in the optical head using or more optical fibers.

Abstract: Laser apparatus and methods involving multiple amplified outputs are disclosed. A laser apparatus may include a master oscillator, a beam splitter coupled to the master oscillator, and two or more output heads optically coupled to the beam splitter. The beam splitter divides a signal from the master oscillator into two or more sub-signals. Each output head receives one of the two or more sub-signals. Each output head includes coupling optics optically coupled to the beam splitter. An optical power amplifier is optically coupled between the beam splitter and the coupling optics. Optical outputs from the two or more output heads do not spatially overlap at a target. The master oscillator signal may be pulsed so that optical outputs of the output heads are pulsed and substantially synchronous with each other.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing a thermal load on an optical head are described. Waste light is captured at one or more locations in the optical head and directed to a location that is thermally isolated from the one or more locations in the optical head using or more optical fibers.

Abstract: Control of average wavelength-converted power and/or wavelength converted pulse energy is described. One or more seed pulses may be generated and amplified with an optical amplifier to produce one or more amplified pulses. The amplified pulses may be wavelength converted to produce one or more wavelength converted pulses characterized by an average wavelength-converted power or pulse energy. Wavelength-converted power or pulse energy may be controlled by adjusting wavelength conversion efficiency without substantially changing the amplified power or pulse energy. Average wavelength-converted power may be controlled over a time scale comparable to a pulse period of the amplified pulses without adjusting an average power of the amplified pulses over the time scale comparable to a pulse period of the amplified pulses.

Abstract: Laser apparatus and methods involving multiple amplified outputs are disclosed. A laser apparatus may include a master oscillator, a beam splitter coupled to the master oscillator, and two or more output heads optically coupled to the beam splitter. The beam splitter divides a signal from the master oscillator into two or more sub-signals. Each output head receives one of the two or more sub-signals. Each output head includes coupling optics optically coupled to the beam splitter. An optical power amplifier is optically coupled between the beam splitter and the coupling optics. Optical outputs from the two or more output heads do not spatially overlap at a target. The master oscillator signal may be pulsed so that optical outputs of the output heads are pulsed and substantially synchronous with each other.