Abstract: A laser pulse generator includes a pulse shape generation device and a clock unit. The generation device includes a pulse shape repository, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), a first terminal for connecting a start signal line, a second terminal for connecting a clock signal line, and a third terminal for connecting a pulse line. The first and second terminals are connected to the pulse shape repository and the DAC such that when a predefined start signal is present, data is transferred from the pulse shape repository to the DAC and converted by the DAC into an output pulse, for example, at a rate of a clock signal. The output pulse is supplied at the third terminal for actuating a driver of a laser diode. The clock unit is connected to the second terminal via the clock signal line and includes a reset terminal connected to the start signal line.

Abstract: A fiber amplification system is provided for amplifying a laser pulse signal, e.g., an oscillator signal of an oscillator device. The fiber amplification system includes a fiber pre-amplification system having a short, fundamental-mode and step-index fiber configured to pre-amplify the laser pule signal to generate a seed signal and a main amplification system having a large core fiber configured to amplify the seed signal. The short, fundamental-mode step-index fiber can have a length no longer than about 30 cm, and a mode field diameter no less than about 30 ?m, e.g., in a range from 30 ?m to 60 ?m, as well as a high doping concentration needed to provide an absorption length no more than about 30 cm, for providing the seed signal for the large core fiber with low non-linearity.

Abstract: In a laser machining machine (1) for laser welding of workpieces, in particular for lap welding of DBC structures, comprising a laser beam generator for generating a laser beam and an optical imaging system for imaging the laser beam into a machining plane, according to the invention, the optical imaging system comprises an optical beam-shaping system, which images the laser beam in the machining plane with an imaging depth (?d) of at least ±2 mm, preferably of at least ±5 mm, in such a way that the radial power density distribution (Pr) of the laser beam is bell-shaped along the imaging depth (?d) in each plane at right angles to the beam axis and the maximum values (Pmax) of these bell-shaped power density distributions (Pr) along the imaging depth (?d) vary in relation to one another by less than 10%, preferably by less than 5%.

Abstract: An apparatus for coupling out radiation from an optical fiber, includes a housing, and a stop having a stop opening for delimiting an output coupling angle of radiation that is coupled out of an output end of the optical fiber to a maximum output coupling angle with respect to a central axis of the stop opening, wherein the stop is arranged in the housing. The stop has a stop body made from a transparent material, the stop body has a first total internal reflection face for reflecting radiation that is coupled out of the output end of the optical fiber with greater output coupling angles than the maximum output coupling angle, and the stop body has a second total internal reflection face for reflecting radiation that propagates opposite to the radiation coupled out of the output end and is reflected back by a workpiece.

Abstract: Impingement cooling devices for a laser disk include a carrier plate on the front side of which the laser disk can be secured, and a supporting structure, on the front side of which the rear side of the carrier plate is secured. The supporting structure has a plurality of cooling liquid feed lines from which the cooling liquid emerges in the direction of the rear side of the carrier plate and a plurality of cooling liquid return lines. The feed and return lines run parallel to one another in the longitudinal direction of the supporting structure, and the supporting structure includes a plurality of cutouts or the rear side of the carrier plate that are open toward the supporting structure, and the cooling liquid feed lines lead into and the cooling liquid return lines lead away from the plurality of cutouts.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to laser disk mounting systems and methods. The laser disk mounting systems comprise a disk module with a round disk-shaped heat sink having a front side, a rear side, and an edge surface connecting the front side and the rear side, and a laser disk arranged on the front side of the heat sink, and a radial mounting device with an opening for receiving the disk module, wherein the disk module is mounted in the radial mounting device such that a force action is applied in radial direction on the edge surface.

Abstract: Beam adaptation devices are disclosed for variable-astigmatic adjustment of electromagnetic radiation propagating along a beam axis of the beam adaptation device. The devices include a first astigmatism lens unit, which provides at least one first lens tiltable with respect to the beam axis for astigmatism adjustment, a divergence matching lens unit with a second lens for adjusting the divergence, wherein the distance between the second lens and the first lens along the beam axis is adjustable, and a second astigmatism lens unit with at least one third lens tiltable with respect to the beam axis for astigmatism adjustment. To adjust the magnitude of the electromagnetic radiation on the third lens, the distance between the second lens and the third lens along the beam axis is adjustable. The beam adaptation device can be used, for example, for astigmatic pre-compensation in frequency conversion.

Abstract: A scanner device configured for 2-dimensional deflection of a laser beam by mirrors that are each pivotably supported about an axis and that are driven in a motorized manner, includes a first motor-mirror unit that has a first mirror and a drive motor, and a carrier for securing the first motor-mirror unit. The first motor-mirror unit is selected from one of two different possible motor-mirror units, each of which has an assembly flange, an identical abutment face, and can be selectively releasably secured with the abutment faces to the same first assembly face of the carrier. The two different possible motor-mirror units differ from each other with respect to the mirror size and/or mirror position in the carrier.

Abstract: An optical arrangement includes an optics holder and a reflective optic fixed to the optics holder, in which the optics holder includes at least two holding members for fixing the reflective optic to the optics holder, and in which at least one of the holding members is resiliently deflectable.

Abstract: Fiber mounting units for supporting an optical fiber for fiber laser systems are disclosed and include a base body having a fiber end attachment section, a fiber guide section, and a connection section arranged between the fiber end attachment section and the fiber guide section. The fiber end attachment section is adapted to attach a receiving element, which holds a fiber end portion of the optical fiber, the fiber guide section is adapted to guide a fiber central portion of the optical fiber, and the connection section is configured as a flexure bearing between the fiber end attachment section and the fiber guide section.

Abstract: A workpiece processing machine includes a separation device for dividing an operating space into a processing region and at least one additional operating region, a laser processing head configured to process the workpiece, and a rotary workpiece changer having a rotatable workpiece support for transporting the workpiece between the processing region and the at least one additional operating region by an opening. The rotatable workpiece support has a protection wall configured to shield the at least one additional operating region with respect to the processing region. The separation device has a protection element movable between a processing position and a transport position and configured to be in abutment with the protection wall in the processing position to close the opening and spaced apart from the protection wall in the transport position. A spacing between the processing position and the transport position is adjustable based on a dimension of the workpiece.

Abstract: An optical element holding device adjusts an optical element about a first and second axis and includes a main support, and a first plate-shaped support mounted on the main support via a first flexure bearing. The first support can pivot about the first axis. A second support is mounted on the first support via a second flexure bearing and can pivot about the second axis and fasten to the optical element. A first and second actuating element are actuated from a same side of the optical element holding device. A transmission device connected to the first and the second supports transmits the second actuating element movement acting on the transmission device into a pivoting movement of the second support about the second axis. The pivoting positions of the first and second supports can be set by the actuating elements and the second axis is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the plate-shaped first support.

Abstract: A method for forming a carbon-metal composite material for a heat sink, comprising the following steps: applying at least one layer comprising carbon particles and at least one layer comprising metal particles on top of one another; and fusing of the layers by irradiating the layers with laser radiation to form the carbon-metal composite material. The invention also relates to a heat sink having a shaped body that comprises a plurality of layers, each layer containing carbon particles in a metal matrix.

Abstract: A laser processing head comprises an optical focusing unit for focusing a laser beam on a processing zone of a workpiece and an annular nozzle arranged coaxially with respect to a central axis of the laser beam for introducing an auxiliary gas into a region surrounding the processing zone. The annular nozzle is mounted on the laser processing head so as to be displaceable along the laser beam axis and can be secured to the laser processing head in different positions along the laser beam axis.

Abstract: A Pockels cell driver circuit has a first circuit node that can be connected to a first terminal of a Pockels cell and a second circuit node that can be connected to a second terminal of the Pockels cell. The first circuit node is connected via a first switch to a positive potential and the second circuit node is connected via a second switch to a negative potential. The first circuit node is connected to the second circuit node via a short-circuit switch which is controlled for discharge of a linked Pockels cell.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to pumping light systems and methods for using a disc laser. A focusing device with a reflecting surface focuses a pumping light beam onto a laser-active medium. A deflecting system deflects the pumping light beam between reflecting regions formed on the reflecting surface that are arranged in different angle regions around a central axis of the reflecting surface in at least a first annular region and a second annular region. The deflecting systems are configured to perform at least one deflection of the pumping light beam between two reflecting regions of the first annular region and at least one deflection between two reflecting regions of the second annular region.

Abstract: Wavelength-selective external resonators can be used to greatly increase the output brightness of dense wavelength beam combining (DWBC) system beams by stabilizing the wavelengths of the beams emitted by the individual emitters of the DWBC laser source. The present invention pertains to external resonant cavities that utilize thin-film filtering elements as wavelength-selective elements in external resonators. The present invention further pertains to particular embodiments that utilize thin-film filtering elements in DWBC systems as both output beam coupling elements and wavelength selective elements. The present invention provides advantages over the prior art that include decreased cost, increased fidelity of wavelength selection, and increased wall plug efficiency.

Abstract: A fiber coupler is provided, which includes a tubular enveloping structure and several optical fibers arranged in the enveloping structure, each of which has a fiber core and a fiber cladding surrounding same, in order to conduct laser radiation, and each of which extends from the first as far as the second end of the enveloping structure. The enveloping structure includes a tapering section which is tapered in a first direction from the first as far as the second end. In the tapering section, both a first ratio of the diameter of the fiber core to the diameter of the fiber cladding and also a second ratio of the diameter of the mode field of the laser radiation conducted in the optical fiber to the diameter of the fiber core, increases in the first direction for each optical fiber.

Abstract: A laser processing device for processing workpieces such as by welding includes a laser processing head and a workpiece clamping claw defining an opening through which the laser beam is focused on the workpiece. Each of the laser processing head and the clamping claw have respective shielding portions and movable relative to each other to selectively form a light-tight housing about a portion of the beam extending between the laser head and the clamping claw.

Abstract: An external cavity laser apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention is provided. The external cavity laser apparatus includes a plurality of beam emitters that collectively emit a plurality of emitted beams that each includes a primary component emitted beam. A first reflective element is configured to reflect the plurality of primary component emitted beams and a first polarizing optic disposed in the optical path of the plurality of primary component emitted beams is configured to rotate a polarization of each primary component emitted beam to produce a first rotated primary component beam having a first linear polarization and a second rotated primary component beam having a second linear polarization. A polarized beam splitter is configured to direct first feedback system output component beams into an output beam, and to direct second feedback system output component beams to the plurality of beam emitters as feedback beams.