Abstract: A gas laser tube is fitted with internal mirrors only and no windows. The laser tube is processed by heating the tube with the ends open in a vacuum oven to drive out contaminating substances. The mirrors are installed by cold welding after the tube has been decontaminated and filled with a fresh supply of its operating gas. The mirrors mount on flexible bellows which enable the mirrors to be easily aligned.

Abstract: A carbon layer between a neon layer and a sodium layer serves as a thermal buffer therebetween to enable the neon layer to remain at a lower temperature and density to allow for the generation of coherent x-rays. A high powered laser heats the sodium layer which acts as a flashlamp for direct photon pumping of the neon layer. The neon layer, heated by a lower powered laser, then lases at about 58, 82, and/or 230 angstroms.

Abstract: This invention relates to a laser apparatus having a gain medium disposed along an optical path between a first and second reflector, with the first one being a phase conjugate reflector. The second reflector comprises an SBS medium for generating a moving grating, but without forming an SBS mirror. An output coupling means is positioned between the gain medium and the second, non-phase conjugate, reflector for providing a beam of output radiation. A third reflection means is positioned in the optical path of the laser output beam for intercepting and reflecting a predetermined percentage of the output radiation. This reflected radiation is directed to the back or non-medium side of the second reflector by a fourth reflection means. The fourth reflection means receives radiation from the third reflection means and directs it into the second (SBS) reflector along an optical path toward the laser medium that is substantially parallel to the first optical path of the laser.

Abstract: A method for computing a reflector shape for an optically pumped slab laser in order to produce a desired focal power lens effect distribution across the width thereof is disclosed. A desired pumping profile corresponding to the desired lens effect distribution is determined. An error function is defined in terms of the deviation of a computed pumping profile from the desired pumping profile. Dimensional parameters descriptive of the reflector shape are then varied to minimize the error function.

Abstract: A semiconductor diode laser has at least one output beam emitted from an emission aperture from a facet of the laser. An external optical feedback resonator redirects the output beam back into the laser emission aperture. The resonator comprises a reflective surface mirror on the facet laterally adjacent to the laser emission aperture and a spherical mirror spatial positioned from the laser facet to receive the output beam and image the same onto the facet mirror and, then, reimage the beam reflected from the facet mirror back into the laser emission aperture. The improvement comprises the spherical mirror being spaced from the center of the facet a distance substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the mirror so that the reimaging of the beam provides a spot size substantially equal to the spot size of the emission aperture or the beam waist, W.sub.0, at the laser facet.

Abstract: A floating mirror mount for a mirror of a laser comprises a mirror having a front surface and a back surface. A keeper encircles the mirror and has a peripheral flange which engages the front surface of the mirror when the mirror mount is not installed in a laser. A retainer is connected to the keeper and has a spring seating surface. A movable spring plate has a surface engageable with the back surface of the mirror. Springs are engagble with the spring seating surface and with the spring plate for exerting a resiliant biasing force on the mirror which is sufficiently large to force the mirror against the peripheral flange of the keeper when the mirror is not installed in a laser. The spring force is sufficiently small to permit the mirror to be moved out of contact with the peripheral flange and to a different location when the front surface of the mirror is engaged by mirror positioning structure of the laser in the course of installing the mirror mount in a laser.

Abstract: Disclosed is a laser control circuit used for an optical disc player. The laser output is digitally modulated, when recording to have high and low levels. The invention provides the laser control circuit capable of controlling the high level and the low level. The circuit is provided with a negative feedback loop in order to stabilize the laser output. Although such negative feedback loop stabilizes the average level of the laser output, the high and low levels may be fluctuated sometimes thereby. The invention also provides for supressing such level fluctuation.

Abstract: A dye laser is of compact, rigid and simple construction, with a folded resonator cavity contained on a single rigid block of material, such as aluminum. The block has two or three mirror mount locations, at least one of which is a machined surface which receives a mirror directly and rigidly, without provision for adjustment. The other mirror mount location(s) has an adjustable mirror mount, and this may be the mirror mount for the output mirror. A dye jet mounting block has a flat surface which engages against a flat surface on the exterior of the laser block, with fasteners allowing for rotation and translation of the dye jet block on the laser resonator block to provide for both rotational and translational tuning adjustment of the dye jet with respect to the resonator cavity and a pumping beam. The pumping beam preferably is folded by an adjustable pump mirror on its approach to the dye jet.

Abstract: A metal ion laser includes a glass tube, a hollow cathode installed in the glass tube, a plurality of anodes arranged on the glass tube, a pair of Brewster windows fixed to both end of the glass tube, at least one of reservoir recessed in the glass tube for storing a metal material to be evaporated, and at least one of communicating passage formed in the hollow cathode corresponding to each the reservoir so as to communicate between each reservoir and the inside of the hollow cathode. A cooling element is arranged on the glass tube, between the Brewster window and each end of the hollow cathode. A cooling system is arranged in a casing for the laser. The sputtered product is mainly deposited on the inner wall of the reservoir nearby the communicating passage, and the rest of the sputtered product and the vapored materials are deposited at the cooling element arranged between each end of the hollow cathode and each Brewster window.

Abstract: A power device for an axial-flow-type CO.sub.2 laser tube in which a high DC voltage is applied to the cathode side of the laser tube, a ballast resistance is connected to the anode side, and power at a high voltage pulse is applied to this anode side so that laser oscillations occur. In addition, the output of the high voltage pulsed power on the anode side is adjusted by PWM control of the switching circuit, controlling the output of the laser. In this way, the cathodes becomes a common structure, cross discharge is prevented, and the response speed of the power feedback is increased.

Abstract: The actual values of intensity and wavelength of the optical signal output from a laser diode are compared to desired values thereof to generate intensity and wavelength error signals. The rates of change of the wavelength and intensity as functions of temperature and injection current about nominal operating values of the temperature and injection current are determined and used to calculate an injection current error signal and a temperature error signal for adjusting the injection current and temperature, respectively. The time response of the injection current and temperature are decoupled, which allows independent adjustment of the time constants of the exponential expressions for injection current and temperature. Providing independent adjustment of the time constants of the injection current and temperature variations permits the desired signal wavelength and intensity to be obtained in a time efficient manner.

Abstract: A system for locking two Nd:YAG laser oscillators includes an optical path for feeding the output of one laser into the other with different polarizations. Elliptical polarization is incorporated into the optical path so that the change in polarization that occurs when the frequencies coincide may be detected to provide a feedback signal to control one laser relative to the other.

Abstract: A line scanner compries a conductive film which has been patterned to define a plurality of electrodes, each with an attached lead, is covered with a layer of photosensitive a-silicon and the silicon in turn is covered with an insulating resin. The insulating film is patterned to open a linear window which exposes equal amounts of each electrode and attached lead and a common electrode overlies the resin and contacts the electrodes and leads through the window.

Abstract: A compensated laser diode transmitter for high speed data transmission is provided with a pair of current switches, a novel current summing circuit and a novel current sink. The power output of the laser is sensed in real data time and employed to generate instantaneous feedback signals capable of instantaneously rebalancing and maintaining the power output of the laser diode.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser device comprising a laser-oscillating optical waveguide composed of a control region which functions to absorb light and main regions which function to oscillate laser light, said control region being positioned in the center portion of said optical waveguide and said main regions being positioned on both ends of said control region, wherein said laser device further comprises a shunting means by which the ratio of the current Ig flowing to said control region to the total current It injected into said laser device is set to meet the inequality (1): ##EQU1## wherein Lg is the length of said control region and Lt is the length of said optical waveguide.

Abstract: A circuit used in conjunction with RF modulating a laser diode and controlling the bias point is presented. The novel function is the amplitude and level shifting modulation of the drive signal at two different low (non-RF) frequencies. The light output is then detected to ascertain the relative amounts of the two different frequencies. The amplitude modulated signal appearing in the light output rises as there is increased distortion due to clipping on the threshold side or knee of the light current curve of the diode, and the amount of the level shifting modulation frequency signal drops with increased amounts of clipping. The two signals are used to derive a feedback signal to control the amplitude of the drive signal to maintain the relative detected amounts of the two signals appearing in the light output at a given ratio.

Abstract: A fiber optic terminus (11) comprising a body (13) having a passage (15) therein which opens at an outer surface. The passage (15) can receive an optical fiber (19), and the fiber is guided into position by a fiber guide (17). A temperature-activated adhesive (21) is carried by the body (13), and the adhesive (21) is flowable when its temperature is raised to a predetermined level. A force-applying system, including a plunger (23) and a spring (25), applies a compressive force to the adhesive (21). Accordingly, when the temperature of the adhesive (21) is raised to the predetermined level, the adhesive (21) flows under the influence of the compressive force and adheres the optical fiber (19) in the passage (15).

Abstract: A gas laser comprises a discharge channel which is defined by two electrodes located on a dielectric layer spaced from one another. The dielectric layer forms a carrier which has a further electrode on the opposite side thereof. A laser head is connected to one end of this structure and includes a laser active gas encompassing a dielectric plate optically coupled to the discharge channel. The first of the two electrodes extends into the laser head and the last-mentioned electrode wraps around the end of the dielectric plate to the plane of the plane of the first electrode and to a point spaced therefrom to form a gap which is a surface discharge gap. The other end of the structure is connected to a high-voltage pulse generator including a switch operable to connect the two electrodes and generate a rapidly rising voltage pulse. The first of the two electrodes and the further electrode are connected to a reference potential by way of respective inductances.

Abstract: A driving circuit for a laser diode has an exciting circuit for intermittently exciting the laser diode. A photodiode is provided for detecting the beam power emitted from the laser diode, and a resistor is connected to the photodiode in series. Voltage across the resistor is stored in a capacitor of a charging circuit. The stored voltage is applied to a constant current circuit to control a current supplied to the laser diode to stabilize beam power of the laser diode.

Abstract: Disclosed is a chemically pumped laser system including means for generating chemicals that react to produce electronically excited molecules used by the laser system.