Abstract: A laser has an active layer formed on a prepared substrate, a cladding layer on the active layer and a contact layer on the cladding layer. The active layer and contact layer are formed of a semiconductor material of elements from Groups III-V. The contact layer and cladding layer are formed into an elongated projecting rib wherein the cladding layer has a remaining planar portion disposed across the active layer. An insulating layer of semiconductor of elements from Group II-VI is formed on each side of the rib supported on the remaining cladding layer.

Abstract: A broadly wavelength-tunable laser is provided which comprises as the laser medium a single crystal of MBO.sub.3 :Cr.sup.3+, where M is selected from the group of Sc, In and Lu. The laser may be operated over a broad temperature range from cryogenic temperatures to elevated temperatures. Emission is in a spectral range from red to infrared, and the laser is useful in the fields of defense, communications, isotope separation, photochemistry, etc.

Abstract: A system for generating a stable optical frequency from a laser signal having inherent frequency fluctuations. The signal from an injection-controlled pulsed laser is divided into two parts. One part is mixed with the signal from a stable CW laser to generate beat frequencies. These signals are amplified and recombined with the pulsed laser signal in an output modulator. In one embodiment, the difference frequency between the pulsed laser and the reference signal is less than 1000 MHz. The beat frequencies are increased by an X-band mixer to the microwave range where they can be readily amplified in an available broad band amplifier. In another embodiment, the transmitter laser and the reference laser operate at a difference frequency in the microwave range, say, above 5,000 MHz. The beat frequencies are obtained by a high frequency mixer such as a bulk crystal in a waveguide or cavity. In still another embodiment, two independent transmitter lasers generate pulses that occur with a significant time delay.

Abstract: A distributed feedback laser comprising a semiconductor body having a channel which varies in width in the laterial direction and is periodic in the longitudinal direction. When the laser is electrically excited constructive interference of reflected light gives rise to a stable single wavelength output due to the periodic variations in the channel.

Abstract: A nonstandard spherical resonator which produces laser radiation having spherical modes of oscillation is formed entirely within a sphere of laser gain material. The resonator is pumped to produce the spherical modes. By pumping an isotropically coated sphere at normal incidence the entire sphere forms the resonator, and the laser radiates uniformly in all directions as from a point source. By pumping obliquely to totally internally reflect the laser radiation at the surface of the sphere, or by applying an equatorial coating on the sphere to internally reflect the laser radiation, toroidal region within the sphere forms the resonator. The pumping volume can be controlled so that the laser radiation is single longitudinal mode and single frequency by limiting the active mode volume. Prisms can be used for input and output coupling to the toroidal resonator; and optical fiber can also be used for output coupling. A compact laser design uses a Nd:YAG sphere pumped by a laser diode.

Abstract: In an excimer laser system with wavelength bandwidth narrowing, a feedback loop for monitoring and correcting the tuning of the laser employs a wavelength calibration device in the form of a gas with an absorption peak at the desired narrow wavelength. A portion of the laser output received through the gas provides the information for generating the correction signal.

Abstract: A ring laser angular rate sensor construction utilizes an anode-cathode configuration which generates a glow discharge region in the propagation path of the laser beams. The anode-cathode construction provides a hollow cathode and effect for a ring laser. Specifically the ring laser block incorporates a tubular cavity which forms in part a cathode. A slot is provided into the block to provide an electrically insulated anode to produce the hollow cathode effect and the generation of counter-propagating laser beams.

Abstract: A V-channel inner stripe semiconductor laser device comprising a multi-layered growth crystal having an active layer for laser oscillation but no substrate, with a buffer layer formed on the multi-layered growth crystal thicker than all of the layers of the growth crystal, where the multi-layered growth crystal and buffer layer are sandwiched between an n-sided electrode and a p-sided electrode, wherein a pair of mesa-striped channels are formed outside of the V-channel to remove the outside of the optical waveguide formed in the active layer corresponding to the V-channel.

Abstract: A plug housing for receiving an optical fiber cable having independent arrangements for gripping the jacket of the cable, wrapping and gripping the reinforcement elements of the cable, and for gripping the optical fibers of the cable, each of these arrangements is independently mounted within the housing so that each can be separately manipulated. In addition, these arrangements are each received in the housing without deforming a portion of the housing.

Abstract: A heterodyne laser spectroscopy system utilizes laser heterodyne techniques for purposes of laser isotope separation spectroscopy, vapor diagnostics, processing of precise laser frequency offsets from a reference frequency and the like, and provides spectral analysis of a laser beam.

Abstract: In a laser oscillator or laser amplifier, a so-called switching dye is used which strongly reduces the degree of amplification for the laser radiation after a short time interval, by means of transient absorption. Molecules or molecule systems in which a proton transfer takes place in the excited state can serve as switching dyes. The radiation pulse exciting the switching dye must have a sufficiently steep leading flank to assure that the excited state of the tautomeric form is rapidly occupied. The immediately following occupation of the ground state of the tautomeric form by emission of radiation and radiationless transitions, and/or of triplet states of the tautomeric and normal form by radiationless transitions, builds up a transient absorption and inhibits the rise of an inversion sufficient for renewed radiation emission.

Abstract: The luminescent screen of a cathode ray tube includes an array of monocrystalline or amorphous phosphor rod-like elements which are covered with a reflective coating except for one end of each element which serves as an output face. The phenomenon of the light trapping is advantageously exploited to achieve enhanced brightness. The screen is illuminated with an electron beam which has an essentially oblong cross section and which is oriented along the elongated dimension of the elements. In one embodiment the elements comprise epitaxial Lu.sub.3 Al.sub.3 Ga.sub.2 O.sub.12 :Ce on the top of a YAG substrate, and a light absorbing layer of Lu.sub.3 Al.sub.3.5 Fe.sub.1.5 O.sub.12 is formed on the bottom of the substrate. A printer utilizing such a CRT is described. Also described is a configuration in which each of the rod-like elements functions as a laser.

Abstract: A microlaser comprises a solid state gain medium, such as YLF or YAG, positioned end to end with a mode selector etalon formed by a fused silica flat, the end of which is adjacent to a planar end of the gain medium is coated with a thin film of nichrome and the other end of which is coated with a multilayer-dielectric partially-transmissive reflector. The other end of the gain medium is curved and coated to be reflective of the laser light and transmissive of the pump light which enters through such end. The thin nichrome film is designed to absorb unwanted modes which have an electric field component at such film while a wanted mode has a null at such film in their standing wave patterns. By substituting birefringent crystalline quartz for the fused-silica, there may be derived emission at two longitudinal modes whose polarization vectors are orthogonal and whose wavelengths are slightly different.

Abstract: A solid state laser in which molecules containing transition metal ions form the lasing medium. More particularly, the electronic states of molecular complexes containing transition metal ions, which are in closed shell configurations, are pumped by an ultraviolet source to emit coherent radiation.

Abstract: An optical amplifier takes the form of a semiconductor laser with coatings on its two facets. The coating takes the form of an anti-reflective coating, e.g. an oxide of Y, Gd, Nd, or La, to reduce the reflectivity and a thin interlayer, e.g. Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, to enhance compatibility between the laser and the anti-reflective coating.

Abstract: A multilayered crystal structure in a semiconductor laser device contains an active layer for laser oscillation on a V-stripe channeled substrate having a current-blocking layer thereon. The active layer further includes regions by means of which carriers within the active layer are prevented from diffusing outside of the active layer. These regions are disposed facing each other with an optical waveguide therebetween which is formed by the absorption of light by the portions of the current-blocking layer which are positioned at both sides of the striped channel. The distance between the regions is narrower than the width of the optical waveguide in the vicinity of both facets and wider than the width of the optical waveguide inside of both facets.

Abstract: A gas laser generator comprises a frame, a gas channel through which a gas flows, a mirror for obtaining a laser beam, defining a resonant cavity, an anode electrode and at least two first and at least two second cathode electrodes arranged in the lower and the upper portions of the resonant cavity, respectively, and a power source, in which a first voltage of a first electric field between the first cathode electrodes connected to the power source through a first ballast resistance and the anode electrode and a second voltage of a second electric field between the second cathode electrodes connected to the power source through a second ballast resistance and the anode electrode are so determined that the former is smaller than the latter so that the current flowing in the first electric field may be substantially equal to the current flowing in the second electric field during the electric discharges between the electrodes.

Abstract: Two different reflector designs for use in an optically pumped, fluid cooled slab laser are disclosed. Each reflector design is effective to introduce a positive focal power lens effect into a central portion of the lasing medium width that is approximately equal in magnitude to a negative lens effect experienced in lateral edge portions of the lasing medium.

Abstract: Disclosed is a laser apparatus and a related method for use with a laser medium of a type which emits a beam of coherent laser energy having both low and high order modes. End reflectors are provided for reflecting at least a portion of the energy in the beam back through the laser medium, and positive and negative lens elements are positioned on opposing sides of the lasing medium so that discrimination against the higher order modes is achieved by non-linearly amplifying the reflected beam portion passing through the lasing medium.

Abstract: A gas laser such as an argon or krypton laser has an annular gas reservoir surrounding a laser bore. A series of heat-dissipating fins are connected to the laser bore and extend between the exterior of the laser bore and the interior of the coaxial gas reservoir, arranged so as to allow air to pass over the fins as it travels lengthwise in the annular space between the bore and the gas reservoir. The gas reservoir, which communicates directly with the interior of the bore via one or more tubes, can be supported in position by the fins. The gas reservoir supplies additional makeup gas for the laser bore, as the gas in the bore is slowly consumed over the life of the laser, thereby prolonging the life of the laser without gas recharge. In addition to its storage function, the coaxial annular reservoir also serves to duct cooling air, drawn by a blower, directly over the exterior of the bore and over the cooling fins, greatly improving the cooling efficiency of the laser.