Abstract: A vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser (VECSEL) and a method of forming the VECSEL is disclosed. The VECSEL includes a heat sink; a heat spreader or heat spreader formed on a top surface of the heat sink, where the heat spreader comprises a first material having a first refractive index; and a high contrast grating formed on a top surface of the heat spreader or active region, wherein the high contrast grating comprises an active region and the high contrast grating comprising a second material having a second refractive index, the second refractive index is greater than the first refractive index.

Abstract: A laser beam circulator includes a first mirror and a second mirror. The first and second mirrors are symmetric with respect to an axis therebetween. The circulator also includes a sample that is substantially planar. The axis extends through the sample. The sample is oriented at an angle with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to the axis. The angle is from about 0.1° to about 10°. The circulator also includes a laser configured to emit a laser beam that circulates multiple times from the second mirror to the sample to the first mirror and back to the second mirror. The laser beam passes through the sample during each circulation. The sample absorbs a portion of the laser beam each time the laser beam passes through the sample.

Abstract: A vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser (VECSEL) and a method of forming the VECSEL is disclosed. The VECSEL includes a heat sink; a heat spreader or heat spreader formed on a top surface of the heat sink, where the heat spreader comprises a first material having a first refractive index; and a high contrast grating formed on a top surface of the heat spreader or active region, wherein the high contrast grating comprises an active region and the high contrast grating comprising a second material having a second refractive index, the second refractive index is greater than the first refractive index.

Abstract: An optical refrigeration system that includes a heatlink that is formed by textured crystals that are matched in coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) to the yttrium lithium fluoride (YLF) cooling crystal, and shaped in geometries that result in very low heat producing losses (HPL). The optical refrigeration system may further include a mirror that is made of a semiconductor-material.