Abstract: The invention relates to a Q-switched laser comprised of a pump light source (1), an optical resonator accommodating a laser medium (6), and a passive Q-switch (5). It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved Q-switched laser which is of a simple and compact setup while having the least possible jitter of the repetition time. To achieve this target, the invention proposes that by means of a beam splitter (8) part of the light coupled out of the optical resonator is passed on to an optical delay line (9) and coupled back into the optical resonator upon having passed through the optical delay line (9).

Abstract: The invention relates to a Q-switched laser comprised of a pump light source (1), an optical resonator accommodating a laser medium (6), and a passive Q-switch (5). It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved Q-switched laser which is of a simple and compact setup while having the least possible jitter of the repetition time. To achieve this target, the invention proposes that by means of a beam splitter (8) part of the light coupled out of the optical resonator is passed on to an optical delay line (9) and coupled back into the optical resonator upon having passed through the optical delay line (9).

Abstract: An apparatus for laser processing of a material, in particular the eye cornea, emits on to the material a train (18?) of laser radiation pulses having a pulse duration in the femtosecond range. The pulse train comprises a multiplicity of successive pulse groups, each pulse group comprising at least two laser radiation pulses (20?, 22?). The pulses of a pulse group are directed at substantially the same processing site of the material, but the pulses of successive groups are directed at substantially different processing sites of the material. According to the invention the time interval between successive laser radiation pulses of a pulse group is in the nanosecond range. In particular, the intensity or energy of the pulses within a pulse group is graduated, in such a way that a preceding prepulse (20?) has substantially lower intensity or energy than a following main pulse (22?).

Abstract: A device for joining and tapering optical components such as fibers includes a retaining device for holding optical components in a processing site, a laser radiation source for emitting a laser beam and beam forming elements for guiding the laser beam to the processing site. At least a first beam forming element is inserted into the beam path of the laser radiation source for producing a radiation having the form of an annulus and a second beam forming element is provided for specifying the angle of incidence of the radiation having the form of an annulus onto the optical components at the processing site.

Abstract: A fiber laser for the production of self-similar pulses contains a pumped source and a linear resonator. The linear resonator has two reflectors. The laser further includes a polarization-maintaining fiber doped with an amplifying medium with a normal dispersion ?2>0 in the frequency range prescribed by the amplifying medium and a dispersion-compensating element with an anomalous dispersion ?2<0. The laser further includes an element for decoupling radiation and a non-linear mode coupling element with a modulation depth >0. The fiber, dispersion-compensating element, element for decoupling radiation and non-linear mode coupling element are disposed between the two reflectors in a common beam path delimited by the resonators. The total dispersion of the components disposed in the beam path of the resonator is normal.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for laser treatment of a biological material An apparatus for laser processing of a material, in particular the eye cornea, emits on to the material a train (18?) of laser radiation pulses having a pulse duration in the femtosecond range. The pulse train comprises a multiplicity of successive pulse groups, each pulse group comprising at least two laser radiation pulses (20?, 22?). The pulses of a pulse group are directed at substantially the same processing site of the material, but the pulses of successive groups are directed at substantially different processing sites of the material. According to the invention the time interval between successive laser radiation pulses of a pulse group is in the nanosecond range. In particular, the intensity or energy of the pulses within a pulse group is graduated, in such a way that a preceding prepulse (20?) has substantially lower intensity or energy than a following main pulse (22?).

Abstract: A monolithic, non-planar ring laser having Q-switched single-frequency operation comprises a diode laser as the pumping light source of which the pumping light is coupled to a ring laser crystal (2) that comprises at least three total reflection faces B, C and D and a dielectrically coated crystal face A designed as a coupling and decoupling mirror. To obtain high-power laser pulses in the highly stable single-frequency mode and further to achieve compactness, the following design solutions are offered: 1. A switching crystal (20) having an appropriate index of refraction which can be moved to a distance of about one laser beam wavelength to one of the total reflection faces B, C, D of the ring laser crystal (2) to decouple the evanescent wave field and thereby to suppress laser oscillation, said switching crystal being displaceable away from the total reflection face to generate laser pulses, 2.