Abstract: The invention relates to sources of sub-picosecond optical pulses based on single-pass or double-pass optical amplifiers with an optical gain bandwidth in the 2-20 nm range. A passive pulse shaping filter is provided in front of the optical amplifier for pre-shaping seed optical pulses so as to passively pre-compensate for the gain narrowing effect in the optical amplifier. The passive pulse shaping filter may be based on a reflective thin film filter, which may be coupled to a mirror in a multi-pass configuration.

Abstract: The invention relates to sources of sub-picosecond optical pulses based on single-pass or double-pass optical amplifiers with an optical gain bandwidth in the 2-20 nm range. A passive pulse shaping filter is provided in front of the optical amplifier for pre-shaping seed optical pulses so as to passively pre-compensate for the gain narrowing effect in the optical amplifier. The passive pulse shaping filter may be based on a reflective thin film filter, which may be coupled to a mirror in a multi-pass configuration.

Abstract: The invention relates to sources of sub-picosecond optical pulses based on single-pass or double-pass optical amplifiers with an optical gain bandwidth in the 2-20 nm range. A passive pulse shaping filter is provided in front of the optical amplifier for pre-shaping seed optical pulses so as to passively pre-compensate for the gain narrowing effect in the optical amplifier. The passive pulse shaping filter may be based on a reflective thin film filter, which may be coupled to a mirror in a multi-pass configuration.

Abstract: An ultrafast laser for delivering ultra-short duration seed-pulses for further amplification has a resonator including negative group delay dispersion (NGDD) mirrors for minimizing increases in the duration of the pulses due to positive group delay dispersion effects inherent in the resonator. The NGDD mirrors could be configured such that the pulses had a Gaussian spectrum. Instead, however, the NGDD mirrors are configured and arranged such the pulses have a non-Gaussian spectrum. The non-Gaussian spectrum has a FWHM bandwidth significantly greater than that of the Gaussian spectrum.

Abstract: An ultrafast laser for delivering ultra-short duration seed-pulses for further amplification has a resonator including negative group delay dispersion (NGDD) mirrors for minimizing increases in the duration of the pulses due to positive group delay dispersion effects inherent in the resonator. The NGDD mirrors could be configured such that the pulses had a Gaussian spectrum. Instead, however, the NGDD mirrors are configured and arranged such the pulses have a non-Gaussian spectrum. The non-Gaussian spectrum has a FWHM bandwidth significantly greater than that of the Gaussian spectrum.

Abstract: A pulse-shaper for temporally shaping an optical pulse includes a prism or a grism arranged to disperse the optical pulse into a diverging fan of spectral-component rays. The fan of spectral-component rays is collimated by a lens or another grism. The collimated spectral-component rays are selectively modulated by a spatial-light-modulator (SLM). The modulated rays from the SLM are either recombined to form the temporally shaped pulse by another lens and another prism, another two grisms, or by the same lens and prism or the same two grisms.

Abstract: A laser resonator includes an OPS gain-structure that is pumped with optical pulses repeatedly delivered at a pulse-repetition frequency corresponding to a resonant frequency of the laser resonator. The laser resonator additionally includes a passive mode-locking arrangement such that the resonator delivers mode-locked optical pulses. In one example the laser resonator further includes a CW optically pumped OPS gain-structure for increasing the power of the mode-locked pulses delivered from the resonator.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for generating ultrashort optical linear chirped pulses with very high power by amplifying the pulses so that their temporal duration is longer than the storage time of the amplifying medium. The additional gain factor is related to the ratio of the storage time to the stretched pulse. A preferred embodiment connects a mode locked laser source that generates optical pulses whose duration is stretched with a chirped fiber Bragg grating. Embodiments include methods, devices and systems causing an extreme chirped pulse amplifier (XCPA) effect in an oscillator.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for generating ultrashort optical linear chirped pulses with very high power by amplifying the pulses so that their temporal duration is longer than the storage time of the amplifying medium. The additional gain factor is related to the ratio of the storage time to the stretched pulse. A preferred embodiment connects a mode locked laser source that generates optical pulses whose duration is stretched with a chirped fiber Bragg grating. Embodiments include methods, devices and systems causing an extreme chirped pulse amplifier (XCPA) effect in an oscillator.

Abstract: An optical pulse-shaper includes a prism, a delay line having positive optical power and a reflective spatial light modulator. In one arrangement the delay line has a selectively variable optical path length for accommodating pulses of different spectral bandwidth and positive optical power is provided by a concave mirror. In another arrangement, the delay line includes a zoom-mirror arranged to provide selectively variable optical power for accommodating pulses of different spectral bandwidth.

Abstract: An optical pulse-shaper includes a prism, a delay line having positive optical power and a reflective spatial light modulator. In one arrangement the delay line has a selectively variable optical path length for accommodating pulses of different spectral bandwidth and positive optical power is provided by a concave mirror. In another arrangement, the delay line includes a zoom-mirror arranged to provide selectively variable optical power for accommodating pulses of different spectral bandwidth.

Abstract: A pulse-shaper for temporally shaping an optical pulse includes a prism or a grism arranged to disperse the optical pulse into a diverging fan of spectral-component rays. The fan of spectral-component rays is collimated by a lens or another grism. The collimated spectral-component rays are selectively modulated by a spatial-light-modulator (SLM). The modulated rays from the SLM are either recombined to form the temporally shaped pulse by another lens and another prism, another two grisms, or by the same lens and prism or the same two grisms.

Abstract: An optical pulse-shaper includes a prism, a delay line having positive optical power and a reflective spatial light modulator. In one arrangement the delay line has a selectively variable optical path length for accommodating pulses of different spectral bandwidth and positive optical power is provided by a concave mirror. In another arrangement, the delay line includes a zoom-mirror arranged to provide selectively variable optical power for accommodating pulses of different spectral bandwidth.

Abstract: An optical pulse-shaper includes a prism, a delay line having positive optical power and a reflective spatial light modulator. In one arrangement the delay line has a selectively variable optical path length for accommodating pulses of different spectral bandwidth and positive optical power is provided by a concave mirror. In another arrangement, the delay line includes a zoom-mirror arranged to provide selectively variable optical power for accommodating pulses of different spectral bandwidth.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for generating ultrashort optical linear chirped pulses with very high power by amplifying the pulses so that their temporal duration is longer than the storage time of the amplifying medium. The additional gain factor is related to the ratio of the storage time to the stretched pulse. A preferred embodiment connects a mode locked laser source that generates optical pulses whose duration is stretched with a chirped fiber Bragg grating. Embodiments include methods, devices and systems causing an extreme chirped pulse amplifier (XCPA) effect in an oscillator.