Abstract: A monitoring device may receive sensor information, associated with an optical device included in a high-power fiber laser, from a set of sensors associated with the optical device. The monitoring device may determine, based on the sensor information, a set of operational properties of the optical device. The set of operational properties may include: a health property that describes a health of one or more components of the optical device, a degradation property that describes degradation of one or more components of the optical device, an environmental property that describes an environment of the optical device, or a process property associated with a process in which the optical device is being used. The monitoring device may identify whether an operational property, of the set of operational properties, satisfies a condition, and may selectively perform a monitoring action based on whether the operational property satisfies the condition.

Abstract: A monitoring device may receive sensor information, associated with an optical device included in a high-power fiber laser, from a set of sensors associated with the optical device. The monitoring device may determine, based on the sensor information, a set of operational properties of the optical device. The set of operational properties may include: a health property that describes a health of one or more components of the optical device, a degradation property that describes degradation of one or more components of the optical device, an environmental property that describes an environment of the optical device, or a process property associated with a process in which the optical device is being used. The monitoring device may identify whether an operational property, of the set of operational properties, satisfies a condition, and may selectively perform a monitoring action based on whether the operational property satisfies the condition.

Abstract: A monitoring device may receive sensor information, associated with an optical device included in a high-power fiber laser, from a set of sensors associated with the optical device. The monitoring device may determine, based on the sensor information, a set of operational properties of the optical device. The set of operational properties may include: a health property that describes a health of one or more components of the optical device, a degradation property that describes degradation of one or more components of the optical device, an environmental property that describes an environment of the optical device, or a process property associated with a process in which the optical device is being used. The monitoring device may identify whether an operational property, of the set of operational properties, satisfies a condition, and may selectively perform a monitoring action based on whether the operational property satisfies the condition.

Abstract: A monitoring device may receive sensor information, associated with an optical device included in a high-power fiber laser, from a set of sensors associated with the optical device. The monitoring device may determine, based on the sensor information, a set of operational properties of the optical device. The set of operational properties may include: a health property that describes a health of one or more components of the optical device, a degradation property that describes degradation of one or more components of the optical device, an environmental property that describes an environment of the optical device, or a process property associated with a process in which the optical device is being used. The monitoring device may identify whether an operational property, of the set of operational properties, satisfies a condition, and may selectively perform a monitoring action based on whether the operational property satisfies the condition.

Abstract: A light source including a laser diode, and a method of operating a light source including a laser diode are disclosed. A driving current of the laser diode is dithered to cause a near-field light intensity distribution at an end facet to be perturbed, thereby reducing a time-averaged local intensity of the laser light at the end facet of the laser diode. The reduced time-averaged intensity reduces a possibility of a damage of the end facet.

Abstract: A periodically poled optical waveguide comprising a nonlinear optical crystalline material is provided having poled optical domains slanted with respect to direction of propagation of light within the waveguide. Light reflected from slanted poled optical domains does not couple efficiently back into the optical waveguide, which facilitates reduction of backreflection towards a semiconductor laser source coupled to the waveguide. Reduction of backreflections facilitates stable operation of the semiconductor laser source. A method of manufacturing of a periodically poled optical waveguide with slanted poled domains is also provided.

Abstract: A method for monitoring laser light launched into a core of a single mode fiber includes launching a portion of light directly into the cladding about the core. The cladding launched light is a known fraction of the core launched light and can be monitored by placing a detector about the cladding. Detected light including light that was launched into the cladding and has leaked through the cladding is used as a known fraction of light in the core and can be used to control the laser light source. This can be done with a straight section of single mode optical fiber and does not require bending the fiber. Advantageously, most of the core launched light remains in the core as guided light.

Abstract: A harmonic frequency conversion module is disclosed including a polarization maintaining (PM) fiber optical link for providing an output stabilized from power fluctuation by the inclusion of one or more polarizers in the PM fiber optical link. Removing polarization distortions removes noise which has a significant negative effect on the output of harmonic frequency conversion elements. It has been found that the noise in frequency converted light has additional components, caused by mode interaction during conversion. In accordance with the present invention, we are able to remove the spikes in this noise, making it more stable and less dependent on external conditions. If the PM optical fiber route consists of multiple elements creating polarization distortions, a polarizer should be inserted between the most distorting element and the output of the fiber system. If many elements contribute to polarization distortions, several polarizers can be inserted into the system.

Abstract: A method for monitoring laser light launched into a core of a single mode fiber includes launching a portion of light directly into the cladding about the core. The cladding launched light is a known fraction of the core launched light and can be monitored by placing a detector about the cladding. Detected light including light that was launched into the cladding and has leaked through the cladding is used as a known fraction of light in the core and can be used to control the laser light source. This can be done with a straight section of single mode optical fiber and does not require bending the fiber. Advantageously, most of the core launched light remains in the core as guided light.

Abstract: A harmonic frequency conversion module is disclosed including a polarization maintaining (PM) fiber optical link for providing an output stabilized from power fluctuation by the inclusion of one or more polarizers in the PM fiber optical link. Removing polarization distortions removes noise which has a significant negative effect on the output of harmonic frequency conversion elements. It has been found that the noise in frequency converted light has additional components, caused by mode interaction during conversion. In accordance with the present invention, we are able to remove the spikes in this noise, making it more stable and less dependent on external conditions. If the PM optical fiber route consists of multiple elements creating polarization distortions, a polarizer should be inserted between the most distorting element and the output of the fiber system. If many elements contribute to polarization distortions, several polarizers can be inserted into the system.

Abstract: A novel control system for a simple and compact all-solid-state laser generating 300 nm to 600 nm nm light with continuously variable output power in the range from 1 mW to at least 120 mW. Single frequency radiation from an external cavity semiconductor laser is frequency doubled in, for example, a periodically poled MgO:LiNbO3 ridge waveguide. Our laser maintains a high quality TEM00 circular beam with M2<1.1 and a very low. noise of less than 0.06% over its range of output power. Less than 0.1% peak-to-peak output power variation is seen even during prolonged operation. In one example, no degradation of the conversion efficiency is observed for operation at an output power of 70 mW, and the laser has a small footprint of 5 cm.×8 cm.

Abstract: A novel control system for a simple and compact all-solid-state laser generating 300 nm to 600 nm nm light with continuously variable output power in the range from 1 mW to at least 120 mW. Single frequency radiation from an external cavity semiconductor laser is frequency doubled in a periodically poled MgO:LiNbO3 waveguide. The laser maintains a high quality TEM00 circular beam with M2<1.1 and very low noise of less than 0.06% over the entire range of output power. Less than 0.1% peak-to-peak output power variation is measured during prolonged operation. In one example, no degradation of the conversion efficiency is observed for operation at an output power of 70 mW and the laser has a small footprint of only 5×8 cm.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting the path of an optical beam and in particular, a method and apparatus for improving the coupling efficiency (power input) of free-space radiation into an optical waveguide using, as part of an optical train, a weak lens positioned along the path of the optical beam (the Z axis) and adapted to adjust the path of the beam. The weak lens is translatable along the Z axis and also along at least one axis perpendicular to the Z axis (the X or Y axes). In a preferred embodiment, the weak lens possesses all three positional degrees of freedom (i.e., it is adjustable along all of the X, Y, and Z axes). In certain preferred embodiments, the weak lens is also capable of one or even two orientational degrees of freedom (i.e., pitch and/or yaw).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting the path of an optical beam and in particular, a method and apparatus for improving the coupling efficiency (power input) of free-space radiation into an optical waveguide using, as part of an optical train, a weak lens positioned along the path of the optical beam (the Z axis) and adapted to adjust the path of the beam. The weak lens is translatable along the Z axis and also along at least one axis perpendicular to the Z axis (the X or Y axes). In a preferred embodiment, the weak lens possesses all three positional degrees of freedom (i.e., it is adjustable along all of the X, Y, and Z axes). In certain preferred embodiments, the weak lens is also capable of one or even two orientational degrees of freedom (i.e., pitch and/or yaw).