Abstract: A photonic antenna array includes: a plurality of tapered fiber ends; and a support plate. Each tapered fiber end of the plurality of tapered fiber ends corresponds to a respective fiber of a plurality of fibers. A portion of each of the plurality of fibers is run through the support plate. A fiber core diameter at a tapered end point of a respective tapered fiber end of the plurality of tapered fiber ends has a first diameter. A fiber core diameter at a non-tapered portion of the respective fiber corresponding to the respective tapered fiber end has a second diameter. The first diameter is smaller than the second diameter. The respective tapered fiber end is configured to provide a mode field diameter larger than a diameter of the non-tapered portion of the respective fiber corresponding to the respective tapered fiber end.

Abstract: A fiber support assembly includes: a first glass tube, wherein the first glass tube is at tached to a microlens or lenslet of a microlens or lenslet array; a second glass tube at least partially disposed within the first glass tube; and a gain fiber disposed within the second glass tube, wherein the gain fiber has a first tapered end cap, and wherein the gain fiber with the first tapered end cap is aligned to the microlens or lenslet attached to the first glass tube. The fiber support assembly may further include: a pump fiber disposed within the second glass tube, wherein the pump fiber has a second tapered end cap; and a reflector configured to receive counter-pumping light from the pump fiber and direct the counter-pumping light to the first tapered end cap of the gain fiber.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure include a fiber optic amplifier system and a fiber optic oscillator system having a first stage, comprising a first core fiber having a first core diameter and a first cladding size; a second stage, comprising a second core fiber having a second core diameter and a second cladding size; and a double mode adapter connecting the first stage to the second stage, wherein the double mode adapter is configured to provide transitions for the cores and the claddings of the first and second core fibers.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the disclosure provides a double fiber optic mode adapter including: a fiber core having a variable core diameter; a fiber cladding having a variable cladding size; a first input interface corresponding to a first core diameter and a first cladding size; a second input interface corresponding to a second core diameter and a second cladding size; a thermally-tapered region wherein the variable core diameter of the fiber core transitions from the first core diameter to the second core diameter and the variable cladding size of the fiber cladding transitions from the first cladding size to a third cladding size; and an etched tapered region wherein the variable core diameter of the fiber core is constant and the variable cladding size of the fiber cladding transitions from the third cladding size to the second cladding size.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the disclosure provides a double fiber optic mode adapter including: a fiber core having a variable core diameter; a fiber cladding having a variable cladding size; a first input interface corresponding to a first core diameter and a first cladding size; a second input interface corresponding to a second core diameter and a second cladding size; a thermally-tapered region wherein the variable core diameter of the fiber core transitions from the first core diameter to the second core diameter and the variable cladding size of the fiber cladding transitions from the first cladding size to a third cladding size; and an etched tapered region wherein the variable core diameter of the fiber core is constant and the variable cladding size of the fiber cladding transitions from the third cladding size to the second cladding size

Abstract: Optical energy in excess of that which is properly coupled into the core of an optical fiber is non-destructively redirected and benignly dissipated so as to minimize damage in a fiber coupled system.

Abstract: A system is provided for combining laser light sources. The system includes: a stack of laser diode bar arrays, comprising two or more laser diode bar arrays, each laser diode bar array having multiple laser diodes; a multimode optical fiber; and a plurality of optical elements disposed between the stack of laser diode bar arrays and the multimode optical fiber, configured to direct light from the stack of laser diode bar arrays to the multimode optical fibers, the plurality of optical elements further including: a plurality of fast-axis collimating (FAC) lenses, wherein at least one FAC lens of the plurality of FAC lenses corresponds to each laser diode bar array. At least one FAC lens of the plurality of FAC lenses is misaligned with respect to the corresponding laser diode bar array.

Abstract: Optical energy in excess of that which is properly coupled into the core of an optical fiber is non-destructively redirected and benignly dissipated so as to minimize damage in a fiber coupled system.

Abstract: A system is provided for combining laser light sources. The system includes: a stack of laser diode bar arrays, comprising two or more laser diode bar arrays, each laser diode bar array having multiple laser diodes; a multimode optical fiber; and a plurality of optical elements disposed between the stack of laser diode bar arrays and the multimode optical fiber, configured to direct light from the stack of laser diode bar arrays to the multimode optical fibers, the plurality of optical elements further including: a plurality of fast-axis collimating (FAC) lenses, wherein at least one FAC lens of the plurality of FAC lenses corresponds to each laser diode bar array. At least one FAC lens of the plurality of FAC lenses is misaligned with respect to the corresponding laser diode bar array.