Abstract: An optical isolator for use with high power, collimated laser radiation includes an input polarizing optical element, at least one Faraday optical element, at least two reflective optical elements for reflecting laser radiation to provide an even number of passes through said at least one Faraday optical element, at least one reciprocal polarization altering optical element, an output polarizing optical element, at least one light redirecting element for remotely dissipating isolated or lost laser radiation. The isolator also includes at least one magnetic structure capable of generating a uniform magnetic field within the Faraday optical element which is aligned to the path of the collimated laser radiation and a mechanical structure for holding said optical elements to provide thermal gradients that are aligned to the path of the collimated laser radiation and that provide thermal and mechanical isolation between the magnetic structure and the optical elements.

Abstract: An optical isolator for generally collimated laser radiation includes a single polarizing element, at least one Faraday optical element, at least one reciprocal polarization altering optical element disposed at the single polarizing element, at least one reflective optical element for reflecting radiation to provide an even number of passes through the at least one Faraday optical element, and a magnetic structure. The magnetic structure is capable of generating a magnetic field within the at least one Faraday optical element that is generally aligned with the even number of passes along a beam propagation axis. The optical isolator is configured to receive generally collimated laser radiation, which passes through the single polarizing element and the at least one reciprocal polarization altering optical element and which makes at least two passes through the at least one Faraday optical element, whereby generally collimated laser radiation is output from the optical isolator.

Abstract: An optical isolator for generally collimated laser radiation includes a single polarizing element, at least one Faraday optical element, at least one reciprocal polarization altering optical element disposed at the single polarizing element, at least one reflective optical element for reflecting radiation to provide an even number of passes through the at least one Faraday optical element, and a magnetic structure. The magnetic structure is capable of generating a magnetic field within the at least one Faraday optical element that is generally aligned with the even number of passes along a beam propagation axis. The optical isolator is configured to receive generally collimated laser radiation, which passes through the single polarizing element and the at least one reciprocal polarization altering optical element and which makes at least two passes through the at least one Faraday optical element, whereby generally collimated laser radiation is output from the optical isolator.

Abstract: An optical isolator for use with high power, collimated laser radiation includes an input polarizing optical element, at least one Faraday optical element, at least two reflective optical elements for reflecting laser radiation to provide an even number of passes through said at least one Faraday optical element, at least one reciprocal polarization altering optical element, an output polarizing optical element, at least one light redirecting element for remotely dissipating isolated or lost laser radiation. The isolator also includes at least one magnetic structure capable of generating a uniform magnetic field within the Faraday optical element which is aligned to the path of the collimated laser radiation and a mechanical structure for holding said optical elements to provide thermal gradients that are aligned to the path of the collimated laser radiation and that provide thermal and mechanical isolation between the magnetic structure and the optical elements.

Abstract: An optical isolator for use with high power, collimated laser radiation includes an input polarizing optical element, at least one Faraday optical element, at least two reflective optical elements for reflecting laser radiation to provide an even number of passes through said at least one Faraday optical element, at least one reciprocal polarization altering optical element, an output polarizing optical element, at least one light redirecting element for remotely dissipating isolated or lost laser radiation. The isolator also includes at least one magnetic structure capable of generating a uniform magnetic field within the Faraday optical element which is aligned to the path of the collimated laser radiation and a mechanical structure for holding said optical elements to provide thermal gradients that are aligned to the path of the collimated laser radiation and that provide thermal and mechanical isolation between the magnetic structure and the optical elements.

Abstract: An optical isolator for generally collimated laser radiation includes a single polarizing element, at least one Faraday optical element, at least one reciprocal polarization altering optical element disposed at the single polarizing element, at least one reflective optical element for reflecting radiation to provide an even number of passes through the at least one Faraday optical element, and a magnetic structure. The magnetic structure is capable of generating a magnetic field within the at least one Faraday optical element that is generally aligned with the even number of passes along a beam propagation axis. The optical isolator is configured to receive generally collimated laser radiation, which passes through the single polarizing element and the at least one reciprocal polarization altering optical element and which makes at least two passes through the at least one Faraday optical element, whereby generally collimated laser radiation is output from the optical isolator.

Abstract: An optical isolator for generally collimated laser radiation includes a single polarizing element, at least one Faraday optical element, at least one reciprocal polarization altering optical element disposed at the single polarizing element, at least one reflective optical element for reflecting radiation to provide an even number of passes through the at least one Faraday optical element, and a magnetic structure. The magnetic structure is capable of generating a magnetic field within the at least one Faraday optical element that is generally aligned with the even number of passes along a beam propagation axis. The optical isolator is configured to receive generally collimated laser radiation, which passes through the single polarizing element and the at least one reciprocal polarization altering optical element and which makes at least two passes through the at least one Faraday optical element, whereby generally collimated laser radiation is output from the optical isolator.

Abstract: A kW Class optical isolator employs negative feedback to yield low focal shift over dynamically changing power levels. The isolator is useful as a kW fiber laser output isolator.

Abstract: A kW Class optical isolator employs negative feedback to yield low focal shift over dynamically changing power levels. The isolator is useful as a kW fiber laser output isolator.

Abstract: A compact Faraday rotator and isolator featuring a uniform magnetic field for isolating a light source from light which is directed back towards the light source. The isolator comprises a Faraday rotator between two polarizers in a uniform magnetic field. The uniform magnetic field is generated by two pairs of polyhedral shape magnets on opposite sides of the isolator's optical axis. The optical axis passes through a block of Faraday rotator material. One pair of magnets is disposed above the optical axis and the other pair of magnets is disposed below the optical axis. Opposite poles of the magnets are adjacent to each other on the same side of the optical axis and like poles of the magnets face each other across the optical axis, the direction of magnetization of each magnet being generally normal to the optical axis.

Abstract: A planar unidirectional solid state laser is realized in non-birefringent (isotropic or cubic) material by inducing a reciprocal polarization rotation along a lasing path within the material through a mechanical stress or by modifying the material to change the index of refraction along the lasing path. Together with means for providing nonreciprocal polarization rotation, such as with the Faraday Effect, the invention enables construction of unidirectional lasers, and more specifically thick film, single-frequency CW or Q-switched tunable ring lasers, with the advantage of both flat and ring structures. A variable-output coupled solid state ring laser employing an evanescent wave output coupling in the form of a prism is also described.

Abstract: An optical Faraday isolator includes a slab of Faraday rotator medium coated to define input and output faces and internal reflective surfaces for causing the beam to travel between the input and output faces along a zig-zag path. Permanent magnets polarized in a direction normal to the plane defined by the zig-zag beam path are disposed on opposite sides of the beam path. The magnets are paired on each side with serially alternating polarity and the like poles are in transverse registration on opposite sides of the beam path to produce an intense, unidirectional magnetic field parallel to the beam path within the rotator slab. A quarterwave plate introduces a compensating amount of elliptical polarization to cancel unwanted elliptical polarization effects of the slab and its coatings. A beam shaving aperture at the exit of the slab shaves off divergent backward travelling rays.

Abstract: A diode pumped Nd:YAG laser is disclosed wherein the YAG laser rod is supported from the envelope of the pumping diode by means of telescoping glass tubes bonded together by means of u.v. curing adhesive. The diode pumped laser is supported from a heat sink via the intermediary of a pair of rotatable wedges for adjusting the tilt of the optical axis of the laser. A gradient refractive index lens focuses the pump radiation into the laser rod. The lens is adhered directly to the output window of the pump diode by means of refractive index matching adhesive.

Abstract: A seeded electro-optically Q-switches laser includes a pulser for pulsing the Q-switch within the seeded laser. The Q-switch pulser includes a pulse-shaping network having a saturable core inductor connected in series with the flow of current to the Q-switch for causing the developed pulse voltage waveform in Q-switch to have an initially reduced rate of change to reduce unwanted Fourier frequency components of the seed optical radiation in the optical resonator of the slave laser, whereby enhanced single-mode operation of the slave laser is obtained with reduced seed power.

Abstract: A diode pumped Nd:YAG laser is disclosed. The YAG rod is coated on its ends to define an optical resonator containing the YAG rod. The YAG rod is made sufficiently short, i.e., 1 mm, so that it will support only two axial resonant (lasing) modes. The rod is transversely stressed to polarize the two original modes and to excite a third lasing mode orthogonally polarized to the first two modes. The third mode is separated from the first two modes to provide stable, single mode TEM.sub.001 output. The transverse stress is applied by means of a spring clamp made of a material, Be-Cu, having a low temperature coefficient.