Abstract: This disclosure provides planar waveguides with enhanced support and/or cooling. One or more endcaps could be disposed between coating/cladding layers at one or more ends of a core region, where the core region is doped with at least one active ion species and each endcap is not doped with any active ion species that creates substantial absorption at pump and signal wavelengths. A core region could include at least one crystal or crystalline material, and at least one cladding layer could include at least one glass. Different types of coolers could be disposed on or adjacent to different coating/cladding layers. Side claddings could be disposed on opposite sides of a planar waveguide, where the opposite sides represent longer sides of the waveguide. Endcaps and one or more coolers could be sealed to a housing, and coolant can flow through a substantially linear passageway along a length of the waveguide. One side of a planar waveguide could be uncooled.

Abstract: A system includes a master oscillator configured to generate a low-power optical beam. The system also includes a planar waveguide (PWG) amplifier configured to receive the low-power optical beam and generate a high-power optical beam having a power of at least about ten kilowatts. The PWG amplifier includes a single laser gain medium configured to generate the high-power optical beam. The single laser gain medium can reside within a single amplifier beamline of the system. The master oscillator and the PWG amplifier can be coupled to an optical bench assembly, and the optical bench assembly can include optics configured to route the low-power optical beam to the PWG amplifier and to route the high-power optical beam from the PWG amplifier. The PWG amplifier could include a cartridge that contains the single laser gain medium and a pumphead housing that retains the cartridge.

Abstract: A system includes a laser system having a master oscillator and a planar waveguide (PWG) amplifier having one or more laser diode pump arrays, a PWG pumphead, input optics, and output optics. The PWG pumphead is configured to receive a low-power optical beam from the master oscillator and generate a high-power optical beam. The PWG pumphead includes a laser gain medium, a cartridge, and a pumphead housing. The cartridge is configured to receive and retain the laser gain medium, and the cartridge includes one or more cooling channels configured to transport coolant in order to cool the laser gain medium. The pumphead housing is configured to receive and retain the cartridge, where the cartridge is removable from the housing.

Abstract: A system includes a laser system having a master oscillator and a planar waveguide (PWG) amplifier having one or more laser diode pump arrays, a PWG pumphead, input optics, and output optics. The PWG pumphead is configured to receive a low-power optical beam from the master oscillator and generate a high-power optical beam. The PWG pumphead includes a laser gain medium, a cartridge, and a pumphead housing. The cartridge is configured to receive and retain the laser gain medium, and the cartridge includes one or more cooling channels configured to transport coolant in order to cool the laser gain medium. The pumphead housing is configured to receive and retain the cartridge, where the cartridge is removable from the housing.

Abstract: A heat sink for cooling a laser gain medium includes a coolant channel, an inlet pore, an outlet pore, and a thermal optical interface (TOI) channel. The coolant channel is configured to receive a coolant for removing heat from the heat sink. The TOI channel is coupled to the coolant channel by the inlet pore and the outlet pore. The TOI channel is configured to receive a portion of the coolant through the inlet pore. The received portion forms an ultra-thin liquid TOI. The TOI channel is further configured to return a portion of the TOI through the outlet pore to the coolant channel.

Abstract: This disclosure provides planar waveguides with enhanced support and/or cooling. One or more endcaps could be disposed between coating/cladding layers at one or more ends of a core region, where the core region is doped with at least one active ion species and each endcap is not doped with any active ion species that creates substantial absorption at pump and signal wavelengths. A core region could include at least one crystal or crystalline material, and at least one cladding layer could include at least one glass. Different types of coolers could be disposed on or adjacent to different coating/cladding layers. Side claddings could be disposed on opposite sides of a planar waveguide, where the opposite sides represent longer sides of the waveguide. Endcaps and one or more coolers could be sealed to a housing, and coolant can flow through a substantially linear passageway along a length of the waveguide. One side of a planar waveguide could be uncooled.

Abstract: A planar wave guide (PWG) having a first end for coupling to a light pump and a second end opposite to the first end and including a first cladding layer; a second cladding layer; and a uniformly doped core layer between the first cladding layer and the second cladding layer, wherein the core layer is tapered having a smaller thickness at the first end and a larger thickness at the second end, and wherein a ratio of the core thickness to thickness of the cladding layers is smaller at the first end and larger at the second end.

Abstract: A system for generating an optical signal having a preselected waveform includes: a laser source; a first waveform generator configured to apply a first signal to the laser source to create a laser output; an intensity modulator configured to receive the laser output; a second waveform generator configured to apply a second signal to the intensity modulator, the intensity modulator being configured to generate a pre-distorted laser signal based on the second signal and the laser output.

Abstract: A microchip laser includes a microchip laser base comprising a gain region and a passive Q-switch region. The microchip laser also includes a solid etalon coupled to the microchip laser base, and an interfacial coating disposed between the microchip laser base and the solid etalon. In some embodiments, the microchip laser further includes a dichroic coating disposed on a surface of the microchip laser base opposite the interfacial coating.

Abstract: A planar waveguide (PWG) having a first end for coupling to a light pump and a second end opposite to the first end and including: a first cladding layer; a uniformly doped core layer having the first cladding layer on one side, wherein the core layer is tapered having a smaller thickness at the first end and a larger thickness at the second end; and a second cladding layer thinner than the first cladding layer, coated on another side of the core layer opposite to said one side of the core layer. The first cladding layer may also be tapered along the length of the PWG having a larger thickness at the first end and a smaller thickness at the second end with a taper angle substantially opposite that of the core layer to form the PWG with a substantially uniform overall thickness along the length.

Abstract: A self-seeding high power laser includes a spatial filter; an optical relay for circulating a low power un-distorted optical beam, an adaptive optic optically coupled to the output of the optical relay; a high power amplifier optically coupled to an output of the adaptive optic phase control element, wherein adaptively modified phasefront injected by the adaptive optic cancels distortions produced by the high power amplifier; a beamsplitter optically coupled to the high power amplifier for splitting the high power un-distorted optical beam into a high power output beam as the output of the self-seeding high power laser, and a low power beam; a focusing lens; a detector for detecting a metric of the low power beam; and a controller for adaptively controlling the adaptive optic to maximize the power of the high power amplifier, based on the detected metric.

Abstract: A planar core and a cladding disposed on opposite sides of thereof. In the best mode, the rotator includes a very low Numerical Aperture (NA) planar waveguide. The cladding is birefringent and the refractive index and birefringence thereof are optimized to provide equal mode propagation velocities for both TE and TM modes for at least one transverse mode. The refractive index and birefringence of the cladding are optimized to provide equal mode propagation velocities for both TE and TM modes for a wide range of transverse modes.

Abstract: A system for generating an optical signal having a preselected waveform includes: a laser source; a first waveform generator configured to apply a first signal to the laser source to create a laser output; an intensity modulator configured to receive the laser output; a second waveform generator configured to apply a second signal to the intensity modulator, the intensity modulator being configured to generate a pre-distorted laser signal based on the second signal and the laser output.

Abstract: A heat sink for cooling a laser gain medium includes a coolant channel, an inlet pore, an outlet pore, and a thermal optical interface (TOI) channel. The coolant channel is configured to receive a coolant for removing heat from the heat sink. The TOI channel is coupled to the coolant channel by the inlet pore and the outlet pore. The TOI channel is configured to receive a portion of the coolant through the inlet pore. The received portion forms an ultra-thin liquid TOI. The TOI channel is further configured to return a portion of the TOI through the outlet pore to the coolant channel.

Abstract: A planar waveguide (PWG) having a first end for coupling to a light pump and a second end opposite to the first end and including: a first cladding layer; a uniformly doped core layer having the first cladding layer on one side, wherein the core layer is tapered having a smaller thickness at the first end and a larger thickness at the second end; and a second cladding layer thinner than the first cladding layer, coated on another side of the core layer opposite to said one side of the core layer. The first cladding layer may also be tapered along the length of the PWG having a larger thickness at the first end and a smaller thickness at the second end with a taper angle substantially opposite that of the core layer to form the PWG with a substantially uniform overall thickness along the length.

Abstract: A planar wave guide (PWG) having a first end for coupling to a light pump and a second end opposite to the first end and including a first cladding layer; a second cladding layer; and a uniformly doped core layer between the first cladding layer and the second cladding layer, wherein the core layer is tapered having a smaller thickness at the first end and a larger thickness at the second end, and wherein a ratio of the core thickness to thickness of the cladding layers is smaller at the first end and larger at the second end.

Abstract: A laser system comprises a pump diode, fiber, relay optics, and a microchip laser crystal. The pump diode produces light at a first wavelength. The fiber receives the light from the pump diode and produces a round, homogeneous light spot at an output of the fiber. The relay optics receives the light from the fiber. The microchip laser crystal receives the light from the relay optics and produces a linearly polarized single frequency output at a second wavelength. The microchip laser crystal includes a first layer and a second layer. The first layer absorbs the light at the first wavelength and emits light at the second wavelength. The second layer receives the light at the second wavelength and either provides a polarization dependent loss at the second wavelength or maintains a polarization of the light at the second wavelength.

Abstract: A method and system for locally processing a predetermined microstructure formed on a substrate without causing undesirable changes in electrical or physical characteristics of the substrate or other structures formed on the substrate are provided. The method includes providing information based on a model of laser pulse interactions with the predetermined microstructure, the substrate and the other structures. At least one characteristic of at least one pulse is determined based on the information. A pulsed laser beam is generated including the at least one pulse. The method further includes irradiating the at least one pulse having the at least one determined characteristic into a spot on the predetermined microstructure. The at least one determined characteristic and other characteristics of the at least one pulse are sufficient to locally process the predetermined microstructure without causing the undesirable changes.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a wavefront corrected high-energy beam of electromagnetic energy. In the illustrative embodiment, the system includes a source of a first beam of electromagnetic energy; an amplifier for amplifying said beam to provide a second beam; a sensor for sensing aberration in said second beam and providing an error signal in response thereto; a processor for processing said error signal and providing a correction signal in response thereto; and a spatial light modulator responsive to said correction signal for adjusting said beam to facilitate a correction of said aberration thereof. In more specific embodiments, the source is a laser and the sensor is a laser wavefront sensor. A mirror is disposed between said modulator and said sensor for sampling said beam. The mirror has an optical thin-film dielectric coating on at least one optical surface thereof. The coating is effective to sample said beam and transmit a low power sample thereof to said means for sensing aberration.

Abstract: A microchip laser includes a microchip laser base comprising a gain region and a passive Q-switch region. The microchip laser also includes a solid etalon coupled to the microchip laser base, and an interfacial coating disposed between the microchip laser base and the solid etalon. In some embodiments, the microchip laser further includes a dichroic coating disposed on a surface of the microchip laser base opposite the interfacial coating.