Abstract: A waveguide device in the form of either a solid-state laser or amplifier is divided into separate pumping and output mode control sections along at least one direction of the device by leaving a portion of a core of the device unclad or by depositing appropriate coatings on different sections of the core or by contacting/bonding materials with different refractive indices to different sections of the core or by a combination of these approaches. The core has a pump input surface for receiving pumping radiation at a pumping wavelength and one or more output surfaces for emitting a laser beam at an output wavelength. When used as an amplifier, the core also has a laser input surface which may be the same as one of the output surfaces.

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 method and system provide improved surface cooling of a laser gain medium such as a solid state disc through the presence of a layer of a highly conductive liquid separating the solid state disc from a heat sink of the system. The highly conductive liquid, such as, for example, mercury, is placed to serve as a conductor of heat between the disc and the heat sink. Liquid allows for good thermal contact between the heat sink and the disc reducing the problem of thermal contact resistance found when more solid means of contact are used.

Abstract: A method and system for cooling at least one laser diode with a cooling fluid which does not come into direct contact with the at least one laser diode is presented. Liquid cooled heat sinks are provided on opposing sides of each laser diode. Individual modules are held together by a single holding mechanism allowing individual modules to be removed from the array for easy testing or replacement.

Abstract: A laser-optical fiber tuning and control system which optimizes coupling of a laser output into an optical fiber by minimizing the amount of light scattered into the fiber cladding, which provides a realtime indication of whether the radiation reaches the output end of the fiber to an emergency shut-down switch, and which provides a communications system for control of the laser from the output end of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A system for coupling laser radiation at a high power to an optical fiber while dissipating heat from scattered laser and optical pump radiation, including an optical fiber, a protective ferrule surrounding a portion of the optical fiber extending from the input face of the optical fiber and welded to the fiber in the region of the input face and otherwise separated from the fiber by an air space, and a holder surrounding the ferrule to absorb scattered radiation and dissipate heat.