Abstract: The invention includes a device for amplifying light having a pumping resonator and a Raman resonator that share an output mirror and are divided by an interior mirror. A pumping beam is directed though a gain medium in each resonator. A seed signal is directed into the Raman resonator, which is configured to contain cascaded Raman-shifted signals generated through the interaction of the pumping beam, seed signal, and gain medium, and to transmit a selected Raman-shifted signal as optical output. Also disclosed is a method of amplifying light using a Raman resonator that partially overlaps a pump resonator. A pumping beam is directed through a pump gain medium and a Raman gain medium and generates cascading Raman-shifted signals within the Raman resonator. A seed signal is used to shape the temporal profile, and improve the coherence, of the Raman-shifted signals.

Abstract: A resonating optical amplifier includes a laser pump cavity defined by a first mirror and a second mirror with a laser pump gain medium configured within a first portion of the laser pump cavity and a Raman amplifier within a second portion of the laser pump cavity. A circulating pump-laser light is introduced to the laser pump gain medium forming a pump signal that is configured to bi-directionally propagate along a beam path within the laser pump cavity. The Raman amplifier is positioned in line with the beam path of the pump signal and operable to impart gain on a seed pulse. The seed pulse and the pump signal are co-aligned and linearly polarized.

Abstract: At a designated range an ultra-short pulse laser beam collapses focusing its power and thereby creating a plasma. A range specific thermal plasma is formed from a pulsed laser configured to produce a pulsed wavefront at a peak power. The peak power of the wavefront exceeds a self-focusing critical power level. An optical wavefront controlling element having one or more optical lens manipulates the pulsed wavefront based on a ratio of the peak power to the self-focusing critical power level, and an atmospheric condition, initiating whole beam collapse at the designated range.

Abstract: A laser crystal for a solid state laser with tunable emission in the ultraviolet wavelength region. The crystal is of trivalent cerium cations activated (doped) into the colquiriite crystal structures, such as LiCaAlF.sub.6 (LiCAF) and LiSrAlF.sub.6 (LiSAF). The crystal is grown along a well-defined axis by seeded crystal growth techniques to provide starting material which is fabricated along the preferred polarization direction with high yields. A primary crystal growth issue for cerium activated colquiriites is the charge compensation mandated by the substitution of the trivalent cerium ion for divalent strontium, which is located in the only site large enough to support the cerium cation. Charge compensation with monovalent or divalent cations is utilized to optically stabilize the colquiriite crystal and produce a solid state laser host which is less susceptible to color center or optically-induced defect formation during the ultraviolet lasing or ultraviolet excitation mechanisms.

Abstract: A tunable solid state laser for producing a laser emission at any desired w or high laser gain transition in a predetermined range of wavelengths is disclosed. The tunable solid state laser comprises: a laser cavity defined by a first reflective element and an output coupler reflective element to form a reflective path therebetween; a laser crystal disposed in the laser cavity; means for optically exciting the laser crystal to produce a laser emission in the predetermined range of wavelengths; a tunable element disposed in the laser cavity between the laser crystal and one of the reflective elements for tuning the laser emission to any desired laser transition in the predetermined range of wavelengths; and a plurality of optical plates oriented at Brewster's angle in the reflective path in the laser cavity for suppressing oscillation of undesired wavelengths within the laser cavity, the optical plates being transparent to the laser emission over the predetermined range of wavelengths.

Abstract: A room temperature solid state laser for producing a laser emission at a wavelength of substantially 2.09 microns is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the laser includes: a laser cavity defined by first and second reflective elements opposing each other on a common axis to form a path therebetween; a laser crystal disposed in the laser cavity, the laser crystal having a host material capable of accepting Cr.sup.3+ sensitizer ions, Tm.sup.3+ sensitizer ions and Ho.sup.3+ activator ions; an amount of Cr.sup.3+ sensitizer ions between about 0.3% and about 2% dispersed within the host material; an amount of Tm.sup.3+ sensitzer ions between about 3% and about 12% dispersed within the host material; and an amount of Ho.sup.3+ activator ions between about 0.1% and about 0.7% dispersed within the host material; and flashlamp and means for exciting the laser crystal to produce a laser emission at substantially 2.09 microns with a slope efficiency of at least 4%, and preferably of at least 5%.

Abstract: A room temperature solid state laser for producing a laser emission at a wavelength of substantially 1.96 microns is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the laser includes: a laser cavity defined by a plurality of coated reflective elements to form a reflective path thereamong; a laser crystal disposed in the laser cavity and capable of lasing at substantially 1.96 mircons and 2.01 microns when excited; and means for exciting the laser crystal to lase at substantially 1.96 microns and at substantially 2.01 microns. The laser crystal is comprised of a host crystal material capable of accepting Cr.sup.3+ and Tm.sup.3+ ions. Through their respective reflectivities at each of the wavelengths at substantially 1.96 microns and 2.01 microns, the coated reflective elements collectively operate to produce substantial loss in radiation at the wavelength of substantially 2.

Abstract: A room temperature solid state laser for producing a laser emission at a wavelength of substantially 2 microns is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the laser comprises: a laser crystal having a host crystal material doped with an effective percent concentration of CR.sup.3+ sensitizer ions and with an effective percent concentraton of Tm.sup.3+ activator ions; and a flashpump for exciting the laser crystal to produce a laser emission at substantially 2 microns at a slope efficiency of at least 2 percent.