Abstract: Optical structures, including thin film designs and components with topography, are provided that achieve significantly improved laser damage thresholds and/or ultra-low-loss. These advances may be achieved by utilizing a bulk window comprising a material having a band gap that is at least 5.0 eV and a thickness. The bulk window can be configured to increase the laser induced damage threshold of the underlying optical structure.

Abstract: A spectral beam combining system includes a spectral channel splicer comprising a plurality of reflectors and a spectral beam combiner comprising a diffraction optical element such as a diffraction grating. The spectral beam combining system may further comprise at least one additional diffractive optical element or diffraction grating for dispersion compensation that reduces the effects of angular dispersion of wavelength components within the input channel. This spectral beam combining system facilitates combining an increased number of wider spectral channels thereby potentially allowing higher optical power, e.g., within each fewer channel lasers. The combined beam focal spot shape profile is maintained as spectrum width or central spectrum wavelength of any one or all input channels is changed.

Abstract: A spectral beam combining system includes a spectral channel splicer comprising a plurality of reflectors and a spectral beam combiner comprising a diffraction optical element such as a diffraction grating. This spectral beam combining system may facilitate combining an increased number of spectral channels thereby producing higher optical power of the combining beam system.

Abstract: Optical structures, including thin film designs and components with topography, are provided that achieve significantly improved laser damage thresholds and/or ultra-low-loss. These advances may be achieved by utilizing a bulk window including a material having a band gap that is at least 5.0 eV and a thickness. The bulk window can be configured to increase the laser induced damage threshold of the underlying optical structure.

Abstract: Optical thin film designs are provided that achieve significantly improved laser damage thresholds and ultra-low-loss. These advances may be achieved by utilizing materials with electronic band gaps and refractive indices that are higher than those that are conventionally used.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a waveplate having a substrate forming an optic. The substrate may have an integral portion forming a plurality of angled columnar features on an exposed surface thereof. The plurality of angled columnar features may further be aligned parallel with a directional plane formed non-parallel to a reference plane, with the reference plane being normal to a surface of the substrate. The metasurface forms a birefringent metasurface.

Abstract: A system configuration that significantly improves the laser damage threshold of multi-layer dielectric gratings for lasers applications includes three main sections: 1) a laser module, 2) a TM polarization module, and 3) a multi-layer dielectric grating optimized for high efficiency operation with transverse magnetic polarized laser light.

Abstract: A spectral beam combining system includes a spectral channel splicer comprising a plurality of reflectors and a spectral beam combiner comprising a diffraction optical element such as a diffraction grating. This spectral beam combining system may facilitate combining an increased number of spectral channels thereby producing higher optical power of the combining beam system.

Abstract: A device utilized for spectrally combining multi lasers or laser emitters into a single high-power beam. Exemplary embodiments of the device consist of a monolithic structure, such as a hollow tube, wherein the input end cap comprises a transform optic and the output end cap comprises a transmission grating.

Abstract: A transmission grating optical beam combiner is provided. In some implementations, the beam combiner can include an optically transparent substrate and a transmission grating on the substrate. The transmission grating can be configured to combine and/or superimpose first and second input beams as a single output beam. The first input beam can be incident on the transmission grating at an angle corresponding to one diffraction order of the grating and the second input beam can be incident on the transmission grating at an angle corresponding to another diffraction order of the grating.

Abstract: Metallic overcoated diffraction gratings are particularly useful for high average power laser pulse compression. A dielectric oxide layer is attached to an etch-stop layer, where the dielectric oxide layer comprises a grating pattern including grating lines. Sidewalls of the grating lines taper together toward an upper surface of the dielectric oxide layer. A metallic overcoat is attached to the etch-stop layer and the dielectric oxide layer.

Abstract: Optical structures, including thin film designs and components with topography, are provided that achieve significantly improved laser damage thresholds and/or ultra-low-loss. These advances may be achieved by utilizing a bulk window comprising a material having a band gap that is at least 5.0 eV and a thickness. The bulk window can be configured to increase the laser induced damage threshold of the underlying optical structure.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a multilayer dielectric (MLD) diffraction grating by providing a multilayer stack having a grating layer, and anisotropically etching the grating layer to form grating lines having an initial lineheight, an initial linewidth, and an initial grating duty cycle, that are greater than a target lineheight, a target linewidth, and a target grating duty cycle, respectively. An isotropic wet etch solution is then used to etch back the grating lines to the target lineheight, the target linewidth, and the target grating duty cycle so as to minimize electric field intensities and maximize diffraction efficiency for a given set of MLD illumination conditions.

Abstract: A system configuration that significantly improves the laser damage threshold of multi-layer dielectric gratings for lasers applications includes three main sections: 1) a laser module, 2) a TM polarization module, and 3) a multi-layer dielectric grating optimized for high efficiency operation with transverse magnetic polarized laser light.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a waveplate having a substrate forming an optic. The substrate may have an integral portion forming a plurality of angled columnar features on an exposed surface thereof. The plurality of angled columnar features may further be aligned parallel with a directional plane formed non-parallel to a reference plane, with the reference plane being normal to a surface of the substrate. The metasurface forms a birefringent metasurface.

Abstract: A device utilized for spectrally combining multi lasers or laser emitters into a single high-power beam. Exemplary embodiments of the device consist of a monolithic structure, such as a hollow tube, wherein the input end cap comprises a transform optic and the output end cap comprises a transmission grating.

Abstract: Metallic overcoated diffraction gratings are particularly useful for high average power laser pulse compression. A dielectric oxide layer is attached to an etch-stop layer, where the dielectric oxide layer comprises a grating pattern including grating lines. Sidewalls of the grating lines taper together toward an upper surface of the dielectric oxide layer. A metallic overcoat is attached to the etch-stop layer and the dielectric oxide layer.

Abstract: Optical thin film designs are provided that achieve significantly improved laser damage thresholds and ultra-low-loss. These advances may be achieved by utilizing materials with electronic band gaps and refractive indices that are higher than those that are conventionally used.

Abstract: Provided is a compression bar apparatus for applying pressure to desired areas of a thin film composite (TFC) membrane, such as spiral wound TFC membranes and elements, including membranes and elements used for nanofiltration, reverse osmosis or forward osmosis to purify water, such as tap water, seawater, and brackish water. Application of pressure to a spiral wound element by the apparatus produces a membrane with increased sealant penetration, reduced osmotic blistering, and minimal damage to the active area of the membrane. Also provided are methods of using the apparatus.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for photoconductive switch package configurations. In some aspects, a photoconductive switch package includes of a wide bandgap photoconductive material (e.g., GaN, ZnO, diamond, AlN, SiC, BN, etc.), a source for energetic photons (e.g., a laser), a mechanism to couple the laser into the switch, and a mechanism for high voltage to enter and leave the switch package. In some implementations, the disclosed photoconductive switch packages can be configured as a three terminal device, e.g., similar to transistors, with one of the terminals being laser input or the voltage input to the laser system.