Abstract: An optical device includes a polarization section having a port, the polarization section being for receiving light at the port and for outputting light at the port with a state of polarization orthoconjugate to the light received at the port. The polarization section includes a reflector, a bidirectional nonreciprocal rotator and a bidirectional polarizer. The bidirectional nonreciprocal rotator has first and second ends, the first end being operatively coupled to the port. The bidirectional polarizer has first and second ends, the first polarizer end being operatively coupled to the reflector and the second polarizer end being operatively coupled to the second rotator end.

Abstract: A Faraday rotator glass composition based on a fluoride glass, phosphate glass, fluorophosphate glass or a mixture thereof is doped with a lanthanide in a concentration sufficient to provide a Verdet constant above at least 2870 deg/Tesla-meter [(1 min/cm-Oe).times.(1.667.times.10.sup.4)=1 deg/Tesla-meter] and optical transmission above at least 50 percent in a 25 mm thick polished glass sample at least at one wavelength in the 200 to 400 nm wavelength region. The Faraday rotator glass also includes monovalent non-lanthanide cations such as Na, Li, K or mixtures thereof in a concentration sufficient to provide a Verdet constant above at least 2870 deg/Tesla-meter and optical transmission above at least 50 percent in a 25 mm thick polished glass sample at least at one wavelength in the 200 to 400 nm wavelength region.

Abstract: An unstable resonator laser cavity providing high power radiation with diaction-limited divergence and narrow-bandwidth comprises a gain medium for generating and amplifying laser radiation optically coupled to a reflector via a frequency narrowing element for providing feedback and bandwidth-narrowing of the laser radiation travelling between the gain medium and the reflector. A telescopic ring is optically coupled to the gain medium opposing the reflector.

Abstract: An ultraviolet optical isolater which utilizes a KDP-isomorph crystal as optical element is disclosed.

Abstract: A laser cavity providing high power laser radiation with diffraction-limi divergence and narrow-bandwidth comprises: a stable laser cavity including a gain medium, which generates and amplifies laser radiation, optically coupled to first and second reflectors and an optical coupler; and an unstable laser cavity including the gain medium, the first reflector, the optical coupler and a scraper mirror. The scraper mirror is located between the gain medium and the optical coupler for producing an output beam. The stable laser cavity is restricted to operate on a low order TEM mode by an aperture located between the optical coupler and the second reflector. A frequency narrowing element located between the optical coupler and the second reflector narrows the bandwidth of the laser radiation in the stable laser cavity. The optical coupler couples the narrow bandwidth laser radiation from the stable laser cavity to the unstable laser cavity, thereby producing narrow bandwidth laser radiation in the output beam.