Abstract: An apparatus for cutting brittle material comprises an aspheric focusing lens, an aperture, and a laser-source generating a beam of pulsed laser-radiation. The aspheric lens and the aperture form the beam of pulsed laser-radiation into an elongated focus having a uniform intensity distribution along the optical axis of the aspheric focusing lens. The elongated focus extends through the full thickness of a workpiece made of a brittle material. The workpiece is cut by tracing the optical axis along a cutting line. Each pulse or burst of pulsed laser-radiation creates an extended defect through the full thickness of the workpiece.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting brittle material comprises an aspheric focusing lens, an aperture, and a laser-source generating a beam of pulsed laser-radiation. The aspheric lens and the aperture form the beam of pulsed laser-radiation into an elongated focus having a uniform intensity distribution along the optical axis of the aspheric focusing lens. The elongated focus extends through the full thickness of a workpiece made of a brittle material. The workpiece is cut by tracing the optical axis along a cutting line. Each pulse or burst of pulsed laser-radiation creates an extended defect through the full thickness of the workpiece.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting brittle material comprises an aspheric focusing lens, an aperture, and a laser-source generating a beam of pulsed laser-radiation. The aspheric lens and the aperture form the beam of pulsed laser-radiation into an elongated focus having a uniform intensity distribution along the optical axis of the aspheric focusing lens. The elongated focus extends through the full thickness of a workpiece made of a brittle material. The workpiece is cut by tracing the optical axis along a cutting line. Each pulse or burst of pulsed laser-radiation creates an extended defect through the full thickness of the workpiece.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting brittle material comprises an aspheric focusing lens, an aperture, and a laser-source generating a beam of pulsed laser-radiation. The aspheric lens and the aperture form the beam of pulsed laser-radiation into an elongated focus having a uniform intensity distribution along the optical axis of the aspheric focusing lens. The elongated focus extends through the full thickness of a workpiece made of a brittle material. The workpiece is cut by tracing the optical axis along a cutting line. Each pulse or burst of pulsed laser-radiation creates an extended defect through the full thickness of the workpiece.

Abstract: A method for cutting a transparent brittle material using pulsed laser-radiation is disclosed. A beam of pulsed laser-radiation having an optical-axis is focused in the material by a variable-focus lens or mirror. The focus is translated along the optical-axis while the material is moved with respect to the beam to create an array of defects along a cutting path.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) excited laser assembly includes a pair of opposed electrodes defining an inter-electrode gap and a conductive termination bridge in electrical contact with both electrodes. The termination bridge mechanically supports and positions the electrodes relative to each other and provides a termination impedance for an RF voltage applied to the electrodes. A conical spiral inductor includes one or more metals windings, and one or more concentric terminals, such that the conical spiral inductor defines an inter-winding spacing sufficient to mitigate ionization of a gas medium between windings. A radio frequency (RF) feed-through assembly configured to apply an RF voltage to a pair of opposing electrodes such that a conductor is isolated from a metal sleeve position around the conductor by ion sheath discharge barrier.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) excited laser assembly includes a pair of opposed electrodes defining an inter-electrode gap and a conductive termination bridge in electrical contact with both electrodes. The termination bridge mechanically supports and positions the electrodes relative to each other and provides a termination impedance for an RF voltage applied to the electrodes. A conical spiral inductor includes one or more metals windings, and one or more concentric terminals, such that the conical spiral inductor defines an inter-winding spacing sufficient to mitigate ionization of a gas medium between windings. A radio frequency (RF) feed-through assembly configured to apply an RF voltage to a pair of opposing electrodes such that a conductor is isolated from a metal sleeve position around the conductor by ion sheath discharge barrier.

Abstract: An RF excited laser assembly includes a pair of opposed electrodes, and at least one inductor. The pair of opposed electrodes defines an inter-electrode gap that provides a discharge volume for laser propagation within a gas medium. The pair of opposed electrodes define one or more discharge-free regions within a laser-free region in the inter-electrode gap. The least one inductor is electrically connected to both electrodes and extends between the electrodes within the inter-electrode gap and inside of the one or more discharge-free regions within the laser-free region.

Abstract: An RF excited laser assembly includes a pair of opposed electrodes, and at least one inductor. The pair of opposed electrodes defines an inter-electrode gap that provides a discharge volume for laser propagation within a gas medium. The pair of opposed electrodes define one or more discharge-free regions within a laser-free region in the inter-electrode gap. The least one inductor is electrically connected to both electrodes and extends between the electrodes within the inter-electrode gap and inside of the one or more discharge-free regions within the laser-free region.

Abstract: A laser includes a optical fiber having a cladding that defines a core, a laser active medium within the core of the optical fiber, a first reflector and a second reflector defining a cavity within at least a portion of the optical fiber; and an excitation system coupled to the laser active medium to stimulate laser action within the core of the optical fiber. The laser active medium can be a gas, a liquid, or a solid.

Abstract: An optical system for reforming a laser beam with azimuthal polarization having X and Y components into a beam with linear polarization has a multiplicity of optical elements, at least one of which has a mirror having an absorbing thin film reflective coating to remove the Y-component of the azimuthal beam polarization, thereby reflecting only the X or linear component as a linearly polarized beam. The absorbing thin film reflective coating is comprised of a plurality of layers alternately having high and low indices of refraction. The optical elements include a spatial filter and the beam is passed through the spatial filter to adjust the beam quality. At least one other optical element is collimating and the beam with adjusted beam quality is transmitted to the collimating element to effect its collimation. The collimated linearly polarized laser beam may thereafter be passed through a phase shifter to convert the polarization of the laser beam from linear to circular.

Abstract: There is provided an improved gas laser system comprising therein (a) a pair of opposed electrodes comprising an inner and an outer electrode, defining a discharge volume with an inter-electrode gap, each of the pairs of opposed electrodes having a series of saw teeth in a pattern, the inter-electrode gap having first and second opposed ends, the inter-electrode gap having a first dimension at the first end, a second dimension at the second end, and a third dimension at a point between the first end and the second end, the third dimension being less than the first and second dimensions; and (b) a pair of mirrors, each of the mirrors mounted adjacent to one of the ends for directing light generated in the inter-electrode gap through the discharge volume.

Abstract: There is provided an improved gas laser system comprising therein (a) a pair of opposed electrodes comprising an inner and an outer electrode, defining a discharge volume with an inter-electrode gap, each of the pairs of opposed electrodes having a series of saw teeth in a pattern, the inter-electrode gap having first and second opposed ends, the inter-electrode gap having a first dimension at the first end, a second dimension at the second end, and a third dimension at a point between the first end and the second end, the third dimension being less than the first and second dimensions; and (b) a pair of mirrors, each of the mirrors mounted adjacent to one of the ends for directing light generated in the inter-electrode gap through the discharge volume.

Abstract: An optical system for reforming a laser beam with azimuthal polarization having X and Y components into a beam with linear polarization has a multiplicity of optical elements, one of which has a mirror having an absorbing thin film reflective coating to remove the Y-component of the azimuthal beam polarization, thereby reflecting only the X or linear component as a linearly polarized beam. The absorbing thin film reflective coating is comprised of a plurality of layers alternately having high and low indices of refraction. The optical elements include a spatial filter and the beam is passed through the spatial filter to adjust the beam quality. At least one other optical element is collimating and the beam with adjusted beam quality is transmitted to the collimating element to effect its collimation. The collimated linearly polarized laser beam may thereafter be passed through a phase shifter to convert the polarization of the laser beam from linear to circular.