Abstract: Laser sources of the present invention allow for the efficient generation of harmonic frequencies from broadband sources. Over-compression and under-compression of a split signal result in two beams chirped in opposite directions. These two beams may be combined in a non-linear crystal to generate a narrow-band harmonic signal from a broadband source.

Abstract: A pumped optical ring laser sensor such as a gyroscope includes a pulsed laser source to generate optical pump pulses and a synchronously pumped ring laser. The ring laser is optically pumped by first optical pump pulses from the pulsed laser source that are directed in a clock-wise (CW) direction through the ring laser and by second optical pump pulses from the pulsed laser source that are directed in a counter-clock wise (CCW) direction through the ring laser. The ring laser has an optical resonator that includes a gain medium for producing CW and CCW frequency-shifted pulses from the first and second optical pump pulses. The ring laser further includes a port for receiving the first and second pump pulses and for extracting the CW and CCW frequency-shifted pulses from the ring laser such that the frequency-shifted pulses overlap in time after being extracted to generate a beatnote.

Abstract: A system and method that uses receptor-targeted microbubbles to locate abnormal cell tissue for therapy is disclosed. The method includes applying receptor-targeted microbubbles to abnormal cell tissue; imaging the applied microbubbles using an imaging system; and locating the abnormal cell tissue using the imaged, applied microbubbles, wherein the imaging system detects and 5 transmits imaging information of the applied microbubbles through a gaseous environment, i.e., a non-contact procedure. Embodiments of the system and method combine the targeting of microbubbles to abnormal cell tissue and an imaging system, the combination of which is capable of accurately and rapidly assessing the surgical margin for presence of unseen cancer in, for example, the operating room, at bedside, or in an 10 office, within or outside the body.

Abstract: A pumped optical ring laser sensor such as a gyroscope includes a pulsed laser source to generate optical pump pulses and a synchronously pumped ring laser. The ring laser is optically pumped by first optical pump pulses from the pulsed laser source that are directed in a clock-wise (CW) direction through the ring laser and by second optical pump pulses from the pulsed laser source that are directed in a counter-clock wise (CCW) direction through the ring laser. The ring laser has an optical resonator that includes a gain medium for producing CW and CCW frequency-shifted pulses from the first and second optical pump pulses. The ring laser further includes a port for receiving the first and second pump pulses and for extracting the CW and CCW frequency-shifted pulses from the ring laser such that the frequency-shifted pulses overlap in time after being extracted to generate a beatnote.

Abstract: A pumped optical ring laser sensor such as a gyroscope includes a pulsed laser source to generate optical pump pulses and a synchronously pumped ring laser. The ring laser is optically pumped by first optical pump pulses from the pulsed laser source that are directed in a clock-wise (CW) direction through the ring laser and by second optical pump pulses from the pulsed laser source that are directed in a counter-clock wise (CCW) direction through the ring laser. The ring laser has an optical resonator that includes a gain medium for producing CW and CCW frequency-shifted pulses from the first and second optical pump pulses. The ring laser further includes a port for receiving the first and second pump pulses and for extracting the CW and CCW frequency-shifted pulses from the ring laser such that the frequency-shifted pulses overlap in time after being extracted to generate a beatnote.

Abstract: An optical apparatus that includes an optical source that generates a first optical pulse with a first optical wavelength. The optical apparatus also includes an optical amplifier that outputs an amplified pulse. The optical apparatus also includes a first waveguide that is connected to the optical amplifier and a second waveguide. Wherein the second waveguide converts the energy of the amplified pulse into energy of a second pulse that has a second optical wavelength different from the first optical wavelength. Wherein, the following equation is satisfied: L_min?L??/?P. In which a length of the first waveguide is L, a nonlinear coefficient of the first waveguide is ?, a peak power of the amplified pulse as it is received by the first waveguide is P, and a minimum length of the first waveguide is L_min or L is equal to zero.

Abstract: An illumination system is disclosed for providing dual excitation wavelength illumination for non-linear optical microscopy and micro-spectroscopy. The illumination system includes a laser system for providing a first train of pulses at a center optical frequency ?1, a frequency converting system for providing at least a second train of pulses at a center optical frequency ?2 and a third train of pulses at a center optical frequency ?3, where ?2 is different from ?1 and ?3 responsive to the first train of pulses, an amplifier system for amplifying the second train of pulses to provide an amplified second train of pulses, and an adjustment means for adjusting a time delay between the amplified second train of pulses and the third train of pulses for the dual-excitation wavelength illumination.

Abstract: An optical apparatus comprising: a source and a loop. The source generates a pump. The resonating cavity of the source includes: a gain medium; and a tunable filter for selecting a wavelength. The loop comprises: an input coupler; a waveguide; and an output coupler. The input coupler receives the pump and a signal and outputs the pump and the signal into the waveguide In the waveguide, energy in the pump is transferred into energy in the signal while a relative center position of the signal is crossing a center position of the pump in a first direction while both are passing through the waveguide and into the output coupler. The output coupler r outputs a first portion of the signal and a second portion of the signal is fed into the input coupler as the signal, completing the loop.

Abstract: An optical apparatus comprising: a source and a loop. The source generates a pump. The resonating cavity of the source includes: a gain medium; and a tunable filter for selecting a wavelength. The loop comprises: an input coupler; a waveguide; and an output coupler. The input coupler receives the pump and a signal and outputs the pump and the signal into the waveguide In the waveguide, energy in the pump is transferred into energy in the signal while a relative center position of the signal is crossing a center position of the pump in a first direction while both are passing through the waveguide and into the output coupler. The output coupler r outputs a first portion of the signal and a second portion of the signal is fed into the input coupler as the signal, completing the loop.

Abstract: An optical apparatus that includes an optical source that generates a first optical pulse with a first optical wavelength. The optical apparatus also includes an optical amplifier that outputs an amplified pulse. The optical apparatus also includes a first waveguide that is connected to the optical amplifier and a second waveguide. Wherein the second waveguide converts the energy of the amplified pulse into energy of a second pulse that has a second optical wavelength different from the first optical wavelength. Wherein, the following equation is satisfied: L_min?L??/?P. In which a length of the first waveguide is L, a nonlinear coefficient of the first waveguide is ?, a peak power of the amplified pulse as it is received by the first waveguide is P, and a minimum length of the first waveguide is L_min or L is equal to zero.

Abstract: A fiber optic parametric amplifier that includes a resonating cavity. The resonating cavity includes linear fiber optic gain medium, with negative chromatic dispersion; and a nonlinear fiber optic gain medium with positive chromatic dispersion.

Abstract: An illumination system is disclosed for providing dual-excitation wavelength illumination for non-linear optical microscopy and micro-spectroscopy. The illumination system includes a laser system, an optical splitting means, a frequency shifting system, and a picosecond amplifier system. The laser system includes a laser for providing a first train of pulses at a center optical frequency ?1. The optical splitting means divides the first train of pulses at the center optical frequency ?1 into two trains of pulses. The frequency shifting system shifts the optical frequency of one of the two trains of pulses to provide a frequency shifted train of pulses. The picosecond amplifier system amplifies the frequency shifted train of pulses to provide an amplified frequency-shifted train of pulses having a pulse duration of at least 0.5 picoseconds.

Abstract: A fiber optic parametric amplifier that includes a resonating cavity. The resonating cavity includes linear fiber optic gain medium, with negative chromatic dispersion; and a nonlinear fiber optic gain medium with positive chromatic dispersion.

Abstract: An illumination system is disclosed for providing dual-excitation wavelength illumination for non-linear optical microscopy and micro-spectroscopy. The illumination system includes a laser system, an optical splitting means, a frequency shifting system, and a picosecond amplifier system. The laser system includes a laser for providing a first train of pulses at a center optical frequency ?1. The optical splitting means divides the first train of pulses at the center optical frequency ?1 into two trains of pulses. The frequency shifting system shifts the optical frequency of one of the two trains of pulses to provide a frequency shifted train of pulses. The picosecond amplifier system amplifies the frequency shifted train of pulses to provide an amplified frequency-shifted train of pulses having a pulse duration of at least 0.5 picoseconds.

Abstract: An illumination system is disclosed for providing dual-excitation wavelength illumination for non-linear optical microscopy and micro-spectroscopy. The illumination system includes a laser system, an optical splitting means, a frequency shifting system, and a picosecond amplifier system. The laser system includes a laser for providing a first train of pulses at a center optical frequency ?1. The optical splitting means divides the first train of pulses at the center optical frequency ?1 into two trains of pulses. The frequency shifting system shifts the optical frequency of one of the two trains of pulses to provide a frequency shifted train of pulses. The picosecond amplifier system amplifies the frequency shifted train of pulses to provide an amplified frequency-shifted train of pulses having a pulse duration of at least 0.5 picoseconds.

Abstract: A saturable absorber (SA) is constructed using a fiber taper embedded in a carbon nanotube/polymer composite. A fiber taper is made by heating and pulling a small part of standard optical fiber. At the taper's waist light is guided by the glass-air interface, with an evanescent field protruding out of the taper. Carbon nanotubes mixed with an appropriate polymer host material are then wrapped around the fiber taper to interact with the evanescent field. Saturable absorption is possible due to the unique optical properties of the carbon nanotubes. The device can be used in mode-locked lasers where it initiates and stabilizes the pulses circulating around the laser cavity. The SA can be used in various laser cavities, and can enable different pulse evolutions such as solitons, self-similar pulses and dissipative solitons. Other applications include but are not limited to optical switching, pulse cleanup and pulse compression.

Abstract: A saturable absorber (SA) is constructed using a fiber taper embedded in a carbon nanotube/polymer composite. A fiber taper is made by heating and pulling a small part of standard optical fiber. At the taper's waist light is guided by the glass-air interface, with an evanescent field protruding out of the taper. Carbon nanotubes mixed with an appropriate polymer host material are then wrapped around the fiber taper to interact with the evanescent field. Saturable absorption is possible due to the unique optical properties of the carbon nanotubes. The device can be used in mode-locked lasers where it initiates and stabilizes the pulses circulating around the laser cavity. The SA can be used in various laser cavities, and can enable different pulse evolutions such as solitons, self-similar pulses and dissipative solitons. Other applications include but are not limited to optical switching, pulse cleanup and pulse compression.