Abstract: A device for combining at least two input laser beams having different spectral components. At least one pre-compensation unit for the at least two input laser beams has a diffractive optical unit which expands the input laser beam into an intermediate beam bundle in which the spectral components are spatially arranged so as to be adjacent to one another with increasing wavelength. A combination unit has at least a first diffractive optical element and a second diffractive optical element, the combination unit being aligned with the pre-compensation unit in such a way that the first diffractive optical element converts an intermediate beam bundle into a convergent beam bundle having a beam waist, the beam waist lying on the second diffractive element, and the second diffractive optical element being designed in this way that all incident spectral components are diffracted in a common radiation direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying a position of an impact point of a directed-energy weapon which has an effective beam optical system and an imaging optical system. An emission of primary radiation of the directed-energy weapon is triggered as an effective beam, and radiation exiting from an irradiated object is received by the imaging optical system and directed onto a camera of a screen. A beam bundle cross section of an effective beam is covered with a reflective optical auxiliary element, the effective beam or the auxiliary beam is triggered with the beam bundle cross section covered, and primary radiation of the effective beam or of the auxiliary beam which is reflected by the reflective optical auxiliary element is received by the imaging optical system and directed onto a spot of the camera as the impact point.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microstructured hollow-core fiber comprising a microstructured hollow core extending along the hollow-core fiber. Said hollow core: has microstructures having at least one first refractive index n; is surrounded by an inner fiber cladding having a refractive index n_inner; and has an outer protective cladding which has a protective cladding refractive index n_outer and which sheathes the inner fiber cladding. The hollow-core fiber is characterized in that: the hollow-core fiber has at least one further cladding which is arranged between the inner fiber cladding and the outer protective cladding so as to sheathe the inner fiber cladding and which has a further refractive index n_w; and the further refractive index n_w is greater than the further refractive index.

Abstract: A method is presented for operating a laser radiation device (10) that has an illumination laser (14) and an active laser (13), and wherein, in a first operating mode of the laser radiation device (10) in which the active laser (13) does not emit any active laser radiation (20), the illumination laser (14) is operated in such a way that its illumination laser radiation (22) has a first illumination laser radiant flux. The method is characterized in that, in a second operating mode of the laser radiation device (10) in which the active laser (13) emits active laser radiation (20), the illumination laser (14) is operated such that its illumination laser radiation (22) has a second illumination laser radiant flux that is greater than the first illumination laser radiant flux.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying a position of an impact point of a directed-energy weapon which has an effective beam optical system and an imaging optical system. An emission of primary radiation of the directed-energy weapon is triggered as an effective beam, and radiation exiting from an irradiated object is received by the imaging optical system and directed onto a camera of a screen. A beam bundle cross section of an effective beam is covered with a reflective optical auxiliary element, the effective beam or the auxiliary beam is triggered with the beam bundle cross section covered, and primary radiation of the effective beam or of the auxiliary beam which is reflected by the reflective optical auxiliary element is received by the imaging optical system and directed onto a spot of the camera as the impact point.

Abstract: A weapons system with at least two HEL effectors, which have at least one beam guidance system, the use of only one laser source or one pump source for the at least two HEL effectors is provided. The beam guidance systems of the HEL effectors resort to the common laser source or common pump source. An optical link of the common laser source or of the common pump source with the beam guidance system, be it direct or indirect, is implemented by means of at least one optical switching unit, and so at least one functional, complete HEL effector of the weapons system is provided to defend against threats.

Abstract: A device for combining at least two input laser beams having different spectral components. At least one pre-compensation unit for the at least two input laser beams has a diffractive optical unit which expands the input laser beam into an intermediate beam bundle in which the spectral components are spatially arranged so as to be adjacent to one another with increasing wavelength. A combination unit has at least a first diffractive optical element and a second diffractive optical element, the combination unit being aligned with the pre-compensation unit in such a way that the first diffractive optical element converts an intermediate beam bundle into a convergent beam bundle having a beam waist, the beam waist lying on the second diffractive element, and the second diffractive optical element being designed in this way that all incident spectral components are diffracted in a common radiation direction.

Abstract: A weapons system with at least two HEL effectors, which have at least one beam guidance system, the use of only one laser source or one pump source for the at least two HEL effectors is provided. The beam guidance systems of the HEL effectors resort to the common laser source or common pump source. An optical link of the common laser source or of the common pump source with the beam guidance system, be it direct or indirect, is implemented by means of at least one optical switching unit, and so at least one functional, complete HEL effector of the weapons system is provided to defend against threats.

Abstract: A solid body laser has a crystal disk forming its laser active medium. A flat side of the crystal disk is totally reflecting. A resonator mirror configuration includes a partially transparent end mirror and one or more folding mirrors, which are disposed with spatial separation from the crystal disk, and the optical axes of the mirrors extend in an inclined manner on the central axis of the crystal disk in such manner that the laser beam which is diffused inside the resonator mirror configuration impinges upon the folding mirror at an oblique angle.

Abstract: A laser beam source has a laser element provided with a thin crystal disk as a laser active medium. The laser beam source has improved mechanical stability and improved thermal contact with respect to a cooling element on the flat side of the crystal disk that is disposed opposite the cooling element. A cooling disk is disposed between the crystal disk and the cooling element.

Abstract: A solid body laser has a crystal disk forming its laser active medium. A flat side of the crystal disk is totally reflecting. A resonator mirror configuration includes a partially transparent end mirror and one or more folding mirrors, which are disposed with spatial separation from the crystal disk, and the optical axes of the mirrors extend in an inclined manner on the central axis of the crystal disk in such manner that the laser beam which is diffused inside the resonator mirror configuration impinges upon the folding mirror at an oblique angle.

Abstract: A laser beam source has a laser element provided with a thin crystal disk as a laser active medium. The laser beam source has improved mechanical stability and improved thermal contact with respect to a cooling element on the flat side of the crystal disk that is disposed opposite the cooling element. A cooling disk is disposed between the crystal disk and the cooling element.

Abstract: A solid-state laser having an active medium for generating a laser beam is described. The laser includes a resonator, and a plurality of crystal wafers disposed in the resonator and are optically coupled to one another and form a common beam path for the laser beam. A pumping light source is provided for generating a pumping light beam whose optical axis is collinear with respect to an optical axis of the laser beam. The pumping light source is disposed upstream of the resonator. At least one lens functioning as an imaging element is provided for focusing the pumping light beam emerging from one of the crystal wafers onto another one of the crystal wafers disposed downstream.

Abstract: A solid-state laser includes a crystal wafer provided as an active medium, a cooling chamber for accommodating a cooling liquid, and an optically transparent support body. The crystal wafer has a flat side that faces the cooling chamber and a side that is remote from the cooling chamber. The flat side of the crystal wafer is in direct thermal contact with the cooling liquid. The cooling chamber has a wall element that is formed by the crystal wafer. The optically transparent support body is configured on the side of the crystal wafer that is remote from the cooling chamber. Since, the crystal wafer is in direct thermal contact with the cooling liquid, a minimal heat transfer resistance is ensured that even when the crystal wafer becomes deformed.

Abstract: A solid-state laser includes a crystal wafer provided as an active medium, a cooling chamber for accommodating a cooling liquid, and an optically transparent support body. The crystal wafer has a flat side that faces the cooling chamber and a side that is remote from the cooling chamber. The flat side of the crystal wafer is in direct thermal contact with the cooling liquid. The cooling chamber has a wall element that is formed by the crystal wafer. The optically transparent support body is configured on the side of the crystal wafer that is remote from the cooling chamber. Since, the crystal wafer is in direct thermal contact with the cooling liquid, a minimal heat transfer resistance is ensured that even when the crystal wafer becomes deformed.

Abstract: A solid-state laser having an active medium for generating a laser beam is described. The laser includes a resonator, and a plurality of crystal wafers disposed in the resonator and are optically coupled to one another and form a common beam path for the laser beam. A pumping light source is provided for generating a pumping light beam whose optical axis is collinear with respect to an optical axis of the laser beam. The pumping light source is disposed upstream of the resonator. At least one lens functioning as an imaging element is provided for focusing the pumping light beam emerging from one of the crystal wafers onto another one of the crystal wafers disposed downstream.

Abstract: An optical fiber for high-power laser transmission is formed of a glass fiber with a fiber core and a fiber cladding surrounding the fiber core. An intermediate layer of polymer is disposed on the fiber cladding, a metallic coating of film is disposed on the intermediate layer, and the metallic coating is protected against mechanically induced damage with an outer jacket. The operational condition of the optical fiber is monitored in that the electrical resistance across the metallic coating is measured along the optical fiber. When the resistance exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the laser radiation is prevented from entering the optical fiber, preferably with a shutter.

Abstract: A system and method for transmitting and monitoring laser light includes a laser for emission of a first beam with a given wavelength into a transmission path. A second beam is generated with a wavelength differing from the given wavelength. The second beam is coupled into the transmission path of the first beam and the first and second beams are superimposed in a propagation direction. The second beam is wavelength-selectively reflected in the transmission path as a reflected second beam. The reflected second beam is decoupled from the transmission path. A detector is provided for the reflected second beam. An interruptor is operatively connected to the detector for interrupting the first beam.