Abstract: For material processing of a material, which is in particular for a laser beam to a large extent transparent, asymmetric shaped modifications are created transverse to the propagation direction of the laser beam. Thereby, the laser beam is shaped for forming an elongated focus zone in the material, wherein the focus zone is such that it includes at least one intensity maximum, which is transverse flattened in a flattening direction, or a transverse and/or axial sequence of asymmetric intensity maxima, which are flattened in a sequence direction. After positioning the focus zone in the material, a modification is created and the material and the focus zone are moved relative to each other in the or across to the flattening direction or in the or across to the sequence direction for forming a crack along an induced preferred direction.

Abstract: An optical system for shaping a laser beam includes a beam shaping element configured to receive the laser beam having a transverse input intensity profile and to impose a beam shaping phase distribution onto the laser beam. The optical system further includes a near field optical element, arranged downstream of the beam shaping element at a beam shaping distance and is configured to focus the laser beam into the focus zone. The imposed phase distribution results in a virtual optical image of the elongated focus zone located before the beam shaping element. The beam shaping distance corresponds to a propagation length of the laser beam within which the imposed phase distribution transforms the transverse input intensity profile into a transverse output intensity profile at the near field optical element.

Abstract: A diffractive optical beam shaping element for imposing a phase distribution on a laser beam that is intended for laser processing of a material includes a phase mask that is shaped as an area and is configured for imposing a plurality of beam shaping phase distributions on the laser beam incident on to the phase mask. A virtual optical image is attributed to at least one of the plurality of beam shaping phase distributions, wherein the virtual image can be imaged into an elongated focus zone for creating a modification in the material to be processed. Multiple such elongated focus zones can spatially add up and interfere with each other, to modify an intensity distribution in the material and, for example, generate an asymmetric modification zone.

Abstract: An optical system for shaping a laser beam includes a beam shaping element configured to receive the laser beam having a transverse input intensity profile and to impose a beam shaping phase distribution onto the laser beam. The optical system further includes a near field optical element, arranged downstream of the beam shaping element at a beam shaping distance and is configured to focus the laser beam into the focus zone. The imposed phase distribution results in a virtual optical image of the elongated focus zone located before the beam shaping element. The beam shaping distance corresponds to a propagation length of the laser beam within which the imposed phase distribution transforms the transverse input intensity profile into a transverse output intensity profile at the near field optical element.

Abstract: A diffractive optical beam shaping element for imposing a phase distribution on a laser beam that is intended for laser processing of a material includes a phase mask that is shaped as an area and is configured for imposing a plurality of beam shaping phase distributions on the laser beam incident on to the phase mask. A virtual optical image is attributed to at least one of the plurality of beam shaping phase distributions, wherein the virtual image can be imaged into an elongated focus zone for creating a modification in the material to be processed. Multiple such elongated focus zones can spatially add up and interfere with each other, to modify an intensity distribution in the material and, for example, generate an asymmetric modification zone.

Abstract: A fiber coupler is provided, which includes a tubular enveloping structure and several optical fibers arranged in the enveloping structure, each of which has a fiber core and a fiber cladding surrounding same, in order to conduct laser radiation, and each of which extends from the first as far as the second end of the enveloping structure. The enveloping structure includes a tapering section which is tapered in a first direction from the first as far as the second end. In the tapering section, both a first ratio of the diameter of the fiber core to the diameter of the fiber cladding and also a second ratio of the diameter of the mode field of the laser radiation conducted in the optical fiber to the diameter of the fiber core, increases in the first direction for each optical fiber.

Abstract: A diffractive optical beam shaping element for imposing a phase distribution on a laser beam that is intended for laser processing of a material includes a phase mask that is shaped as an area and is configured for imposing a plurality of beam shaping phase distributions on the laser beam incident on to the phase mask. A virtual optical image is attributed to at least one of the plurality of beam shaping phase distributions, wherein the virtual image can be imaged into an elongated focus zone for creating a modification in the material to be processed. Multiple such elongated focus zones can spatially add up and interfere with each other, to modify an intensity distribution in the material and, for example, generate an asymmetric modification zone.

Abstract: An optical system for shaping a laser beam includes a beam shaping element configured to receive the laser beam having a transverse input intensity profile and to impose a beam shaping phase distribution onto the laser beam. The optical system further includes a near field optical element, arranged downstream of the beam shaping element at a beam shaping distance and is configured to focus the laser beam into the focus zone. The imposed phase distribution results in a virtual optical image of the elongated focus zone located before the beam shaping element. The beam shaping distance corresponds to a propagation length of the laser beam within which the imposed phase distribution transforms the transverse input intensity profile into a transverse output intensity profile at the near field optical element.

Abstract: For material processing of a material, which is in particular for a laser beam to a large extent transparent, asymmetric shaped modifications are created transverse to the propagation direction of the laser beam. Thereby, the laser beam is shaped for forming an elongated focus zone in the material, wherein the focus zone is such that it includes at least one intensity maximum, which is transverse flattened in a flattening direction, or a transverse and/or axial sequence of asymmetric intensity maxima, which are flattened in a sequence direction. After positioning the focus zone in the material, a modification is created and the material and the focus zone are moved relative to each other in the or across to the flattening direction or in the or across to the sequence direction for forming a crack along an induced preferred direction.

Abstract: A fiber coupler is provided, which includes a tubular enveloping structure and several optical fibers arranged in the enveloping structure, each of which has a fiber core and a fiber cladding surrounding same, in order to conduct laser radiation, and each of which extends from the first as far as the second end of the enveloping structure. The enveloping structure includes a tapering section which is tapered in a first direction from the first as far as the second end. In the tapering section, both a first ratio of the diameter of the fiber core to the diameter of the fiber cladding and also a second ratio of the diameter of the mode field of the laser radiation conducted in the optical fiber to the diameter of the fiber core, increases in the first direction for each optical fiber.

Abstract: A fiber coupler is provided, which includes a tubular enveloping structure and several optical fibers arranged in the enveloping structure, each of which has a fiber core and a fiber cladding surrounding same, in order to conduct laser radiation, and each of which extends from the first as far as the second end of the enveloping structure. The enveloping structure includes a tapering section which is tapered in a first direction from the first as far as the second end. In the tapering section, both a first ratio of the diameter of the fiber core to the diameter of the fiber cladding and also a second ratio of the diameter of the mode field of the laser radiation conducted in the optical fiber to the diameter of the fiber core, increases in the first direction for each optical fiber.

Abstract: A plate-like workpiece having a transparent, glass, glass-like, ceramic and/or crystalline layer, such as for use in an electronic display screen, is processed into separate segments by first incompletely severing the workpiece along outer contours of bounded segments, by forming holes through the layer with a laser beam, leaving the segments interconnected at narrow connections, and then separating the segments by severing the web-like connections.

Abstract: A fibre coupler is provided, which includes a tubular enveloping structure and several optical fibres arranged in the enveloping structure, each of which has a fibre core and a fibre cladding surrounding same, in order to conduct laser radiation, and each of which extends from the first as far as the second end of the enveloping structure. The enveloping structure includes a tapering section which is tapered in a first direction from the first as far as the second end. In the tapering section, both a first ratio of the diameter of the fibre core to the diameter of the fibre cladding and also a second ratio of the diameter of the mode field of the laser radiation conducted in the optical fibre to the diameter of the fibre core, increases in the first direction for each optical fibre.

Abstract: A fiber coupler with an inner tube, an inner fiber arranged within the inner tube and several outer fibers arranged around the inner fiber, is disclosed, wherein said fiber coupler tapers in the longitudinal direction of the inner fiber from a main section to a terminal section and the inner cross section on the inner tube corresponds to the diameter of the inner fiber along the tapering section of the fiber coupler.

Abstract: An optical fiber is designed to transmit high-power laser radiation. The optical fiber includes a fiber core, and an inner fiber cladding surrounding the fiber core, where the inner fiber cladding is configured to carry the laser radiation in the fiber core. The optical fiber also includes a first outer fiber cladding surrounding the inner fiber cladding. The first outer fiber cladding has a capillary-free longitudinal section and has a smaller refractive index than the refractive index of the inner fiber cladding. The optical fiber includes an outermost fiber cladding surrounding the first outer fiber cladding. The outermost fiber cladding has scattering centers that surround the capillary-free longitudinal section, where the scattering centers scatter laser radiation emerging from the inner fiber cladding through the first outer fiber cladding along the capillary-free section.

Abstract: The invention in certain embodiments relates to a spliced connection between first and second optical fibres, each of which has a fibre core and fibre cladding resting against said core. In said connection, the fibre cladding of at least one of the two fibres is completely removed in a connection region that extends for a predetermined length from the spliced end of the respective fibre in the longitudinal direction of the fibre and said connection is provided with a support sleeve, in which the spliced ends of the two fibres are located and which extends at least along the entire connection region of the first fibre and beyond, over the fibre cladding of the first fibre. The section of the support sleeve that extends over the fibre cladding of the first fibre does not rest against the fibre cladding of the first fibre and said sleeve is mechanically connected to the fibre core of the first fibre in the connection region of said first fibre, either directly or by means of an intermediate sleeve.

Abstract: Disclosed is a spliced joint between two fibers, in which at least one of the fibers includes a fiber core comprising at least one inner signaling core and a pumping core that surrounds the signaling core, and a fiber cladding which rests against the pumping core and is used for guiding light within the pumping core. The fiber cladding of the at least one fiber is removed at least in part in a radial direction in a connection zone extending from the spliced end of the fiber along a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction of the fiber. Furthermore, a supporting jacket may be provided, inside which the spliced ends of the two fibers are arranged and which extends along the entire connection zone and therebeyond. The supporting jacket may be mechanically connected to both fibers next to the connection zone while not being mechanically connected to and being at a distance from the respective fiber along the entire connection zone.

Abstract: An optical fiber is designed to transmit high-power laser radiation. The optical fiber includes a fiber core, and an inner fiber cladding surrounding the fiber core, where the inner fiber cladding is configured to carry the laser radiation in the fiber core. The optical fiber also includes a first outer fiber cladding surrounding the inner fiber cladding. The first outer fiber cladding has a capillary-free longitudinal section and has a smaller refractive index than the refractive index of the inner fiber cladding. The optical fiber includes an outermost fiber cladding surrounding the first outer fiber cladding. The outermost fiber cladding has scattering centers that surround the capillary-free longitudinal section, where the scattering centers scatter laser radiation emerging from the inner fiber cladding through the first outer fiber cladding along the capillary-free section.

Abstract: A fiber coupler with an inner tube, an inner fiber arranged within the inner tube and several outer fibers arranged around the inner fiber, is disclosed, wherein said fiber coupler tapers in the longitudinal direction of the inner fiber from a main section to a terminal section and the inner cross section on the inner tube corresponds to the diameter of the inner fiber along the tapering section of the fiber coupler.

Abstract: In an optical fiber (1) for the transmission of high-power laser radiation, with a fiber core (2), with an inner fiber cladding (3) surrounding the fiber core (2) for carrying the laser radiation in the fiber core (2), with a first outer fiber cladding (4) surrounding the inner fiber cladding (3), which has a smaller refractive index than the inner fiber cladding (3) as a result of longitudinally aligned air-filled capillaries (5), and with a second outer fiber cladding (6) surrounding the first outer fiber cladding (4), wherein the first outer fiber cladding (4) has a capillary-free longitudinal section (8), the second outer fiber cladding (6) has according to the invention scattering centers (7) at least in the region of the capillary-free longitudinal section (8) for scattering the laser radiation emerging from the inner fiber cladding (3) along the capillary-free longitudinal section (8).