Abstract: A laser system and method. In one example, the laser system includes an optical pulse stretcher configured to stretch pulse durations of an input train of input pulses to produce a train of stretched laser pulses, a pulse replicator module configured to increase a pulse repetition rate of the train of stretched laser pulses to produce a modified pulse train of laser light, a fiber power amplifier configured to amplify the modified pulse train to produce amplified laser pulses, and a pulse compressor that temporally compresses the amplified laser pulses to produce amplified and compressed laser pulses. The system may further include a nonlinear frequency conversion stage comprising at least one nonlinear crystal.

Abstract: A laser system includes a seed source optically coupled to an extra cavity harmonic generator system may produce a round, non-astigmatic third harmonic output beam from a nominally round, non-astigmatic, diffraction limited input fundamental beam from the seed source. The system may include a second harmonic generation crystal. An input fundamental beam size is expanded in a non-walkoff direction for the SHG crystal at the SHG crystal input face. A higher harmonic generation crystal has an output face oriented at an oblique angle of incidence in a non-walkoff direction for the HHG crystal such that an output higher harmonic beam size is contracted in this direction. Expansion of the input fundamental beam at the SHG crystal input face exceeds reduction of third harmonic beam at the HHG crystal output face.

Abstract: An extra cavity harmonic generator system may produce a round, non-astigmatic third harmonic output beam from a nominally round, non-astigmatic, diffraction limited input fundamental beam. The system may include a second harmonic generation crystal. An input fundamental beam size is expanded in a non-walkoff direction for the SHG crystal at the SHG crystal input face. A higher harmonic generation crystal has an output face oriented at an oblique angle of incidence in a non-walkoff direction for the HHG crystal such that an output higher harmonic beam size is contracted in this direction. Expansion of the input fundamental beam at the SHG crystal input face exceeds reduction of third harmonic beam at the HHG crystal output face.

Abstract: A laser system includes a seed source optically coupled to an extra cavity harmonic generator system may produce a round, non-astigmatic third harmonic output beam from a nominally round, non-astigmatic, diffraction limited input fundamental beam from the seed source. The system may include a second harmonic generation crystal. An input fundamental beam size is expanded in a non-walkoff direction for the SHG crystal at the SHG crystal input face. A higher harmonic generation crystal has an output face oriented at an oblique angle of incidence in a non-walkoff direction for the HHG crystal such that an output higher harmonic beam size is contracted in this direction. Expansion of the input fundamental beam at the SHG crystal input face exceeds reduction of third harmonic beam at the HHG crystal output face.

Abstract: An extra cavity harmonic generator system may produce a round, non-astigmatic third harmonic output beam from a nominally round, non-astigmatic, diffraction limited input fundamental beam. The system may include a second harmonic generation crystal. An input fundamental beam size is expanded in a non-walkoff direction for the SHG crystal at the SHG crystal input face. A higher harmonic generation crystal has an output face oriented at an oblique angle of incidence in a non-walkoff direction for the HHG crystal such that an output higher harmonic beam size is contracted in this direction. Expansion of the input fundamental beam at the SHG crystal input face exceeds reduction of third harmonic beam at the HHG crystal output face.

Abstract: A universal fiber optic connector includes a housing and a fiber attachment element configured to attach an optical fiber in the housing. The attachment element positions the optical fiber such that an end face of the fiber is held within the housing. The fiber end face is positioned such that a beam of light emerging from the fiber end face has a defined wavefront located at a specified interface.

Abstract: A universal fiber optic connector includes a housing and a fiber attachment element configured to attach an optical fiber in the housing. The attachment element positions the optical fiber such that an end face of the fiber is held within the housing. The fiber end face is positioned such that a beam of light emerging from the fiber end face has a defined wavefront located at a specified interface.

Abstract: A universal fiber optic connector includes a housing and a fiber attachment element configured to attach an optical fiber in the housing. The attachment element positions the optical fiber such that an end face of the fiber is held within the housing. The fiber end face is positioned such that a beam of light emerging from the fiber end face has a defined wavefront located at a specified interface.

Abstract: A pulsed laser system may include a Raman fiber that is configured to act as multiple wavelength Raman laser. The fiber is configured to receive a pulsed input beam from an input source and convert the input beam to an output beam having narrow band outputs at first and second frequencies v1 and v2.

Abstract: A universal fiber optic connector includes a housing and a fiber attachment element configured to attach an optical fiber in the housing. The attachment element positions the optical fiber such that an end face of the fiber is held within the housing. The fiber end face is positioned such that a beam of light emerging from the fiber end face has a defined wavefront located at a specified interface.

Abstract: A pulsed laser system may include a Raman fiber that is configured to act as multiple wavelength Raman laser. The fiber is configured to receive a pulsed input beam from an input source and convert the input beam to an output beam having narrow band outputs at first and second frequencies v1 and v2.

Abstract: A pulsed laser system may include a Raman fiber that is configured to act as multiple wavelength Raman laser. The fiber is configured to receive a pulsed input beam from an input source and convert the input beam to an output beam having narrow band outputs at first and second frequencies v1 and v2.

Abstract: A nonlinear optical system may include optics, a non-linear optical crystal, and a uni-axial focusing element. The non-linear optical crystal is configured to generate an output beam from a non-linear optical interaction with an input beam. The optics are configured to image the input beam to an original input beam waist within the non-linear optical crystal, whereby the output beam has an original output beam waist. The uni-axial focusing element is optically coupled to the non-linear optical crystal. The uni-axial focusing element is configured so that the output beam has a new output beam waist at approximately the same location as the original output beam waist.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector apparatus may include a ferrule having a hollow through its center. The hollow is sized and shaped to receive an optical fiber such that an end of each of the optical fiber is located at an endface of the ferrule. The endface of the ferrule is partitioned into a first section and a second section. The first section is perpendicular to an axis of the ferrule and the second section is angled with respect to the first section. When the connector is assembled, the ferrule can butt couple to a similarly configured second ferrule such that the perpendicular second portions of the endfaces of the ferrules are physically touching. The angle of the angled portions sets a distance between portions of the endfaces corresponding to endfaces of optical fibers received in the ferrules thereby setting a gap between the fiber endfaces.

Abstract: Output pulses from an optical system having a seed source and an optical amplifier coupled to the seed source may be controlled by controlling a power of a seed signal from the seed source. The seed signal may be varied between a minimum value and a maximum value in a way that the seed signal exhibits one or more pulse bursts. Each pulse burst may contain one or more pulses. During an inter-pulse period between successive pulses within a pulse burst or between successive pulse bursts, the power of the seed signal may be adjusted to an intermediate value that is greater than the minimum value and less than the maximum value. The intermediate value is chosen to control a gain in the optical amplifier such that a pulse or pulse burst that follows the period exhibits a desired behavior.

Abstract: A pulsed laser system may include a Raman fiber that is configured to act as multiple wavelength Raman laser. The fiber is configured to receive a pulsed input beam from an input source and convert the input beam to an output beam having narrow band outputs at first and second frequencies v1 and v2.

Abstract: Methods and systems for increasing the threshold for stimulated Brillouin scattering are described. A seed source may generate one or more chirped seed pulses characterized by a pulse duration ?, and a frequency chirp. The pulse duration ? may be greater than about 2 nanoseconds. A photonic crystal amplifier amplifies the seed pulses to produce one or more amplified pulses characterized by a peak power P greater than about 1 kilowatt. The pulse duration ?, frequency chirp, and the photonic crystal fiber may be selected such that a threshold for stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in the photonic crystal fiber is greater than the peak power P.

Abstract: Output pulses from an optical system having a seed source and an optical amplifier coupled to the seed source may be controlled by controlling a power of a seed signal from the seed source. The seed signal may be varied between a minimum value and a maximum value in a way that the seed signal exhibits one or more pulse bursts. Each pulse burst may contain one or more pulses. During an inter-pulse period between successive pulses within a pulse burst or between successive pulse bursts, the power of the seed signal may be adjusted to an intermediate value that is greater than the minimum value and less than the maximum value. The intermediate value is chosen to control a gain in the optical amplifier such that a pulse or pulse burst that follows the period exhibits a desired behavior.

Abstract: Control of average wavelength-converted power and/or wavelength converted pulse energy is described. One or more seed pulses may be generated and amplified with an optical amplifier to produce one or more amplified pulses. The amplified pulses may be wavelength converted to produce one or more wavelength converted pulses characterized by an average wavelength-converted power or pulse energy. Wavelength-converted power or pulse energy may be controlled by adjusting wavelength conversion efficiency without substantially changing the amplified power or pulse energy. Average wavelength-converted power may be controlled over a time scale comparable to a pulse period of the amplified pulses without adjusting an average power of the amplified pulses over the time scale comparable to a pulse period of the amplified pulses.

Abstract: Methods and systems for increasing the threshold for stimulated Brillouin scattering are described. A seed source may generate one or more chirped seed pulses characterized by a pulse duration ?, and a frequency chirp. The pulse duration ? may be greater than about 2 nanoseconds. A photonic crystal amplifier amplifies the seed pulses to produce one or more amplified pulses characterized by a peak power P greater than about 1 kilowatt. The pulse duration ?, frequency chirp, and the photonic crystal fiber may be selected such that a threshold for stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in the photonic crystal fiber is greater than the peak power P.