Abstract: A pulsed laser comprises an oscillator and amplifier. An attenuator and/or pre-compressor may be disposed between the oscillator and amplifier to improve performance and possibly the quality of pulses output from the laser. Such pre-compression may be implemented with spectral filters and/or dispersive elements between the oscillator and amplifier. The pulsed laser may have a modular design comprising modular devices that may have Telcordia-graded quality and reliability. Fiber pigtails extending from the device modules can be spliced together to form laser system. In one embodiment, a laser system operating at approximately 1050 nm comprises an oscillator having a spectral bandwidth of approximately 19 nm. This oscillator signal can be manipulated to generate a pulse having a width below approximately 90 fs.

Abstract: A method for precise working of material, particularly organic tissue, comprises the step of providing laser pulses with a pulse length between 50 fs and 1 ps and with a pulse frequency from 50 kHz to 1 MHz and with a wavelength between 600 and 2000 nm for acting on the material to be worked. Apparatus, in accordance with the invention, for precise working of material, particularly organic tissue comprising a pulsed laser, wherein the laser has a pulse length between 50 fs and 1 ps and with a pulse frequency of from 50 kHz to 1 MHz is also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and method to generate a stream of pulses having a pulse repetition rate of at least about 50000 pulses per second and a per-pulse length of less than one picosecond, and to scan and focus the stream to an output light pattern suitable to sculpt tissue for a surgical procedure (e.g., ophthalmologic) using at least a high number of pulses to complete the operation in a matter of a few second, e.g., 100000 pulses in less than ten seconds. A laser having a optical fiber gain medium generates a stream of femtosecond pulses. Some embodiments create a preconditioning negative dispersion that compensates for positive dispersion in the scanning system. In some embodiments, a lenticule is cut using the laser and scanning system and is mechanically removed through a side slit formed through the cornea surface.

Abstract: An integrated-optic sensor includes a waveguide made from a substrate that is doped with rare-earth elements. A beam of light propagating along the waveguide excites these elements, causing them to emit light and thereby increase the total amount of light being propagated in the waveguide. The waveguide itself functions as a laser, so that any change in an optical property of an analyte material which forms a portion of the laser cavity can affect the operation of the laser. Consequently, the wavelength or power of light produced by the laser changes, in direct response to changes in the concentration of a material being sensed, and these changes are enhanced due to the inherent gain characteristics of the laser media.

Abstract: An optical detection system includes a transmitting device for transmitting a light beam to create a field of view, a detecting arrangement for detecting a beam of reflected light resulting from reflection of the transmitted light off at least one object in the field of view, and a deflecting device for deflecting either the transmitted light beam or the reflected light beam. The detecting arrangement can include a range channel having a first detector for sensing reflected light from the at least one object to determine a distance to the object, and an angle channel having a second detector for sensing reflected light from the at least one object to determine an angle of the reflected light beam. The deflecting device can be in the form of a polarizing beamsplitter.