Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser processing apparatus having a structure for effectively processing of objects by condensing a laser beam, and a laser processing method. A laser processing apparatus comprises a common mount surface on which plural objects are disposed in an array, a light source, a lens the reflection direction of which is changeable, and a condensing direction modifier. A laser beam from the light source arrives at the lens through a galvano-mirror. Herein, the galvano-mirror is arranged such that the reflection position thereof agrees with the front focal position of the lens. As the galvano-mirror reflects a laser beam toward the lens while the reflection direction is changed, the arriving position of the laser beam is scanned on the entrance surface of the lens. The condensing direction modifier modifies, according to the irradiation position of the laser beam arrived from the lens, an exit direction of the laser beam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical amplifier module, or the like, having a structure for enabling effective suppression of photodarkening and efficient optical amplification. The optical amplifier module comprises a first optical amplification waveguide which is comprised of a phosphate glass as a main component and includes a ytterbium-doped first optical waveguide region, a second optical amplification waveguide which is optically coupled to the first optical amplification waveguide and includes a ytterbium-doped second optical waveguide region which is co-doped with aluminum, and pumping light source units which supply pumping light respectively to the first optical amplification waveguide and the second optical amplification waveguide. The light to be amplified, having inputted to the first optical amplification waveguide, is amplified only once by means of the pumping light, in each of the first optical amplification waveguide and the second optical amplification waveguide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of measuring backward light, which is constructed for checking, prior to laser processing, backward light that propagates backward through an isolator included in a laser processing apparatus. The present invention also relates to a laser processing method and the like. A laser processing apparatus has an optical head provided with a laser light source part, light guide, and isolator. The optical head has an emitting optical system, irradiation optical system, and light collecting optical system. The method of measuring backward light uses a photodetector to detect, from reference light introduced from a measurement light source into the optical head, the power of an optical component that has passed through the isolator, while changing the position of the measurement light source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser processing method that makes it possible to effectively suppress the generation of surface irregularities on the surface of a plastic member where a metal member and a plastic member are joined together. In the laser processing method, a plurality of laser beams are irradiated from different directions so as to focus on the vicinity of an interface between the metal member and the plastic member, which are in contact with one another. The power densities of the respective laser beams at this time are set to a level not more than a level, at which the exposed surface of the plastic member on the side opposite to the interface between the metal member and the plastic member, does not melt. As a result of this, air bubbles or the like are not generated in the vicinity of the exposed surface of the plastic member, and the generation of surface roughness on the exposed surface of the plastic member is effectively suppressed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser processing method and the like provided with a structure for enabling realization of both preferable processing of locations not easily reached by laser light and effective inhibition of damage caused to locations easily reached by laser light during laser processing. Radiation optics scan locations irradiated with laser light from a laser light source while radiating laser light onto a plurality of objects arranged on a stage and the periphery thereof from a direction perpendicular to the stage. On the stage reflecting members are respectively arranged adjacent to the plurality of objects. The reflecting members reflect laser light radiated from the radiation optics towards lateral surfaces of the objects. Since laser light reflected by the reflecting members is radiated onto the lateral surfaces of the objects, laser light also reaches the lateral surfaces of the objects not easily reached by laser light without having to increase the intensity of the laser light.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical gain waveguide having excellent gain flatness in C-band, and excellent tolerance against variations of a pumping light wavelength as well, and a method of controlling the same. The optical gain waveguide includes an optical waveguide region which is doped with Er element which can be pumped by irradiating pumping light with a wavelength of 976 nm or less, or a wavelength of 981 nm or more. A population inversion of Er is optimized so that a gain variation in the C-band becomes minimum, by the irradiation of the pumping light. At this time, a relative gain variation of the optical gain waveguide, which is defined by a peak gain value and a minimum gain value in the wavelength region of 1,530 nm to 1,560 nm becomes smaller than 11.5%. In addition, in the optical gain waveguide, a width of wavelength range producing the relative gain variation smaller than 11% is 36 nm or more.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser oscillation method for effectively suppressing fluctuations in pulse widths. The laser oscillation method oscillates a pulsed beam in a laser that comprises pumping means, a resonator, Q-switching means and a controller. The pumping means continuously supplies pumping light to a gain medium, which is arranged on the resonating optical path of the resonator and generates emission light by being supplied with pumping energy. The Q-switching means modulates the resonator losses of the resonator. The controller controls an extinction ratio of Q-switching means to a value that has been selected in accordance with the frequency of repeat use in the pulsed beam such that fluctuations in the full width at half maximum of a pulsed beam outputted from the laser are within a prescribed range of the region of frequency of repeat use used by the Q-switching means.

Abstract: In an optical amplifier according to the present invention, a change signal from a change signal source is fed into a light source or a drive circuit. The wavelength of light outputted from the light source is changed based on the change signal. The wavelength-changed output light from the light source is outputted as pumping light from a pumping light generator to be supplied backwardly via an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer into an optical fiber. Signal light is Raman-amplified in the optical fiber with the supply of the pumping light.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical amplification module having a construction which effectively suppresses photodarkening, and to a laser light source including the same. The laser light source comprises a light source for outputting light to be amplified, and an optical amplification module. The optical amplification module comprises two types of optical amplification media having different rare earth element concentrations, and a pumping light source. The low concentration medium and the high concentration medium are disposed in the propagation direction of pumping light such that the population inversion of the low concentration medium is higher than that of the high concentration medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical amplifier and the like having a flatter gain spectrum in the wavelength band of 1490 nm to 1520 nm than before. The optical amplifier according to the present invention comprises an Er-doped optical waveguide and a Tm-doped optical waveguide having gain spectra difference from each other in the wavelength band. The signal light entered through the input end is first amplified by the Er-doped optical waveguide, and thereafter is amplified by the Tm-doped optical waveguide. The gain deviation of the amplified signal light, which has been amplified in the Er- and Tm-doped optical waveguides and outputted through the output end, can be reduced over the wavelength band.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pulse light source which has a MOPA structure using a directly-modulated semiconductor laser as a seed light source, and is easily capable of outputting pulse light with a pulse width of a sub-nanosecond. The pulse light source comprises a seed light source, a first YbDF (Yb-Doped Fiber), a band-pass filter, a second YbDF, and a third YbDF, and has the MOPA structure. The band-pass filter inputs pulse light which is outputted from the seed light source and amplified by the first stage YbDF, and outputs, while separating a wavelength band of the inputted pulse light into a shorter wavelength side and a longer wavelength side with reference to a peak wavelength of the inputted pulse light, the attenuated pulse light after attenuating the optical power on one more than that on the other of the shorter wavelength side and the longer wavelength side.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a glass body containing bismuth, which can be used for manufacturing an optical fiber having a low background-loss is provided. The method includes depositing a glass micro-particle layer on an inner wall of a glass pipe, consolidating the glass micro-particle layer to form a glass layer, reducing of a diameter of the glass pipe having the glass layer on the inner wall of the glass pipe, and collapsing the glass pipe having been reduced in diameter at the diameter-reducing step so as to form the glass body. At the depositing step, the glass micro-particle layer is formed while an organobismuth compound is being supplied into the glass pipe. At the consolidating step, the glass layer is consolidated while an organobismuth compound is being supplied into the glass pipe. The optical fiber is made by drawing the glass body.

Abstract: A laser light source includes a light source section for outputting pulse laser light ?1, ?2 with a mutually identical repetition frequency, an optical amplification section for amplifying and outputting the pulse laser light ?1, ?2 output from the above light source section by means of a common optical amplification medium, an optical demultiplexing section for mutually demultiplexing pulse laser light ?1, ?2, an optical multiplexing section for multiplexing and outputting the pulse laser light ?1, ?2 demultiplexed in the above optical demultiplexing section, and an optical path length difference setting section for adjusting an optical path length difference between the pulse laser light ?1, ?2 in between the optical demultiplexing section and the optical multiplexing section.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical amplification module having a construction which effectively suppresses photodarkening, and to a laser light source including the same. The laser light source comprises a light source for outputting light to be amplified, and an optical amplification module. The optical amplification module comprises two types of optical amplification media having different rare earth element concentrations, and a pumping light source. The low concentration medium and the high concentration medium are disposed in the propagation direction of pumping light such that the population inversion of the low concentration medium is higher than that of the high concentration medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser processing apparatus and the like having a structure for implementing at the same time both an efficient laser processing in the place where a laser beam is difficult to reach and a laser processing without damages in the place where the laser beam is easy to reach. This laser processing apparatus comprises a laser light source, an irradiation optical system applying a laser beam to an object while scanning the laser beam, a photo-detector detecting the laser beam applied from the irradiation optical system, and a control section of making switching between a continuous oscillation and a pulse oscillation of the laser beam at the laser light source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical amplifier and the like having a flatter gain spectrum in the wavelength band of 1490 nm to 1520 nm than before. The optical amplifier according to the present invention comprises an Er-doped optical waveguide and a Tm-doped optical waveguide having gain spectra difference from each other in the wavelength band. The signal light entered through the input end is first amplified by the Er-doped optical waveguide, and thereafter is amplified by the Tm-doped optical waveguide. The gain deviation of the amplified signal light, which has been amplified in the Er- and Tm-doped optical waveguides and outputted through the output end, can be reduced over the wavelength band.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a light source apparatus or the like provided with a structure that can block reflected return light also when an emitting end side of an optical isolator is a space. The light source apparatus comprises a light source section, a guide section, and an optical module. The optical module includes a collimator, an optical isolator, and an oblique-beam blocking section. The collimator outputs collimated light with a predetermined beam diameter as a forward propagating beam. The optical isolator is a polarization-independent optical isolator that introduces the collimated light from a first end and outputs this collimated light from a second end.

Abstract: The invention relates to a light source apparatus having a structure for effectively suppressing a negative effect due to a nonlinear effect generated in propagation of an amplifying light, and realizing a stable operation. In the light source apparatus, light amplified in an optical amplifier fiber is emitted to the outside of the apparatus through an optical output fiber whose one end is connected to an output connecter. At this time, a part of Raman scattered light, generated in the optical output fiber, propagates toward an pumping light source through the optical amplifier fiber from the optical output fiber. An optical component having an insertion loss spectrum that attenuates the Raman scattered light but allows pumping light or light to be amplified to transmit therethrough, is provided on a propagation path of the Raman scattered light, due to the light component, the intensity of the Roman scattered light reaching the pumping light source is effectively reduced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical amplification fiber and others capable of effectively reducing nonlinear interaction between signal channels even in transmission of multiplexed signal light containing multiple signal channels arranged in high density and also effectively reducing bending loss. An optical amplification module has an optical isolator, a WDM coupler, an Er-doped optical fiber (EDF) as an optical amplification fiber, a WDM coupler, and an optical isolator, which are arranged in order on a signal light propagation path from an input connector to an output connector, and further has a pumping light source connected to the WDM coupler and a pumping light source connected to the other WDM coupler. The EDF, at the wavelength of 1607 nm, has a mode field diameter (MFD) of 10 ?m or more to the fundamental mode and a MAC number (=MFD/cutoff wavelength) of 6.8 or less to the fundamental mode.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser processing method and the like having a structure for making it possible to process an object to be processed in various ways while accurately adjusting the installation state of the object. The method irradiates the object with plural adjustment laser light beams that are set in a specific positional relationship against a converging point of processing laser light beam, and adjusts the state of installation of the object while monitoring irradiation areas of the adjustment laser light beams on the surface of the object. Each irradiation directions of adjustment laser light beams is different from that of the processing laser light beam. By reflecting the irradiation condition of the adjustment laser light beam and monitored information of the irradiation areas in positional adjustment of the object, the installation state of the object can be adjusted in accordance with various kinds of processing.