Abstract: The system and method of producing a first path comprising a pulse stretcher for a mid-wave infrared (MWIR) signal, an optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification (OPCPA) amplifier, and a MWIR compressor for producing a first beam in a MWIR portion of the spectrum and a second path comprising a pulse stretcher for a long wave infrared (LWIR) signal, an OPCPA amplifier, and a LWIR compressor for producing a second beam in a LWIR portion of the spectrum. Each beam, on its own, is configured to produce laser-matter interactions at long range (100s of meters), having nonlinear effects and favoring supercontinuum generation spanning multiple octaves, that is temporally and spatially overlapped with the fundamental laser beam.

Abstract: A directly pumped, un-sensitized, holmium, quasi-two level fiber laser is disclosed that is doped with Holmium active ions between 0.1 and 2.0 percent by atomic weight. This yields greater energy efficiency from the laser because up-conversion losses are minimized, mismatches created by sensitizer ions are eliminated by having no sensitizer ions, and thermal loading of the fiber medium of the laser is thereby reduced. In addition, the pump ratio of the fiber laser is 0.9 which yields a very low quantum defect. The low doping percentage of holmium active ions also eliminates any absorption of its own energy because the power of the diode pumping source is sufficient to cause the laser to reach transparency.

Abstract: An integrated broad spectral band waveguide optical parametric oscillator (OPO) is disclosed. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a single pump laser is used to drive multiple oscillator (OPO) channels. The waveguide OPO is preferably made of orientation patterned gallium arsenide. The pump laser can be, for example, a fiber laser, a diode laser or a solid-state laser.

Abstract: A Ho:YAG crystal laser is disclosed which is doped with less than 2% holmium to reduce the lasing threshold and up-conversion, thereby increasing the operating efficiency of the laser. The laser does not need sensitizer ions so energy mismatches introduced by the sensitizer ions ale eliminated to the thereby increase the efficiency of the laser while minimizing detrimental thermal loading in the laser caused by up-conversion loss processes. The Ho:YAG crystal laser is directly pumped by a Thulium fiber laser at 1.9 ?m at the holmium 5I7 to 5I8 transition to produce an output at 2.1 ?m yielding a very low quantum defect. The laser is embodied as a thulium fiber laser pumped oscillator or an amplifier.