Abstract: A method for forming a multicore fiber laser array includes inserting a plurality of rare-earth doped rods into a corresponding plurality of hollow capillaries, and arranging the resulting plurality of filled capillaries into a preform pattern. The plurality of filled capillaries are collapsed into an initial preform structure, wherein a portion of the material of the capillaries forms an initial inner cladding. The initial preform structure is inserted into a cylinder, wherein the cylinder and the initial preform structure are fused so as to form a final preform structure with a final inner cladding having an increased thickness with respect to the initial inner cladding. At least one flat surface is formed along the length of the final preform structure, and a fiber is simultaneously drawn from the final preform structure and a layer of outer cladding material.

Abstract: A single core 35, 50 or a plurality of cores arranged in rings 21, 28, 29 around a central core 20, 27, or in an array 42, are provided with either or both of (a) a modal discrimination characteristic, including gain, index of refraction and cross sectional area, which is greatest in the center of the core or the array, and lowers outwardly therefrom, and (b) an oblong cross section, thereby to provide either or both of (c) a bright laser beam of the fundamental in-phase supermode, and/or (d) a linearly polarized output beam.

Abstract: Efficient delivery of large amounts of pump laser power distributed along the cladding (11, 54) of a single core (6) or multiple core (7, 51) laser fiber, without degrading the fiber integrity or compromising the fiber's waveguiding property, is accomplished by injecting the power into the cladding via delivery fibers (18, 30, 42, 62) permanently affixed to a peripheral wall (20, 56) at an angle that satisfies the condition for total internal reflection of the pump radiation so that it is confined within the inner cladding of the laser fiber. In one embodiment, the laser fiber (51) is wrapped around a drum (53). Each delivery fiber has a numerical aperture (NA) less than half the NA of the laser fiber, and a core 21 having a refractive index substantially the same as that of the inner cladding (11) of the laser fiber.

Abstract: A fiber laser 10 with square inner cladding 12, 29 may have a single core 11 codoped either with Ytterbium or Erbium or with Thulium and Holmium at a ratio of at least 10:1 operating in a single mode to provide eye-safe radiation with wavelengths above 1.5 micron. The single core laser has a pump clad cross sectional area about 2(10).sup.3 greater than the cross sectional area of the core. A multi-core laser has a plurality of single mode cores 28 doped with any rare earth ions, the cores equally spaced by at least two core diameters in an isometric array, in a cavity having a finesse of greater than ten, to produce a single, very bright phase-locked beam in the fundamental supermode. A method starts with hexagonal cladded-core rods 35, 36 in an isometric array, which are then fused and drawn down.

Abstract: A novel single sideband electro-optic modulator is characterized by a reentrant waveguide structure. The reentrant waveguide structure allows for a factor of four enhancement of conversion efficiency and a factor of five reduction in phase velocity mismatch between the optical wave and modulating microwave due to microwave dispersion in wideband (2 GHz) operation.

Abstract: A novel single sideband electro-optic modulator includes a planar waveguide structure allowing only circularly polarized optical and microwaves to propagate therein with equal phase velocities comprises a strip loaded GaAlAs/GaAs/GaAlAs structure with appropriate microstrip electrodes. The present modulator is readily fabricated using established microelectronic fabrication techniques and a modified MOCVD epitaxial growth process.

Abstract: A microwave infrared modulator having a novel three dimensional structure is presented. The modulator includes a waveguide and metal base with a dielectric wafer buried therebetween. The buried wafer allows for conventional microstrip structures to be employed with larger microstrip electrode dimensions than would otherwise be possible.

Abstract: An electro-optic infrared modulator is provided that it contains an optically buffered waveguide. The buffer comprises a dielectric layer on the top and bottom surface of the waveguide which provides enhanced optical isolation and enables improved synchronization between the microwave and optical waves traveling in the waveguide.

Abstract: A broadband infrared microwave modulator is fabricated with a thin film electro-optic waveguide mounted to a metal base substrate having a dielectric wafer buried therein to allow high power operation of the modulator.

Abstract: A technique which detects for the presence of particles or voids in material is disclosed herein. This technique utilizes an overall optics arrangement for producing a beam of radiation and for directing the latter into and through the material such that any void or foreign particle which is present causes the radiation impinging thereon to form an overall scattering pattern distinctly characteristic of whether the impinged void or foreign particle is generally spherical or non-spherical in shape. The technique disclosed herein also provides an arrangement for detecting scattered radiation, if any, and distinguishing between spherical and non-spherical foreign particles and, in a preferred embodiment, whether the impinged void/foreign particle is relatively large or small, relative to wavelength of said beam.

Abstract: A broadband microwave waveguide modulator uses microwave signal frequencies to provide phase modulation of an infrared laser propagating in a guided mode through a common electrooptic interaction region in the form of a microstrip transmission line, provided by electroplating microwave electrodes on each of two mutually opposed major surfaces of a monolithic, thin-film optical waveguide having uniform thickness, to provide a high efficiency conversion of a portion of the laser carrier power into optical sideband signals.

Abstract: A system for detecting foreign particles or voids in the outer insulation jacket of an electrical cable is disclosed herein and utilizes a laser beam of electromagnetic radiation at a given wavelength, preferably within the far-infrared band. This laser is directed into the insulation jacket's cylindrical surface, which must be index-matched with a proper medium such that any portion thereof passing through the insulation jacket unobstructed by voids or foreign matter does so along a predictable primary beam path, and such that any portion impinging a void or foreign particle is caused to scatter along predictable scattering paths including paths which are different than the primary beam path. In this way, at least one detector can be properly aligned in at least one of these different scattering paths for detecting a portion of the scattered radiation, thereby indicating the presence of a void or foreign particle.

Abstract: A system for detecting foreign particles or voids in plastic material is disclosed herein and utilizes a far-infrared laser beam of electromagnetic radiation at a given wavelength. This laser beam is directed into the plastic material such that any portion thereof passing through the material unobstructed by voids or foreign matter does so along a predictable primary beam path, and such that any portion impinging a void or foreign particle is caused to scatter along predictable scattering paths including paths which are different than the primary beam path. In this way, at least one detector can be properly aligned in at least one of these different scattering paths for detecting a portion of the scattered radiation, thereby indicating the presence of a void or foreign particle.

Abstract: A plurality of different monolithic, three-dimensional thin-film infared waveguide structures having high optical power handling capability, low optical propagating loss, long propagation and interaction length and distortion-free characteristics are fabricated through high precision mechanical, chemo-mechanical, and ion-beam thinning of a bulk crystal wafer.

Abstract: A plurality of different configuration, monolithic, three-dimensional thin-film infrared waveguide structures having high optical power handling capability, low optical propagating loss, long propagation and interaction length and distortion-free characteristics are disclosed, each having characteristics for use in electrooptic and acousto-optic applications.