Abstract: A laser transmitter including a waveform controller arranged to generate a waveform script having at least one of a pulse repetition frequency setting, a pulse duration setting, and a pulse amplitude pre-warp setting. The transmitter also includes an optical waveform generator arranged to: i) receive the waveform script, ii) generate pre-warped signal pulses based on the waveform script to compensate for gain distortion effects of a laser power amplifier, and iii) output the pre-warped signal pulses. The laser power amplifier is arranged to: i) receive the pre-warped signal pulses, ii) receive a continuous wave signal, and iii) output amplified signal pulses that maintain a substantially constant drive intensity at the input of a non-linear wavelength converter. The non-linear wavelength converter is arranged to receive the amplified signal pulses and emit wavelength-converted pulses.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of front-end nonlinear optical crystals and a plurality of back-end nonlinear optical crystals. The front-end nonlinear optical crystals are arranged in a chain and are configured to amplify a received signal. The back-end nonlinear optical crystals are arranged in the chain after the front-end nonlinear optical crystals and are configured to further amplify the received signal and generate an amplified signal. The back-end nonlinear optical crystals are made from a different nonlinear optical crystal than the front-end nonlinear optical crystals.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of front-end nonlinear optical crystals and a plurality of back-end nonlinear optical crystals. The front-end nonlinear optical crystals are arranged in a chain and are configured to amplify a received signal. The back-end nonlinear optical crystals are arranged in the chain after the front-end nonlinear optical crystals and are configured to further amplify the received signal and generate an amplified signal. The back-end nonlinear optical crystals are made from a different nonlinear optical crystal than the front-end nonlinear optical crystals.

Abstract: A laser transmitter including a waveform controller arranged to generate a waveform script having at least one of a pulse repetition frequency setting, a pulse duration setting, and a pulse amplitude pre-warp setting. The transmitter also includes an optical waveform generator arranged to: i) receive the waveform script, ii) generate pre-warped signal pulses based on the waveform script to compensate for gain distortion effects of a laser power amplifier, and iii) output the pre-warped signal pulses. The laser power amplifier is arranged to: i) receive the pre-warped signal pulses, ii) receive a continuous wave signal, and iii) output amplified signal pulses that maintain a substantially constant drive intensity at the input of a non-linear wavelength converter. The non-linear wavelength converter is arranged to receive the amplified signal pulses and emit wavelength-converted pulses.

Abstract: A laser radar (LADAR) system includes a laser transmitter configured to (i) emit laser pulses at a first wavelength and (ii) emit amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) in a spectrum concentrated around the first wavelength. The LADAR system also includes a non-linear converter configured to (i) convert the laser pulses to a second wavelength and (ii) allow the ASE to remain substantially unconverted in the spectrum concentrated around the first wavelength. The LADAR system further includes a receiver configured to receive and detect reflected laser pulses, where the reflected laser pulses include the laser pulses at the second wavelength after reflection from at least one target. In addition, the LADAR system includes a spectral filter configured to (i) allow passage of the laser pulses or the reflected laser pulses and (ii) substantially filter the ASE and prevent the filtered ASE from being detected by the receiver.

Abstract: A laser radar (LADAR) system includes a laser transmitter configured to (i) emit laser pulses at a first wavelength and (ii) emit amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) in a spectrum concentrated around the first wavelength. The LADAR system also includes a non-linear converter configured to (i) convert the laser pulses to a second wavelength and (ii) allow the ASE to remain substantially unconverted in the spectrum concentrated around the first wavelength. The LADAR system further includes a receiver configured to receive and detect reflected laser pulses, where the reflected laser pulses include the laser pulses at the second wavelength after reflection from at least one target. In addition, the LADAR system includes a spectral filter configured to (i) allow passage of the laser pulses or the reflected laser pulses and (ii) substantially filter the ASE and prevent the filtered ASE from being detected by the receiver.

Abstract: A laser radar (LADAR) system includes a laser transmitter configured to emit laser pulses at a first wavelength, a non-linear converter configured to convert the laser pulses to a second wavelength prior to spectral filtering of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) that is emitted from the laser transmitter in a spectrum concentrated around the first wavelength, and a spectral filter configured to substantially filter the ASE and allow the laser pulses at the second wavelength to pass.

Abstract: A planar wave guide (PWG) having a first end for coupling to a light pump and a second end opposite to the first end and including a first cladding layer; a second cladding layer; and a uniformly doped core layer between the first cladding layer and the second cladding layer, wherein the core layer is tapered having a smaller thickness at the first end and a larger thickness at the second end, and wherein a ratio of the core thickness to thickness of the cladding layers is smaller at the first end and larger at the second end.

Abstract: A system for generating an optical signal having a preselected waveform includes: a laser source; a first waveform generator configured to apply a first signal to the laser source to create a laser output; an intensity modulator configured to receive the laser output; a second waveform generator configured to apply a second signal to the intensity modulator, the intensity modulator being configured to generate a pre-distorted laser signal based on the second signal and the laser output.

Abstract: A microchip laser includes a microchip laser base comprising a gain region and a passive Q-switch region. The microchip laser also includes a solid etalon coupled to the microchip laser base, and an interfacial coating disposed between the microchip laser base and the solid etalon. In some embodiments, the microchip laser further includes a dichroic coating disposed on a surface of the microchip laser base opposite the interfacial coating.

Abstract: A system for generating an optical signal having a preselected waveform includes: a laser source; a first waveform generator configured to apply a first signal to the laser source to create a laser output; an intensity modulator configured to receive the laser output; a second waveform generator configured to apply a second signal to the intensity modulator, the intensity modulator being configured to generate a pre-distorted laser signal based on the second signal and the laser output.

Abstract: A planar wave guide (PWG) having a first end for coupling to a light pump and a second end opposite to the first end and including a first cladding layer; a second cladding layer; and a uniformly doped core layer between the first cladding layer and the second cladding layer, wherein the core layer is tapered having a smaller thickness at the first end and a larger thickness at the second end, and wherein a ratio of the core thickness to thickness of the cladding layers is smaller at the first end and larger at the second end.

Abstract: A laser radar (LADAR) system includes a laser transmitter configured to emit laser pulses at a first wavelength, a non-linear converter configured to convert the laser pulses to a second wavelength prior to spectral filtering of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) that is emitted from the laser transmitter in a spectrum concentrated around the first wavelength, and a spectral filter configured to substantially filter the ASE and allow the laser pulses at the second wavelength to pass.

Abstract: An optical device, a method of making a laser gain medium, and a method of suppressing parasitics in a laser device include a core region comprising a plurality of a first type of ions that absorb energy at a first wavelength and transfer the absorbed energy to a plurality of a second type of ions that lase at a second wavelength after receiving the transferred energy. A cladding region coupled to the core region comprising another plurality of the second type of ions that suppress parasitics in the optical device by absorbing energy of at least a transverse portion of the second wavelength that enters the cladding region.

Abstract: A microchip laser includes a microchip laser base comprising a gain region and a passive Q-switch region. The microchip laser also includes a solid etalon coupled to the microchip laser base, and an interfacial coating disposed between the microchip laser base and the solid etalon. In some embodiments, the microchip laser further includes a dichroic coating disposed on a surface of the microchip laser base opposite the interfacial coating.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a multi-stage Lyot filter comprises a plurality of prisms, a polarizing block, and a non-rotating, single-adjustment birefringent element. Each of the prisms is configured to receive light and to reflect the light. The polarizing block is configured to provide polarization discrimination of the light. The birefringent element is configured to tune the Lyot filter. The prisms are further configured to pass the light through the birefringent element multiple times.

Abstract: An optical device, a method of making a laser gain medium, and a method of suppressing parasitics in a laser device include a core region comprising a plurality of a first type of ions that absorb energy at a first wavelength and transfer the absorbed energy to a plurality of a second type of ions that lase at a second wavelength after receiving the transferred energy. A cladding region coupled to the core region comprising another plurality of the second type of ions that suppress parasitics in the optical device by absorbing energy of at least a transverse portion of the second wavelength that enters the cladding region.

Abstract: A laser includes a pump source that provides pump energy at a first wavelength and a laser cavity. The laser cavity includes a laser gain medium that receives the pump energy from the pump source and creates gain at a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, and a mode stripping portion coupled to the laser gain medium. The mode stripping portion causes the laser cavity to have a low Fresnel number so as to allow only the lowest-order fiber mode to resonate in the laser cavity. Higher-order fiber modes are discriminated against so as to generate a laser output having a substantially diffraction limited beam in a single transverse mode at the second wavelength.

Abstract: A laser system includes a first laser diode configured to generate first light in a first direction along an optical path; a laser resonator having a gain medium, anisotropic saturable absorber, and a wavelength selective outcoupler positioned in the optical path upon which the first light impinges a first side thereof so as to pump the gain medium (first light from the first laser diode is absorbed in the gain medium), a second laser diode configured to generate second light in a second direction along the optical path toward a second side of the resonator, passes through the wavelength selective outcoupler unimpeded and is absorbed by the saturable absorber element, wherein the second light has a polarization corresponding to the orientation of the saturable absorber; the wavelength selective outcoupler is configured to only allow third light of a predetermined wavelength to have feedback in the laser resonator, achieve gain in the resonator, and be emitted from the laser resonator.

Abstract: A method (400) for optimizing bandwidth utilization in a communications network (100). The communications network can include a data source (105) and a data client (110). Responsive to a measurement of at least one communication parameter (120) of a commutated bitstream (115) which is transmitted to the client, the data source can change a commutation format of the commutated bitstream. The communication parameters can include a data receive time (TRx), a data latency and/or an effective receive data rate (DEff) of the commutated bitstream. The communication parameters can be transmitted to the data source as telemetry. The change of commutation format can occur in an open systems interconnection (OSI) layer such as a session layer and/or a transport layer.