Abstract: A laser manufacturing system includes a laser patterning unit having an optically addressed light valve and an image relay able to direct a patterned laser beam from the laser patterning unit against a part. In some embodiments the patterned laser beam can ablatively remove material from the part or induce selected chemical reactions or transformation in part material.

Abstract: A method of additive manufacture utilizing a uniform laser beam is disclosed. A seed laser projects a laser beam having a first laser beam shape. At least one pre-amplifier is positioned to receive the laser beam and amplify laser beam power. A homogenizer is positioned to receive the amplified laser beam from the at least one pre-amplifier and alter the first laser beam shape into a second laser beam shape. A main amplifier is positioned to receive the amplified laser beam having the second laser beam shape from the homogenizer and amplify laser beam power.

Abstract: Ultraviolet light sources such as UV and DUV laser diodes and light emitting diodes (LEDs) are described. The UV light source may comprise at least one quantum well with first and second photoconductive layers on opposite sides thereof. The UV light source may further comprise at least one optical pump configured to direct pump light to the UV light emitter. The pump light may have a photon energy less than the band gap of the at least one quantum well to increase the conductivity of electrons and holes in the first and second photoconductive layers. The electrons and holes can thereby propagate to the quantum well where at least some of the electrons and holes combine resulting in the emission of UV light.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of making a coated optical fiber. The method may involve drawing a preform through a furnace to create a fiber having a desired diameter and cross sectional shape. The fiber is then drawn through a slurry, wherein the slurry includes elements including at least one of metallic elements, alloy elements or dielectric elements, and the slurry wets an outer surface of the fiber. As the fiber is drawn through the slurry, it is then drawn through a forming die to impart a wet coating having a desired thickness on an outer surface of the fiber. The wet fiber is then drawn through an oven or ovens configured to heat the wet coating sufficiently to produce a consolidated surface coating on the fiber as the fiber exits the oven or ovens.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for doping a quantity of powder particles. A container having a central chamber is initially charged with a quantity of powder particles. A quantity of precursor is sublimed to form a heated precursor. A quantity of carrier gas is mixed with the precursor to form a mixture of heated precursor/carrier gas. The central chamber is charged with the heated precursor/carrier gas and then moved to cause interaction of the powder particles with the heated precursor/carrier gas to form a first monolayer coating on the powder particles. The heated precursor/carrier gas is then removed from the central chamber and the central chamber is charged with a O2/O3 gas under a plasma. The central chamber is then further moved to produce interaction of the O2/O3 gas with the first monolayer coating on the powder particles to modify the first monolayer coating to create a different, single monolayer coating forming an oxide coating on the powder particles.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of modifying a surface of a material, in situ, while the material is being used to at least one of form or modify a portion of a part to remove flaws layer-by-layer and improve a part from a layerwise built, or a coating. The method may involve generating first, second and third beams. The third beam may act on a surface of a material to heat a portion of the surface of the material into a flowable state to thus modify a surface characteristic of the material. The first beam may control an optically addressable light valve (OALV) which modifies an energy of the third beam. The second beam may control an optically addressable electric field modulator (OAEFM) to generate an electric field in a vicinity of the surface and to influence a movement of the portion of material while the portion of material is in the flowable state. The beams are modulated based on a sensing element feedback loop.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of making a coated optical fiber. The method may involve drawing a preform through a furnace to create a fiber having a desired diameter and cross sectional shape. The fiber is then drawn through a slurry, wherein the slurry includes elements including at least one of metallic elements, alloy elements or dielectric elements, and the slurry wets an outer surface of the fiber. As the fiber is drawn through the slurry, it is then drawn through a forming die to impart a wet coating having a desired thickness on an outer surface of the fiber. The wet fiber is then drawn through an oven or ovens configured to heat the wet coating sufficiently to produce a consolidated surface coating on the fiber as the fiber exits the oven or ovens.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of modifying a surface of a material, in situ, while the material is being used to at least one of form or modify a portion of a part to remove flaws layer-by-layer and improve a part from a layerwise built, or a coating. The method may involve generating first, second and third beams. The third beam may act on a surface of a material to heat a portion of the surface of the material into a flowable state to thus modify a surface characteristic of the material. The first beam may control an optically addressable light valve (OALV) which modifies an energy of the third beam. The second beam may control an optically addressable electric field modulator (OAEFM) to generate an electric field in a vicinity of the surface and to influence a movement of the portion of material while the portion of material is in the flowable state. The beams are modulated based on a sensing element feedback loop.

Abstract: An atmospheric, Laser-based Chemical Vapor Deposition (LCVD) technique provides highly localized deposition of material to mitigate damage sites on an optical component. The same laser beam can be used to deposit material as well as for in-situ annealing of the deposited material. The net result of the LCVD process is in-filling and planarization of a treated site, which produces optically more damage resistant surfaces. Several deposition and annealing steps can be interleaved during a single cycle for more precise control on amount of deposited material as well as for increasing the damage threshold for the deposited material.

Abstract: Techniques for removing material from a substrate are provided. A laser beam is focused at a distance from the surface to be treated. A gas is provided at the focus point. The gas is dissociated using the laser energy to generate gas plasma. The substrate is then brought in contact with the gas plasma to enable material removal.

Abstract: An atmospheric, Laser-based Chemical Vapor Deposition (LCVD) technique provides highly localized deposition of material to mitigate damage sites on an optical component. The same laser beam can be used to deposit material as well as for in-situ annealing of the deposited material. The net result of the LCVD process is in-filling and planarization of a treated site, which produces optically more damage resistant surfaces. Several deposition and annealing steps can be interleaved during a single cycle for more precise control on amount of deposited material as well as for increasing the damage threshold for the deposited material.

Abstract: A system of gas-assisted laser machining is provided. The system includes a nozzle that delivers a gas jet at the surface of the work piece and a laser source that can focus a laser beam on the surface of the work piece. A mixture of a reactive gas and a carrier gas is provided via the gas jet. The reactive gas reacts with the material and helps to enhance the evaporation rate of the material and at the same time helps reduce the temperature at which the enhanced evaporation rate can be achieved. Use of reactive gases also helps to reduce the residual stress on the material, minimize material flow during evaporation, reduce re-deposited material, and eliminate rims on the pit structures formed as a result of the material removal.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system for detecting and identifying gases includes a piezoresistive microcantilever transducer, wherein dissipation of heat from the piezoresistive microcantilever into one or more gases is measured by changes in an electrical resistance of the piezoresistor, a vibrating microcantilever transducer, wherein shifts are measured in resonant frequency of the vibrating microcantilever due to viscous damping thereof by the one or more gases, and a subsystem for correlating the measured resistance changes and the resonant frequency shifts to the one or more gases. In another embodiment, a method for detecting and identifying one or more gases includes determining dissipation of heat from a microcantilever into one or more gases, and determining shifts in resonant frequency of the microcantilever due to viscous damping thereof by the one or more gases. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are also described according to more embodiments.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system for detecting and identifying gases includes a piezoresistive microcantilever transducer, wherein dissipation of heat from the piezoresistive microcantilever into one or more gases is measured by changes in an electrical resistance of the piezoresistor, a vibrating microcantilever transducer, wherein shifts are measured in resonant frequency of the vibrating microcantilever due to viscous damping thereof by the one or more gases, and a subsystem for correlating the measured resistance changes and the resonant frequency shifts to the one or more gases. In another embodiment, a method for detecting and identifying one or more gases includes determining dissipation of heat from a microcantilever into one or more gases, and determining shifts in resonant frequency of the microcantilever due to viscous damping thereof by the one or more gases. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are also described according to more embodiments.