Abstract: A light source employed in a coherent Raman scattering (CRS) spectroscopic apparatus or a CRS microscope includes a chromium forsterite laser (CrFL), a variable delay optical path configured to delay one optical pulse of branched optical pulses obtained by dividing an optical pulse from the CrFL according to a power, a highly nonlinear waveguide into which the other optical pulse of the branched optical pulses is input, a first wavelength filter connected to an output of the highly nonlinear waveguide, an ytterbium-doped glass fiber optical amplifier (YbFA) connected to an output of the wavelength filter, and a second wavelength filter connected to an output of the YbFA.

Abstract: A light source employed in a coherent Raman scattering (CRS) spectroscopic apparatus or a CRS microscope includes a chromium forsterite laser (CrFL), a variable delay optical path configured to delay one optical pulse of branched optical pulses obtained by dividing an optical pulse from the CrFL according to a power, a highly nonlinear waveguide into which the other optical pulse of the branched optical pulses is input, a first wavelength filter connected to an output of the highly nonlinear waveguide, an ytterbium-doped glass fiber optical amplifier (YbFA) connected to an output of the wavelength filter, and a second wavelength filter connected to an output of the YbFA.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a crystal fiber which can suppress the occurrence of stress birefringence even while distributing a light emission center so as to concentrate on a cross-sectional middle portion. The method for producing a crystal fiber comprises the steps of: using, as a preform, the crystal fiber comprising a light emission center that volatilizes from a melted portion upon the melting of a crystal, and heating a portion or a plurality of portions of the side of the preform, whereby the portion or the plurality of portions of the preform are melted such that only a given amount of the inside of the portion or the plurality of portions of the preform is not melted, to form the melted portion; and sequentially transferring the melted portion in the longitudinal direction of the preform, and cooling the melted portion, whereby the melted portion is continuously recrystallized to form a recrystallized region.

Abstract: Provided is a single-crystal fiber including a waveguide structure for a wavelength to be subjected to optical amplification, in which at least one end of the single-crystal fiber is planar, an angle ? between a normal to a facet of the single-crystal fiber and an optical axis of the single-crystal fiber satisfies a relationship of ?=90°?tan?1(n2/n1), where n1 represents a refractive index of a medium of a space that uses the single-crystal fiber, and n2 represents a refractive index of the single-crystal fiber for a guided light beam having a polarization direction parallel with a plane that includes the normal to the facet and the optical axis, and a diameter Dx in an X-direction and a diameter Dy in a Y-direction of a cross-section of the single-crystal fiber perpendicular to the optical axis satisfies a relationship of (n2/n1)0.9?Dx/Dy?(n2/n1)1.1.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a crystal fiber which can suppress the occurrence of stress birefringence even while distributing a light emission center so as to concentrate on a cross-sectional middle portion. The method for producing a crystal fiber comprises the steps of: using, as a preform, the crystal fiber comprising a light emission center that volatilizes from a melted portion upon the melting of a crystal, and heating a portion or a plurality of portions of the side of the preform, whereby the portion or the plurality of portions of the preform are melted such that only a given amount of the inside of the portion or the plurality of portions of the preform is not melted, to form the melted portion; and sequentially transferring the melted portion in the longitudinal direction of the preform, and cooling the melted portion, whereby the melted portion is continuously recrystallized to form a recrystallized region.

Abstract: A wavelength swept light source includes a sawtooth waveform as a main waveform and an exponential component of the sawtooth waveform to the controlled voltage of the electro-optic deflector. The controlled voltage is controlled so that, as an oscillation wavelength to be swept is swept towards a longer wavelength side, a change rate of the oscillation wavelength is increased.

Abstract: In a wavelength swept light source using a polygon mirror in a well-known art, an oscillation wavelength roughly linearly varies in an upwardly slight convex shape with respect to time. On the other hand, in a wavelength swept light source of SS-OCT, the wavelength is required to vary so that a wavenumber (inverse of wavelength) linearly varies on a time axis. The wavelength swept light source of the well-known art has had a drawback that such wavelength variation cannot be implemented; non-linear distortion occurs in a resultant OCT image; and thereby, a point spread function cannot be kept sharp.

Abstract: A workpiece processing system having, a first assembly for performing at least a first processing operation on a workpiece at a first location and having a frame, a nesting assembly, a bolster assembly upon which a workpiece can be supported at the first processing location, and a transfer assembly. The bolster assembly is repositionable relative to the frame by movement along a first path between first and second positions. The transfer assembly is capable of moving a workpiece to/from the first processing location along a second path from/to the nesting assembly. The nesting assembly has first and second workpiece support elements, each with a length. The first and second workpiece support elements are each repositionable relative to the bolster assembly between a) an operating orientation wherein the lengths of the first and second workpiece support elements project generally in the direction of the second path, and b) a stored orientation.

Abstract: A workpiece processing system having, a first assembly for performing at least a first processing operation on a workpiece at a first location and having a frame, a nesting assembly, a bolster assembly upon which a workpiece can be supported at the first processing location, and a transfer assembly. The bolster assembly is repositionable relative to the frame by movement along a first path between first and second positions.

Abstract: According to the process of the present invention for producing a garnet single crystal fiber, a crystal is grown while the direction of a seed crystal, corresponding to the direction of growth, is set in a direction having angles of at least 10.degree. from a direction equivalent to the <100> orientation, at least 20.degree. from a direction equivalent to the <110> orientation and at least 20.degree. from a direction equivalent from the <211> orientation. The resulting garnet single crystal fiber does not include a core, which is formed due to facet formation, and has an excellent optical homogeneity necessary for use in an optical device such as a laser device or an isolator.

Abstract: A mechanism for rotating a crankshaft at ununiform speeds through a main gear and a slider mechanism and a mechanism for rotating a crankshaft at a uniform speed through a main gear fixed to the crankshaft are constructed such that the distances between the centers of rotation of respective main gears and the centers of respective drive shafts are the same. A speed reducing ratio between a drive gear mounted on the drive shaft and the main gear is set to be the same, and the positions of the crankshaft and the drive shaft are set to be the same for both the mechanisms. When rotating the crankshaft at ununiform speeds, a lever provided for the slider mechanism is disposed to orient 180 degree out of phase with respect to the eccentric direction of a crankpin. This obviates a rotation balancing weight which has been provided on the crankshaft in the prior art.