Abstract: A semiconductor laser device, in which, between a wavelength dispersive element and a partially reflecting mirror, such an anamorphic prism pair is arranged that is configured to increase an angle formed by a regular oscillation optical axis of a regular oscillation beam emitted from each of light emitting points and a cross-coupling optical axis of a cross-coupling oscillation beam oscillating through a different one of the light emitting points. It is therefore possible to increase oscillation loss of the cross-coupling oscillation beam, thereby improving focusing properties, without increasing the device in size.

Abstract: A beam combining device causing beams from a plurality of light sources and one or a plurality of spare light sources to enter a beam combining optical system, and to be combined and output after passing through a beam combining element. The beam combining device is configured to: detect a failure in the plurality of light sources; and move at least a part of the respective light sources, the spare light source, and the beam combining optical system, to cause a beam to enter the beam combining optical system from the spare light source instead of a beam from the failed light source, and to cause the beam to be combined to beams from the plurality of light sources on an optical path after the beam combining element.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser device including an external resonator including: emitters of a semiconductor laser which output a plurality of beams having different wavelengths; a combining optical system which spatially overlaps the plurality of beams output from the semiconductor laser; a wavelength dispersive element which overlaps the overlapped plurality of beams into a single beam by wavelength dispersion; and a partial reflecting mirror which reflects a portion of the single beam and returns same to the wavelength dispersive element, wherein when the width of the wavelength dispersive element in a direction in which the single beam is separated into a plurality of beams by wavelength dispersion is taken as a wavelength dispersive element width, and when the beam upon establishment of normal oscillation is taken as a normal oscillation beam, the wavelength dispersive element width is the same size as the width of the normal oscillation beam.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser apparatus, including: a beam divergence angle correction optical system for correcting a divergence angle of beams generated from light emitting points of a semiconductor laser bar; a beam rotation optical system for rotating the beams each having the corrected divergence angle; a wavelength dispersion optical element having a wavelength dispersion function; and a partial reflection mirror. A relative position of the beam divergence angle correction optical system with respect to the light emitting point in a divergence angle correction direction is changed for each light emitting point.

Abstract: A wavelength conversion crystal including: a single nonlinear optical crystal which satisfies both of a first phase-matching condition and a second phase-matching condition, the first phase-matching condition being required for first wavelength conversion to convert a fundamental wave having a wavelength of 1064 nm into a second harmonic having a wavelength of 532 nm, and the second phase-matching condition being required for second wavelength conversion to convert the light having a wavelength of 532 nm into a fourth harmonic having a wavelength of 266 nm; and a first reflective face and a second reflective face for reflecting the light having a wavelength of 532 nm generated by the first wavelength conversion to supply it to the second wavelength conversion. This approach can efficiently generate a third or higher-order harmonic with a reliable and simple configuration.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser apparatus, including: a beam divergence angle correction optical system for correcting a divergence angle of beams generated from light emitting points of a semiconductor laser bar; a beam rotation optical system for rotating the beams each having the corrected divergence angle; a wavelength dispersion optical element having a wavelength dispersion function; and a partial reflection mirror. A relative position of the beam divergence angle correction optical system with respect to the light emitting point in a divergence angle correction direction is changed for each light emitting point.

Abstract: A wavelength conversion crystal including: a single nonlinear optical crystal which satisfies both of a first phase-matching condition and a second phase-matching condition, the first phase-matching condition being required for first wavelength conversion to convert a fundamental wave having a wavelength of 1064 nm into a second harmonic having a wavelength of 532 nm, and the second phase-matching condition being required for second wavelength conversion to convert the light having a wavelength of 532 nm into a fourth harmonic having a wavelength of 266 nm; and a first reflective face and a second reflective face for reflecting the light having a wavelength of 532 nm generated by the first wavelength conversion to supply it to the second wavelength conversion. This approach can efficiently generate a third or higher-order harmonic with a reliable and simple configuration.

Abstract: A laser machining device includes a laser oscillator, a laser machining head, an optical fiber transmitting the laser beam oscillated by the laser oscillator to the laser machining head, and an assist gas supply supplying an assist gas of oxygen to the laser machining head. The optical fiber includes a remover removing a clad transmitting beam or reducer for reducing the beam. The laser beam leaked from the core of the optical fiber into the clad is absorbed by a beam absorber at the remover. The structure ensures a high quality surface with no irregularity on the metal surface cut by the laser beam projected from the machining head.

Abstract: A fundamental laser beam is wavelength converted through nonlinear optical crystals by traveling in one direction, sequentially through two nonlinear optical crystals arranged in series. A wavelength-converted laser beam is generated and includes wavelength-converted laser beams having polarized directions differing from each other by angles in a range from 45° to 90°. The two nonlinear optical crystals have crystal orientation axes differing by 45° to 90° when viewed along the optical axis of the laser beam.

Abstract: Laser equipment in which pumping every dependence of output beam diameter and beam wavefront curvature is reduced. The total pumping energy of at least one of laser active media disposed beyond terminal laser beam waists, among beam waists, is approximately one-half of the total pumping energy of laser active media disposed between two adjacent beam waists.

Abstract: A wavelength conversion apparatus in which output direction of a wavelength-converted laser beam, having a wavelength converted by a nonlinear optical crystal and emitted through an output-window, can be brought close to the direction of optical axis of the laser beam passing through the nonlinear optical crystal. In addition, axial deviation of the wavelength-converted laser beam converted by the nonlinear optical crystal and emitted through an output-window, can be reduced when the position of the nonlinear optical crystal is moved. The output facet of the nonlinear optical crystal is inclined at Brewster's angle with respect to the wavelength-converted laser beam. An output-window of a case containing the nonlinear optical crystal has a prism form in which the distance between a laser beam input facet and a laser beam output facet of the output-window is reduced along a direction in which the wavelength-converted laser beam, emitted from the nonlinear optical crystal, inclines.

Abstract: In a wavelength converting method, an ambient that is in contact with a surface of a non-linear optical crystal from which wavelength-converted light is outputted is a gas that is lower in content of nitrogen than air. A wavelength converting device includes a device for controlling the ambient in contact with a surface of the non-linear optical crystal from which the wavelength-converted light is outputted so the ambient is lower in nitrogen than air. A laser machining device includes the wavelength converting device.

Abstract: In a wavelength converting method, an ambient that is in contact with a surface of a non-linear optical crystal from which wavelength-converted light is outputted is a gas that is lower in content of nitrogen than air. A wavelength converting device includes a device for controlling the ambient in contact with a surface of the non-linear optical crystal from which the wavelength-converted light is outputted so the ambient is lower in nitrogen than air. A laser machining device includes the wavelength converting device.

Abstract: A wavelength conversion apparatus in which output direction of a wavelength-converted laser beam, having a wavelength converted by a nonlinear optical crystal and emitted through an output-window, can be brought close to the direction of optical axis of the laser beam passing through the nonlinear optical crystal. In addition, axial deviation of the wavelength-converted laser beam converted by the nonlinear optical crystal and emitted through an output-window, can be reduced when the position of the nonlinear optical crystal is moved. The output facet of the nonlinear optical crystal is inclined at Brewster's angle with respect to the wavelength-converted laser beam. An output-window of a case containing the nonlinear optical crystal has a prism form in which the distance between a laser beam input facet and a laser beam output facet of the output-window is reduced along a direction in which the wavelength-converted laser beam, emitted from the nonlinear optical crystal, inclines.

Abstract: A rod-shaped solid-state laser apparatus that, in a support structure for the rod-shaped solid-state laser, can generate a stable laser beam. The rod-shaped solid-state laser apparatus includes: a fixing ring, placed around one end of the solid-state laser medium, having part or all of its outer face tapered. A rod holder is placed around the fixing ring, and has a face, facing the fixing ring and tapered at an angle approximately equal to the tapered outer face of the fixing ring. The fixing ring is pressed against the tapered inner face of the rod holder, and also against the solid-state laser medium. The solid-state laser medium is fixed to the rod holder.

Abstract: A fundamental laser beam to is wavelength converted through nonlinear optical crystals by traveling in one direction, sequentially through two nonlinear optical crystals arranged in series. A wavelength-converted laser beam is generated and includes wavelength-converted laser beams having polarized directions differing from each other by angles in a range from 45° to 90°. The two nonlinear optical crystals have crystal orientation axes differing by 45° to 90° when viewed along the optical axis of the laser beam.

Abstract: Laser equipment in which pumping intensity-dependent variation in output beam diameter and beam wavefront curvature is reduced. The total pumping energy of at least one of laser active media disposed endwise beyond terminal beam waists among a plurality of beam waists is made approximately half of the total pumping energy of laser active media disposed between two adjacent beam waists among the plurality of beam waists.

Abstract: An intracavity wavelength conversion laser apparatus has a stable resonator in which a solid-state laser active medium, a resonator Q-value modulating element, and a wavelength conversion crystal, a nonlinear element, are arranged along a laser optical axis for generating a Q pulse wavelength conversion laser beam. A mirror constituting the stable resonator, which is positioned close to the wavelength conversion crystal, is a convex mirror, whereby the Q pulse wavelength conversion laser beam has a short pulse width. The laser apparatus is easily operated with high efficiency and has a small size. The Q pulse wavelength conversion laser beam is generated with excellent reproducibility and stability, and the wavelength conversion crystal is less susceptible to optical damage.

Abstract: A wavelength conversion laser for generating sum frequency laser beam comprising a laser resonator, a solid-state laser active medium, a second harmonic generation wavelength conversion crystal and a sum frequency generation wavelength conversion crystal, wherein the length of the second harmonic generation wavelength conversion crystal along the optical axis is set to be shorter than that of the sum frequency generation wavelength conversion crystal.

Abstract: A solid-state laser apparatus comprises a plurality of solid-state materials each having an active solid-state medium and arranged in a row with a predetermined space on an optical axis of light incident thereon. An optical rotation material and an angle adjusting instrument for adjusting an angle between the optical rotation material and the optical axis of incident light are disposed in at least a space selected from among the plural spaces. The laser apparatus further comprises a laser optical system for extracting a laser beam emitted by the plural solid-state materials.