Abstract: Pulsed light source comprising pulse generation means (1), such as an optical oscillator, whose output is divided into three arms: two arms (3, 4) to generate a CEP-stable, ultrabroadband idler output; and a third arm (5) to generate a narrowband pump output. The pump output and idler output seed an OPCPA (13), generating stable ultrashort pulses.

Abstract: A chirped pulse fiber amplifier with nonlinear compensation, includes elements for generating a light pulse having an initial peak-power P0 and an initial duration T, a stretcher including at least one optical diffraction network having a line density higher than 1200 lines/mm and suitable for time-stretching the pulse and of inserting a time asymmetry in the stretched pulse, an amplifying fiber including a doped optical fiber section coupled with an optical pumping element and suitable for amplifying the stretched pulse for producing a pulse having a power, a compressor with optical diffraction grating suitable for time-compressing the amplified pulse so that the stretcher and the compressor are mismatched, the mismatch between the stretcher and the compressor being suitable for simultaneously compensating the second- and third-order nonlinear dispersions in the amplifying fiber during the propagation of a pulse having an initial power P0 through the chirped pulse amplifier.

Abstract: A modular, compact and widely tunable laser system for the efficient generation of high peak and high average power ultrashort pulses. Modularity is ensured by the implementation of interchangeable amplifier components. System compactness is ensured by employing efficient fiber amplifiers, directly or indirectly pumped by diode lasers. Peak power handling capability of the fiber amplifiers is expanded by using optimized pulse shapes, as well as dispersively broadened pulses. Dispersive broadening is introduced by dispersive pulse stretching in the presence of self-phase modulation and gain, resulting in the formation of high-power parabolic pulses. In addition, dispersive broadening is also introduced by simple fiber delay lines or chirped fiber gratings, resulting in a further increase of the energy handling ability of the fiber amplifiers.

Abstract: An illumination system is provided, which includes a first solid-state light source, a second solid-state light source, a third solid-state light source, a light combining element, a light homogenizing element, a first plate and a first band-stop filter. The first solid-state light source to the third solid-state light source respectively provide a first-wavelength light beam to a third-wavelength light beam. The first plate has a first surface opposite to an outputting surface of the light combining element and a first phosphor, while the first phosphor is excited by the third-wavelength light beam to produce a fourth-wavelength light beam. The first band-stop filter allows the first-wavelength light beam to the third-wavelength light beam to pass therethrough and reflects the fourth-wavelength light beam. With these arrangements, the illumination system can strengthen the light of a specific color and the volume of the illumination system can be reduced.

Abstract: An optical amplifying apparatus which includes an optical amplifier, an optical attenuator and a controller. The optical amplifier amplifies a light signal having a variable number of channels. The optical attenuator passes the amplified light signal and has a variable light transmissivity. Prior to varying the number of channels in the light signal, the controller varies the light transmissivity of the optical attenuator so that a power level of the amplified light signal is maintained at an approximately constant level that depends on the number of channels in the light signal prior to the varying the number of channels. While the number of channels in the light signal is being varied, the controller maintains the light transmissivity of the optical attenuator to be constant.

Abstract: An electronic circuit for controlling a laser system consisting of a pulse source and high power fiber amplifier is disclosed. The circuit is used to control the gain of the high power fiber amplifier system so that the amplified output pulses have predetermined pulse energy as the pulse width and repetition rate of the oscillator are varied. This includes keeping the pulse energy constant when the pulse train is turned on. The circuitry is also used to control the temperature of the high power fiber amplifier pump diode such that the wavelength of the pump diode is held at the optimum absorption wavelength of the fiber amplifier as the diode current is varied. The circuitry also provides a means of protecting the high power fiber amplifier from damage due to a loss of signal from the pulse source or from a pulse-source signal of insufficient injection energy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a high peak power optical beam. The method includes interleaving pulse trains of different wavelengths and spatially and temporally overlapping the different wavelengths to produce an amplified output beam with very high peak power.

Abstract: A spectrum shaping scheme for chirped pulse amplification (CPA): uses a spectrum decomposing system with CTSI construction, a spectrum synthesizing system with CTSI structure that is symmetrical to the decomposing structure, and a spectrum shaping system including an aperture and a planar reflector for spectrum shaping function design. The scheme includes the following steps: firstly decomposing the spectrum of a chirped temporal pulse laser to a spectral domain; then shaping the spectrum in the spectral domain; finally synthesizing un-shiftily this shaped spectrum in the spectral domain into a temporal chirped pulse with a designed shape. The scheme has the benefit that it can be not only utilized in a general laser spectrum shaping and spectrum modulation, but also can be utilized for a high energy and ultra-high peak-power laser system in chirped pulse amplification with a large caliber and with a chirped pulse bandwidth of a few nanometers.

Abstract: A master oscillator power-amplifier stages includes multiple stages of fiber-amplification with a final power amplifier stage in the form of a multi-pass amplifier. With a thin-disk gain medium in one example the thin-disk amplifier includes a common optical arrangement for providing multiple incidences of radiation to be amplified and multiple incidences of a pump-radiation beam on the thin-disk gain medium.

Abstract: By compensating polarization mode-dispersion as well chromatic dispersion in photonic crystal fiber pulse compressors, high pulse energies can be obtained from all-fiber chirped pulse amplification systems. By inducing third-order dispersion in fiber amplifiers via self-phase modulation, the third-order chromatic dispersion from bulk grating pulse compressors can be compensated and the pulse quality of hybrid fiber/bulk chirped pulse amplification systems can be improved. Finally, by amplifying positively chirped pulses in negative dispersion fiber amplifiers, low noise wavelength tunable seed source via anti-Stokes frequency shifting can be obtained.

Abstract: A system for synchronizing a first clock and a second clock includes a receiver associated with the first clock, configured to receive a remote pulse from the second clock. The remote pulse has a pulse repetition frequency and spectral characteristics that are known to the local clock. The system also includes a local pulse emitter configured to create a local pulse at the first clock, and optics configured to align the local pulse and the remote pulse. The system further includes an interferometer configured to create an interference pattern between the local pulse and the remote pulse. A controller is provided that is configured to calculate a time delay between the first clock and the second clock based on the interference pattern between the local pulse and the remote pulse.

Abstract: An operating method for stimulated Raman adiabatic passage to change probability amplitude in a three-level system including states of |0>, |1> and |e>, includes the following two steps. One is to direct a first laser beam and a second laser beam which have frequencies in the vicinity of resonance frequencies corresponding to energy differences between |0> and |e> and between |1> and |e>, respectively. The other is to change temporally two-photon detuning to be a difference between first detuning and second detuning. The first detuning is a difference between a first energy difference and a frequency of the first laser beam. The first energy difference is a difference between energy of |0> and energy of |e>. The second detuning is a difference between a second energy difference and a frequency of the second laser beam. The second energy difference is a difference between energy of |1> and energy of |e>.

Abstract: An improved algorithm for calculating multimode fiber system bandwidth which addresses both modal dispersion and chromatic dispersion effects is provided. The radial dependence of a laser transmitter emission spectrum is taken into account to assist in designing more effective optical transmission systems.

Abstract: The invention relates to a saturable absorber mirror comprised of a) a rear-side reflector layer (2), b) an intermediate layer (6), the boundary areas of which form an interference filter, c) at least one absorber layer arranged within the interference filter and comprised of a material absorbing a light at operating wavelength of the saturable absorber mirror depending on intensity, and d) a front-side cover layer. It is the object of the invention to provide a saturable absorber mirror having improved properties. To this effect the invention proposes that the interference filter is neither resonant nor anti-resonant at operating wavelength, with the intensity (I) of the electromagnetic stationary wave field of the light in the interior of the cover layer (5) having a local extremum (8).

Abstract: A reflection metal diffraction grating has a high diffraction efficiency for diffracting femtosecond mode laser pulses, and includes a substrate with a set of lines having a pitch A. The substrate is made of metal or covered with a metal layer, and the grating includes a thin film of dielectric material having a thickness, the dielectric film covering the metal surface of the lines of the grating, the grating being suitable for receiving a pulsed electromagnetic lightwave in a femtosecond mode. The thickness of the dielectric thin film is lower than 50 nm, and is suitable for reducing by a third order factor at least the maximum of the square of the electric field of the electromagnetic lightwave on the metal surface and in the metal layer of the substrate as compared to the square of the electric field at the surface of a metal grating not having a dielectric thin film.

Abstract: A light-based medical scope system includes a semiconductor diode pump source, a multiplexer that combines diode outputs to generate an optical signal. First and second waveguide structures guide the optical signal with a coupling loss of about 5dB or less through a scope adapted for insertion into a patient's body. A focusing element coupled to a distal end of the second waveguide structure is adapted to focus the optical signal onto the patient's body. A housing includes a base portion, a flexible portion, and a head unit mounted onto the flexible portion. The focusing element is located within or passes through the head unit, and the base portion includes a mechanical control for manipulating the flexible portion. In one embodiment, a waveguide structure directs an output beam of 1.7 microns or more to perform a differential measurement on patient blood with the result displayed on an associated monitor.

Abstract: A laser source includes a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) as a gain medium that receives and amplifies an optical signal characterized by at least a wavelength associated with a lasing mode of the laser source. This laser source includes a first optical waveguide and a second optical waveguide optically coupled to the SOA. Furthermore, a wavelength-selective reflector is optically coupled to the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide, where a closed loop defined by the SOA, the first optical waveguide, the wavelength-selective reflector and the second optical waveguide defines a cavity of the laser source.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the active control of a wavelength-swept light source used to interrogate optical elements having characteristic wavelengths distributed across a wavelength range are provided.

Abstract: An antenna and power amplifier element assembly may include an antenna assembly and a quasi-optic power amplifier. The quasi-optic power amplifier may include an output transistor coupled to the antenna assembly. A harmonic trap may be coupled to the quasi-optic power amplifier.

Abstract: The multi-channel optical device includes multiple laser cavities that each reflects a different light channel back and forth between reflective components. One of the reflective components is common to all of the laser cavities in that the common reflective component receives the channels from each of the laser cavities and reflects the received channels. The laser cavities also share a multiplexer that receives the channels reflected by the common reflective device and demultiplexes the channels into demultiplexed channels. A portion of the reflective components are partial return devices that each receives one of the demultiplexed channels. Each of the partial return devices transmits a portion of the demultiplexed channel received by that partial return device. The transmitted portion of the demultiplexed channel exits the laser cavity. Additionally, each of the partial return devices reflects a portion of the demultiplexed channel receive by that partial return device.

Abstract: As disclosed herein, in a first aspect, a device may comprise: an oscillator producing a light output on a beam path; a target material for interaction with light on the beam path at an irradiation site; a beam delay on the beam path the beam delay having a beam folding optical arrangement; and a switch positioned along the beam path and interposed between the oscillator and the beam delay; the switch closable to divert at least a portion of light on the beam path from the beam path, the switch having close time, t1 and the beam path having a length, L1, along the path from the switch to the irradiation site; with t1<cL1, where c is the speed of light on the path, to protect the oscillator.

Abstract: An ultrafast laser generating system comprises a laser signal generator, a laser signal amplifier and a beam splitting element. The laser signal generator is configured to generate a first nanosecond pulse laser. The laser amplifier is configured to amplify the first nanosecond pulse laser from the laser signal generator so as to generate a second nanosecond pulse laser, which includes a picosecond pulse laser. The beam splitting element is configured to receive the second nanosecond pulse laser and split the picosecond pulse laser from the second nanosecond pulse laser.

Abstract: A light amplifier includes first and second multi-pass amplifiers, an excitation light source, and a beam splitter. The second multi-pass amplifier includes a light attenuation portion provided in an optical path for a light pulse to travel to pass through a light amplification medium a plurality of times, for attenuating energy of the input light pulse. In addition, an excitation light pulse from the excitation light source is split by the beam splitter into two light pulses. These two pulses are input to the first and second multi-pass amplifiers, respectively. Thus, fluctuation in energy of the light pulse output from the light amplifier can be less than fluctuation in energy of the excitation light pulse.

Abstract: A laser that emits light at all available frequencies distributed throughout the spectral bandwidth or emission bandwidth of the laser in a single pulse or pulse train is disclosed. The laser is pumped or seeded with photons having frequencies distributed throughout the superunitary gain bandwidth of the gain medium. The source of photons is a frequency modulated photon source, and the frequency modulation is controlled to occur in one or more cycles timed to occur within a time scale for pulsing the laser.

Abstract: A solid state detection system includes a degenerate photo-parametric amplifier (PPA), wherein the PPA comprises a photo diode, and a periodically pulsed light source, wherein the photo-parametric amplifier (PPA) is synchronized to the pulsed light source with a phase locked loop that generates a pump waveform for the PPA at twice the frequency of the excitation pulse rate.

Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus and method of surgical ablative material removal “in-vivo” or from an outside surface with a short optical pulse that is amplified and compressed using either an optically-pumped-amplifier and air-path between gratings compressor combination or a SOA and chirped fiber compressor combination, wherein the generating, amplifying and compressing are done within a portable system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the active control of a wavelength-swept light source used to interrogate optical elements having characteristic wavelengths distributed across a wavelength range are provided.

Abstract: An optical amplifying device includes an optical system including a first end and a second end, the optical system configured to receive signal light through the first end, to lead the received signal light to an optical amplifying medium, and to output the signal light amplified by the optical amplifying medium through the second end, the optical system including a first optical isolator and a second optical isolator which are arranged on respective sides of the optical amplifying medium, wherein with respect to a direction in which the signal light propagates, each of the first optical isolator and the second optical isolator is capable of allowing light propagating in the same direction to pass therethrough and blocking light propagating in the opposite direction, and the first optical isolator and the second optical isolator have different center isolation wavelengths for the light propagating in the opposite direction.

Abstract: An EUV light generation system includes a driver laser comprising a master oscillator such as a semiconductor laser, a spatial filter, gas slab amplification devices, relay optical systems, and high-speed axial-flow amplifiers. The slab amplification devices include beam adjusting optical units disposed, respectively, at input and output sides of the slab amplifiers SA to convert the beam profile and/or polarization direction and/or an elongated direction of the beam profile with the slab amplifiers is parallel to a free space axis AF of the slab waveguides, i.e. parallel to the discharge electrodes.

Abstract: A radiation system includes a target material supply configured to supply droplets of target material along a trajectory, and a laser system that includes an amplifier and optics. The optics are configured to establish a first beam path which passes through the amplifier and through a first location on the trajectory, and to establish a second beam path which passes through the amplifier and through a second location on the trajectory. The laser system is configured to generate a first pulse of laser radiation when photons emitted from the amplifier are reflected along the first beam path by a droplet of target material at the first location on the trajectory. The laser system is configured to generate a second pulse of laser radiation when photons emitted from the amplifier are reflected along the second beam path by the droplet of target material at the second location on the trajectory.

Abstract: The invention disclosed here teaches methods and apparatus for altering the temporal and spatial shape of an optical pulse. The methods correct for the spatial beam deformation caused by the intrinsic DC index gradient in a volume holographic chirped reflective grating (VHCRG). The first set of methods involves a mechanical mean of pre-deforming the VHCRG so that the combination of the deflection caused by the DC index gradient is compensated by the mechanical deformation of the VHCRG. The second set of methods involves compensating the angular deflection caused by the DC index gradient by retracing the diffracted beam back onto itself and by re-diffracting from the same VHCRG. Apparatus for temporally stretching, amplifying and temporally compressing light pulses are disclosed that rely on the methods above.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a MOPA light source capable of obtaining pulse output by wavelength-conversion of pulse light of fundamental light wave using a simple configuration, and suppressing optical output using a simple method when processing is not performed. The fundamental light wave outputted from a seed light source is amplified in an optical amplification fiber. The amplified fundamental light wave is inputted to one end of a passive optical fiber, and propagates in the passive optical fiber. In the passive optical fiber, stimulated Raman scattering occurs upon propagation of the fundamental light wave. The light of fundamental light wave and light of stimulated Raman-scattered components are outputted from the other end of the passive optical fiber. The light outputted from the passive optical fiber is collimated by a lens, and is then inputted to a branching filter.

Abstract: A light source device capable of varying a light oscillation wavelength includes a plurality of optical gain media, a dispersing element, and a wavelength selecting element. The optical gain media amplify light, and have gain wavelength bands that partially overlap and different maximum gain wavelengths. The dispersing element is formed of a single element. Each of light beams emitted from the optical gain media is incident on the dispersing element. The dispersing element disperses the light beams emitted from the optical gain media into light beams of different wavelengths. The wavelength selecting element selects a light beam of a predetermined wavelength from the light beams of different wavelengths into which the light beams emitted from the optical gain media are dispersed by the dispersing element. The light source device emits the light beam of the predetermined wavelength selected by the wavelength selecting element.

Abstract: A fiber optical device 1A includes an amplification optical fiber 10, a seed light source 15 for supplying pulse seed light to the optical fiber 10, excitation light sources 21 to 25 for supplying excitation light, a bleaching light source 40 for supplying bleaching light for reducing a light transmission loss caused by photodarkening, and a control device 50 that controls the operations of individual portions. The control device 50 divides a period between a first output light pulse and a succeeding second output light pulse into a first period which includes a time point immediately after the output of the first output light pulse and during which the population inversion is unsaturated, and a second period which includes a time point immediately before the output of the second output light pulse, and, to the optical fiber 10, supplies the bleaching light in the first period and supplies the excitation light in the second period.

Abstract: A window unit may include: a window configured to allow a laser beam to be transmitted therethrough; and a holder for holding the window at a periphery thereof, the holder being provided with a flow channel thereinside configured to allow a fluid to flow.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generation and detection of rogue waves, including hydrodynamic rogue waves and optical rogue waves. A method for generating an optical rogue wave comprises the steps of generating an input pulse into a nonlinear optical medium, and perturbing the input pulse by directing a narrow-band seed radiation into the input pulse. The seed radiation has a frequency and timing to generate broadband radiation within the nonlinear optical medium.

Abstract: An optical filter is disclosed, including a first optical filter adapted to receive a first optical signal including an optical carrier frequency and a plurality of interference signal components. The first filter produces an output signal at the optical carrier frequency and a reflection signal. The output signal is split into a peak detection path signal and a re-insertion path signal. An optical power detector converts the peak detection path signal into an electrical control signal and aligns the optical carrier frequency to a resonance frequency of the first filter to maximize the power of the optical carrier frequency. A second optical filter receives the reflection signal and selects at least one spectral component while rejecting other spectral components and outputs a filtered signal that carries the selected spectral component. A signal combiner receives and combines the filtered signal and the re-insertion path signal.

Abstract: Devices having whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) resonators configured to meet requirements of various applications and facilitate fabrication of such devices.

Abstract: The polarization direction of an optical signal is changed by a polarization controller so as to be orthogonal to a main axis of a polarizer. A control pulse generator generates control pulses from control beam with a wavelength which is different from the wavelength of the optical signal. The optical signal and the control pulse are input to a nonlinear optical fiber. In the nonlinear optical fiber, the optical signal, during a time period in which the optical signal and the control pulse coincide, is amplified with optical parametric amplification around a polarization direction of the control pulse. The optical signal, during the time period in which the optical signal and the control pulse coincide, passes through the polarizer.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical regenerator for a differential phase modulated data signal which comprises, in addition to a unit for bit-by-bit gauge leveling, a unit for the regeneration of the phase of individual symbols of the differential phase modulated data signal. After the bit-by-bit gauge leveling, the data signal that is preset in amplitude is divided into a first and a second data signal. Phase errors of individual signals are detected for the first data signal in a phase error detection unit, are transformed into a correction signal, and are conveyed to a phase error correction unit. The second data signal is corrected in the phase error correction unit, depending on the correction signal conveyed thereto in the phase of said data signal, in such a way that a differential phase modulated data signal, regenerated in amplitude and in phase, is delivered at the output of the correction unit.

Abstract: An EUV light source device is described herein which may comprise a laser beam travelling along a beam path, at least a portion of the beam path aligned along a linear axis; a material for interaction with the laser beam at an irradiation site to create an EUV light emitting plasma; a first reflector having a focal point, the first reflector positioned with the focal point on the linear axis, the first reflector receiving laser light along the beam path; and a second reflector receiving laser light reflected by the first reflector and directing the laser light toward the irradiation site.

Abstract: A high extraction efficiency laser system. The novel laser system includes a laser amplifier and a laser source adapted to provide a laser beam to the amplifier such that polarization states for incident and reflected light within the amplifier are perpendicular one to another. In an illustrative embodiment, the laser beam is input to the amplifier such that the beam reflects back and forth between the side walls of the amplifier with an angle of incidence of about 45 degrees, and the laser beam is linearly polarized in the plane of incidence. This arrangement reduces interference fringes in the amplifier. In an alternative embodiment, the system includes an aberrator adapted to add time-varying aberrations in the laser beam at a rate exceeding an inversed lifetime of an inverted population in the amplifier to increase spatial homogenization of saturation and extraction patterns in the amplifier.

Abstract: A first wavelength converter of a wavelength-conversion device includes: an optical amplifier amplifying an incident light beam; a first dispersion flat fiber spreading the wavelength spectrum width of the amplified beam; and a first wavelength filter transmitting a predetermined wavelength bandwidth of the first fiber output beam. A center wavelength of the first wavelength converted beam is shifted by ??1 from that of the incident light beam. A second wavelength converter of the device does not include an optical amplifier and includes: a second dispersion flat fiber spreading the wavelength spectrum width of the first wavelength converted beam; and a second wavelength filter transmitting a predetermined wavelength bandwidth of the second fiber output beam. A center wavelength of the second wavelength converted beam is shifted by ??2 from that of the first wavelength converted beam. The ??1 and ??2 satisfy ??1+??2=??, ??1×??2<0, and |??1|<|??2|.

Abstract: The pulse light source according to the present invention comprises: a seed pulse generator 1 for outputting an input pulse 10 as a seed pulse; a pulse amplifier 2; and a dispersion compensator 3 for dispersion compensating a light pulse output from the pulse amplifier 2. Moreover, the pulse amplifier 2 comprises a normal dispersion medium (DCF 4) and an amplification medium (EDF 5) that are multistage-connected alternately, for changing the input pulse 10 to a light pulse having a linear chirp and outputting the light pulse. Furthermore, an absolute value of the dispersion of the DCF 4 becomes to be larger than the absolute value of the dispersion of the EDF 5.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for adjusting intensity, wavelength and higher and lower frequency components of an optical signal. Photonic apparatus receives a first and a second optical signal. A waveguide provides an anomalous group velocity dispersion the first optical signal or the second optical signal and adjusts intensity or wavelength of the first optical signal or the second optical signal, in response to the anomalous group velocity dispersion. In some embodiments photonic apparatus receives an optical signal comprising a lower frequency component received an amount of time prior to a higher frequency component of the optical signal. A waveguide provides an anomalous group velocity dispersion for the optical signal and adjusts the amount of time between the higher frequency component and the lower frequency component in response to the anomalous group velocity dispersion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a laser device (1) for amplifying and/or transporting electromagnetic radiation, comprising a radiation source (2) for generating the electromagnetic radiation and an amplifier (4) for amplifying or a medium for transporting the generated electromagnetic radiation. In order to make available a device (1) for amplifying or transporting electromagnetic radiation that provides a very easy to implement possibility for reducing the influence of non-linear effects, the electromagnetic radiation propagating in the amplifier (4) or medium is largely non-linearly polarized.

Abstract: An optical amplifier for determining the attenuation of a length of optical fiber (7) to which it is adapted to be connected comprising means (5) to receive an input signal from the optical fiber (7), means (6) to output an amplified signal to the optical fiber (7), a gain medium (2) and a pump means (3) arranged to generate the amplified signal from the input signal, the amplifier (1) further comprising means (13) to measure the optical power of the signal leaving the gain medium and means (14) to measure the optical power of the signal backscattered from the optical fiber (7), wherein the pump means (3) is controlled by a control means (4), the control means (4) being adapted to modulate the pump means (3) with a determination signal, the control means (4) being adapted to change the frequency of the determination signal over a plurality of determination frequencies while keeping the amplitude of the determination signal constant, the control means (4) further being adapted to calculate the attenuation of t

Abstract: System for converting relatively long pulses from rep-rate variable ultrafast optical sources to shorter, high-energy pulses suitable for sources in high-energy ultrafast lasers. Fibers with positive group velocity dispersion (GVD) and self phase modulation are advantageously employed with the optical sources. These systems take advantage of the need for higher pulse energies at lower repetition rates so that such sources can be cost effective.

Abstract: Embodiments of laser systems advantageously use pulsed optical fiber-based laser source (12) output, the temporal pulse profile of which may be programmed to assume a range of pulse shapes. Pulsed fiber lasers are subject to peak power limits to prevent an onset of undesirable nonlinear effects; therefore, the laser output power of these devices is subsequently amplified in a diode-pumped solid state photonic power amplifier (DPSS-PA) (16). The DPSS PA provides for amplification of the desirable low peak power output of a pulsed fiber master oscillator power amplifier (14) to much higher peak power levels and thereby also effectively increases the available energy per pulse at a specified pulse repetition frequency. The combination of the pulsed fiber master oscillator power amplifier and the diode-pumped solid state power amplifier is referred to as a tandem solid state photonic amplifier (10).

Abstract: An optical device and methods of using an optical device are provided. The optical device includes a hollow-core fiber including a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a hollow core having a first diameter. The second portion includes a hollow core having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter. The difference between the first diameter and the second diameter is less than 10% of the first diameter.