Abstract: A sensor assembly for determining an operating characteristic of a nuclear reactor. The sensor assembly includes a solid-state lasing media and an optical fiber. The solid-state lasing media is doped with a fissile species. The solid-state lasing media is disposable within a core of the nuclear reactor and is configured to generate laser light. An output of the laser light is based at least in part by the fissile species. The optical fiber is operably coupled to the solid-state lasing media and configured to receive the laser light generated by the solid-state lasing media. The optical fiber is configured to extend out of the core of the nuclear reactor to a control system of the nuclear reactor.

Abstract: An illumination and detection apparatus for a metrology tool, and associated method. The apparatus includes an illumination arrangement operable to produce measurement illumination having a plurality of discrete wavelength bands and having a spectrum having no more than a single peak within each wavelength band. The detection arrangement includes a detection beamsplitter to split scattered radiation into a plurality of channels, each channel corresponding to a different one of the wavelength bands; and at least one detector for separate detection of each channel.

Abstract: A dual output laser diode may include first and second end facets and an active section. The first and second end facets have low reflectivity. The active section is positioned between the first end facet and the second end facet. The active section is configured to generate light that propagates toward each of the first and second end facets. The first end facet is configured to transmit a majority of the light that reaches the first end facet through the first end facet. The second end facet is configured to transmit a majority of the light that reaches the second end facet through the second end facet.

Abstract: A femtosecond laser source according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a pulse generator that converts a continuous wave laser into an optical pulse train; a burst generator that separates the optical pulse train into a plurality of burst pulses; a pulse amplification and spectral broadening unit that expands the spectrum by amplifying a plurality of burst pulses; and a pulse compressor that compresses a plurality of amplified burst pulses to generate a femtosecond laser with a pulse width of 1 picosecond (10?12 s) or less.

Abstract: A filter device includes: an optical fiber that allows light having a predetermined wavelength to propagate in multimode; a first higher-order mode filter that removes at least part of the light in any higher order mode than a predetermined mode in the light in the multimode propagating in the optical fiber; and a fiber Bragg grating that transmits the light having the predetermined wavelength and reflects light having a particular wavelength longer than the predetermined wavelength.

Abstract: An on-chip ultra-narrow linewidth laser and a method for obtaining a single-longitudinal mode ultra-narrow linewidth optical signal are provided in the present invention.

Abstract: An amplifier operable with an electric drive signal can amplify signal light having a signal wavelength. A laser diode has an active section with input and output facets. The facets are in optical communication with the signal light and are configured to pass the signal light through the laser diode. The active section is configured to generate pump light in response to injection of the electrical drive signal into the active section. The pump light has a pump wavelength different from the signal wavelength. A doped fiber doped with an active dopant is in optical communication with the signal light and is in optical communication with at least a portion of the pump light from the laser diode. The pump wavelength of the pump light is configured to interact with the active dopant of the fiber and thereby amplify the signal light.

Abstract: In some examples, a distributed acoustic detector system may include a frame structure and multiple acoustic detectors. The frame structure may be configured to be retained in a laser-based ophthalmo-logical surgical system aligned to an eye of a patient during therapeutic treatment of the eye of the patient with the laser-based ophthalmological surgical system. The acoustic detectors may be coupled to the frame structure and may be spaced apart from each other and electrically separated from each other.

Abstract: A method for transferring heat from a lower temperature heat source to a higher temperature heat sink using only the energy in the heat source and heat sink. The method uses a converting material which is adapted to receive external radiation from the lower temperature heat source, absorb the external radiation exciting an element of the converting material, non-radiatively transfer heat within the converting material by relaxing an element of the converting material, and conductively transferring heat from the converting material to the exterior of the converting material, where the heat can be used for an external process or application.

Abstract: A method in a lidar system comprises emitting a pulse of light, detecting at least a portion of the emitted pulse of light scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system, and determining the distance from the lidar system to the target based at least in part on a round-trip time of flight for the emitted pulse of light to travel from the lidar system to the target and back to the lidar system. The method further comprises emitting a series of pulses of light having particular pulse-frequency characteristics, detecting at least a portion of the series of emitted pulses of light scattered by the target, and comparing the pulse-frequency characteristics of the series of emitted pulses of light with corresponding pulse-frequency characteristics of the detected series of scattered pulses of light to determine a velocity of the target with respect to the lidar system.

Abstract: A high power diode laser system selects the central wavelength and narrows the spectral bandwidth by employing one or more atomic line filters (ALFs) as the wavelength selective element in the external cavity to optimize high power multi-mode operation. The high power diode laser system may include multiple diode laser sources, such as multiple diode laser bar stacks, providing multiple output beams. In an “in-line” or “straight through” configuration, a partially reflective surface terminates the external cavity to feed beam power back through the external cavity and to provide one or more output beams. In a “splitter” or “power divider” configuration, a highly reflective surface terminates the external cavity and one or more beam splitters between the diode laser source(s) and the ALF are used to provide one or more output beams. An afocal telescope may be used to image the diode laser source(s) at the reflective surface terminating the external cavity.

Abstract: A rearview mirror assembly includes a housing, a bezel and an electro-optic mirror element. The electro-optic mirror element includes a first substantially transparent substrate having an edge extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the first substantially transparent substrate and a second substrate having a second edge extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the second substrate and a fourth surface. The first substantially transparent substrate and the second substrate define a cavity therebetween. An electro-optic material is disposed within the cavity. The edge of the first substantially transparent substrate and the second edge of the second substrate are coupled to at least one of the bezel and the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus, a semiconductor package including the apparatus and a method are disclosed. The apparatus includes a substrate, pluralities of vias disposed in the substrate. The vias are disposed in a hexagonal arrangement.

Abstract: A system for controlling convective flow in a light-sustained plasma includes an illumination source configured to generate illumination, a bulb-less gas containment structure, and a collector element arranged to focus illumination from the illumination source into the volume of gas in order to generate a plasma within the volume of gas contained within the bulb-less gas containment structure. Further, the plasma is generated within a concave region of the collector element, where the collector element includes an opening through the collector element for propagating a portion of a plume of the plasma from a first region of the bulb-less gas containment structure to a second region of the bulb-less gas containment structure, wherein the first region of the bulb-less gas containment structure and the second region of the bulb-less gas containment structure are at least partially separated by a surface of the collector element.

Abstract: An optical network unit (ONU) comprising a media access controller (MAC) configured to support biasing a laser transmitter to compensate for temperature related wavelength drift receiving a transmission timing instruction from an optical network control node, obtaining transmission power information for the laser transmitter, estimating a burst mode time period for the laser transmitter according to the transmission timing instruction, and calculating a laser phase fine tuning compensation value for the laser transmitter according to the burst mode time period and the transmission power information, and forwarding the laser phase fine tuning compensation value toward a bias controller to support biasing a phase of the laser transmitter.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optronic device (16) capable of emitting a plurality of wavelengths comprising: an observation camera (24), and a laser unit (26) for each wavelength of the plurality of wavelengths, wherein each laser unit (26) comprises a laser source (36) capable of emitting a laser beam at the wavelength and an optical system (38) having a maximal transmission coefficient for the wavelength.

Abstract: A system for controlling convective flow in a light-sustained plasma includes an illumination source configured to generate illumination, a plasma cell including a bulb for containing a volume of gas, a collector element arranged to focus illumination from the illumination source into the volume of gas in order to generate a plasma within the volume of gas contained within the bulb. Further, the plasma cell is disposed within a concave region of the collector element, where the collector element includes an opening for propagating a portion of a plume of the plasma to a region external to the concave region of the collect element.

Abstract: An optical network unit (ONU) comprising a media access controller (MAC) configured to support biasing a laser transmitter to compensate for temperature related wavelength drift receiving a transmission timing instruction from an optical network control node, obtaining transmission power information for the laser transmitter, estimating a burst mode time period for the laser transmitter according to the transmission timing instruction, and calculating a laser phase fine tuning compensation value for the laser transmitter according to the burst mode time period and the transmission power information, and forwarding the laser phase fine tuning compensation value toward a bias controller to support biasing a phase of the laser transmitter.

Abstract: A Raman pump may include a dual output laser configured to output two optical signals; a delay interferometer configured to delay a first of the two optical signals to decorrelate the two optical signals from each other; and a combiner configured to combine the delayed first of the two optical signals and a second of the two optical signals to provide a Raman amplification signal.

Abstract: A robust, compact optical pulse train source is described, with the capability of generating sub-picosecond micro-pulse sequences, which can be periodic as well as non-periodic, and at repetition rates tunable over decades of baseline frequencies, from MHz to multi-GHz regimes. The micro-pulses can be precisely controlled and formatted to be in the range of many ps in duration to as short as several fs in duration. The system output can be comprised of a continuous wave train of optical micro-pulses or can be programmed to provide gated bursts of macro-pulses, with each macro-pulse consisting of a specific number of micro-pulses or a single pulse picked from the higher frequency train at a repetition rate lower than the baseline frequency. These pulses could then be amplified in energy anywhere from the nJ to MJ range.

Abstract: An optical parametric amplification device and method. The method includes providing a pump pulse having a pump pulse duration, providing a chirped seed pulse having a seed pulse duration, sequentially passing the pump and seed pulses through amplification stages, wherein the pump and seed pulses are coupled into the amplification stages with varying mutual temporal overlap and the seed pulse is amplified at each amplification stage, an amplified signal pulse is provided by the seed pulse after amplification in a last ampli-fication stage, the seed pulse duration is longer than the pump pulse duration, the mutual temporal overlap of the pump and seed pulses is varied with different temporal ranges of the seed pulse amplified at each amplification stage. Compared with the seed pulse, the signal pulse has an increased energy in the spectral regions determined by the temporal overlap of the seed pulse with the pump.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a pulse conditioner and an amplifier. The pulse conditioner configured modifies a temporal intensity profile of an input laser pulse, thereby creating a conditioned laser pulse having conditioned temporal intensity profile with a misfit parameter, M, of less than 0.13, where: M 2 = ? [ ? ? ? 2 - ? ? Pfit ? 2 ] 2 ? ? t ? ? ? ? 4 ? ? t , where |?(t)|2 represents the pulse temporal intensity profile of the conditioned laser pulse and |?Pfit(t)|2 represents a parabolic fit of the conditioned laser pulse. The amplifier increases the power of the conditioned laser pulse creating an amplified laser pulse. In a method a temporal intensity profile of an input laser pulse having a pulse duration of at least 1 ps is modified to create a conditioned laser pulse, which is amplified to create an amplified laser pulse, which is temporally compressed to generate a compressed laser pulse having a compressed pulse duration less than the input pulse duration.

Abstract: A high power pulsed light generation device includes: a master clock generator that generates a master signal; an optical oscillator that generates a pulsed light synchronized with the master clock signal; an optical amplifier that amplifies the pulsed light emitted from the optical oscillator to output a high power pulsed light; a pump semiconductor laser that generates a pulsed light for pumping the optical amplifier; a driving unit that drives the pump semiconductor laser by a pulsed driving current synchronized with the master clock signal; and a control unit which controls the driving unit and controls a gain of the optical amplifier for each pulse by changing a pulse width of the pulsed drive current from driving unit so as to change the pulse width of the pumping pulsed light.

Abstract: The inventive concept provides optic couplers, optical fiber laser devices, and active optical modules using the same. The optic coupler may include a first optical fiber having a first core and a first cladding surrounding the first core, a second optical fiber having a second core transmitting a signal light to the first optical fiber and a third cladding surrounding the second core, third optical fibers transmitting pump-light to the first optical fiber in a direction parallel to the second optical fiber; and a connector connected between the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber, the connector extending the third optical fibers disposed around the second optical fiber toward the first optical fiber, the connector comprising a third core connected between the first core and the second core and a fifth cladding surrounding the third core.

Abstract: Method and system for emitting optical pulses in view of a desired output energy of the optical pulses and a variable external trigger signal, using a laser system having a seed laser oscillator optically coupled to one or more cascaded optical amplification stages. For each amplification stage, a plurality of sets of pump pulse parameters are provided, each associated with specific values of the output energy and the trigger period. Proper pumping parameters associated with the received desired value of the output energy and the trigger period of the received trigger signal are selected for each amplification stage, which is pumped accordingly before a seed optical pulse is launched through the system.

Abstract: A method for amplifying optical signals includes determining a source optical signal, generating a first resultant signal including a pump signal and the source optical signal, sending the first resultant signal through a non-linear element to generate a second resultant signal including the first resultant signal and an idler signal, and sending the second resultant signal through a non-linear element to perform phase-sensitive amplification. The phase-sensitive amplification results in a third resultant signal including an amplified source optical signal, the pump signal, and the idler signal. The method also includes filtering the third resultant signal to remove the pump signal and the idler signal and outputting the amplified source optical signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pulse laser device, and more particularly, to a pulse laser device which can be operated in a burst mode, in which the output of a low-output laser generator is adjusted so as to enable the uniform control of the profile of the peak output of a final output optical pulse train, and in a variable burst mode, in which the profile of the final output optical pulse train can be controlled into an arbitrary waveform.

Abstract: A laser utilizes a cavity design which allows the stable generation of high peak power pulses from mode-locked multi-mode fiber lasers, greatly extending the peak power limits of conventional mode-locked single-mode fiber lasers. Mode-locking may be induced by insertion of a saturable absorber into the cavity and by inserting one or more mode-filters to ensure the oscillation of the fundamental mode in the multi-mode fiber. The probability of damage of the absorber may be minimized by the insertion of an additional semiconductor optical power limiter into the cavity.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical pumping device comprising: a fibre light source emitting controlled radiation having a very high transverse modal quality, with a wavelength shorter than 1000 nm; at least one element consisting of an amplifying material doped with a rare earth dopant; means for introducing a pumping light into said doped amplifying material element; and means for cooling said amplifying material. Said optical pumping device is characterised in that the pumping light is emitted by the fibre light source with an average power of higher than 2 W and a modal quality characterised by an M2<5 factor.

Abstract: Optical resonators that are enhanced with photoluminescent phosphors and are designed and configured to output light at one or more wavelengths based on input/pump light, and systems and devices made with such resonators. In some embodiments, the resonators contain multiple optical resonator cavities in combination with one or more photoluminescent phosphor layers or other structures. In other embodiments, the resonators are designed to simultaneously resonate at the input/pump and output wavelengths. The photoluminescent phosphors can be any suitable photoluminescent material, including semiconductor and other materials in quantum-confining structures, such as quantum wells and quantum dots, among others.

Abstract: In one aspect, an optical gain device is provided. The optical gain device comprises a metallic film and an optical gain medium. The metallic film has a plurality of slits therethrough. The plurality of slits are configured such that the film selectively and resonantly transmits light over a preselected frequency range. The optical gain medium is situated within or substantially near at least one slit of the plurality of slits.

Abstract: A benzo-fused-heterocyclic elongated dye having a superior molecular hyperpolarizability and yet having an acceptably-low optical absorbance of light near 1550 nm in wavelength, which is an important optical communication band for telecommunication applications.

Abstract: A benzo-fused-heterocyclic elongated dye having a superior molecular hyperpolarizability and yet having an acceptably-low optical absorbance of light near 1550 nm in wavelength, which is an important optical communication band for telecommunication applications.

Abstract: An optical amplifier system includes a diode pump array including a plurality of semiconductor diode laser bars disposed in an array configuration and characterized by a periodic distance between adjacent semiconductor diode laser bars. The periodic distance is measured in a first direction perpendicular to each of the plurality of semiconductor diode laser bars. The diode pump array provides a pump output propagating along an optical path and characterized by a first intensity profile measured as a function of the first direction and having a variation greater than 10%. The optical amplifier system also includes a diffractive optic disposed along the optical path. The diffractive optic includes a photo-thermo-refractive glass member. The optical amplifier system further includes an amplifier slab having an input face and position along the optical path and separated from the diffractive optic by a predetermined distance.

Abstract: For the purpose of reducing the cost and power consumption of an optical amplification system provided with an optical amplifier, an excitation light distribution device of the present invention comprises an excitation light source output unit which outputs excitation light, an optical branching unit with variable branching ratio which branches and outputs the excitation light, and a control unit which, on the basis of information on an optical signal to be amplified by the excitation light outputted by the optical branching unit, controls at least either the branching ratio of the optical branching unit or the optical output power of the excitation light source output unit.

Abstract: A device and related fabrication method is provided for an organic/inorganic hybrid optical amplifier with a function of converting infrared light to visible light. The hybrid device integrates an inorganic heterojunction phototransistor (HPT), an embedded metal electrode mirror with a dual function as an optical mirror and charge injection electrode, and an organic light emitting diode (OLED). This integrated optical amplifier is capable of amplifying the incoming light and producing light emission with a power greater than that of the incoming signal. In the second aspect of the invention, the optical amplifier is capable of detecting an incoming infrared electromagnetic wave and converting the wave back to a visible light wave. The optical device has dual functions of optical power amplification and photon energy up-conversion. The optical amplifier device consists of an InGaAs/InP based HPT structure as photodetector, gold-coated metals as embedded mirror and a top-emission OLED.

Abstract: An optical amplifying device includes an optical amplification medium configured to be excited by excitation light and amplify signal light, a light loss detector configured to detect a light loss of an optical component optically connected to the optical amplification medium in the amplifying device, and a noise figure deterioration detector configured to detect, based on the light loss detected by the light loss detector, deterioration of a noise figure of the optical amplification medium.

Abstract: Devices and techniques are disclosed for amplifying a plurality of optical signals using a single pump laser coupled to a set of optical splitters arranged in a binary tree configuration for powering a plurality of fiber optical amplifying path circuits (FOAP circuits) each configured to amplify one of the plurality of optical signals, where each of the optical splitters at the leaves of the binary tree is coupled to one of the plurality of FOAP circuits to provide the power required to amplify the optical signal.

Abstract: A system for conversion or amplification using quasi-phase matched four-wave-mixing includes a first radiation source for providing a pump radiation beam, a second radiation source for providing a signal radiation beam, and a bent structure for receiving the pump radiation beam and the signal radiation beam. The radiation propagation portion of the bent structure is made of a uniform Raman-active or uniform Kerr-nonlinear material and the radiation propagation portion comprises a dimension taking into account the spatial variation of the Raman susceptibility or Kerr susceptibility along the radiation propagation portion as experienced by radiation travelling along the bent structure for obtaining quasi-phase-matched four-wave-mixing in the radiation propagation portion. The dimension thereby is substantially inverse proportional with the linear phase mismatch for four-wave-mixing.

Abstract: An optical fibre laser or amplifier comprising an optical fibre and a pump radiation source configured to generate pump radiation which is received through an input end of the optical fibre. The optical fibre may include a doped core which is configured to guide the pump radiation and to generate or amplify and guide signal radiation when pump radiation passes through it. The optical fibre laser or amplifier may include a first reflector configured to reflect pump radiation and further comprises a second reflector configured to selectively reflect a portion of pump radiation. The selection of the portion of pump radiation to be reflected by the second reflector depends upon one or more of: the spatial position of the pump radiation, the direction of the pump radiation, and the polarisation of the pump radiation.

Abstract: A compact solid state laser that generates multiple wavelengths and multiple beams that are parallel, i.e., bore-sighted relative to each other, is disclosed. Each of the multiple laser beams can be at a different wavelength, pulse energy, pulse length, repetition rate and average power. Each of the laser beams can be turned on or off independently. The laser is comprised of an optically segmented gain section, common laser resonator with common surface segmented cavity mirrors, optically segmented pump laser, and different intra-cavity elements in each laser segment.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, an apparatus, and a system for amplifying a burst optical signal. The method includes: monitoring an input status of a signal light; when no signal light is input, controlling output power of a pump light so that a gain medium has output optical power and the output optical power is less than a maximum optical power that the gain medium is capable of outputting when a signal light is input; inputting the pump light into a wavelength division multiplexer so that the wavelength division multiplexer combines the signal light and the pump light and inputs the combined light into the gain medium. With the preceding manners, when no signal light is input, the power of the pump light is controlled.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an amplification device comprising an amplifying medium (2) of parallelepiped shape and pumping means comprising lamps (5) emitting first radiation in a frequency range useful for the amplification and second radiation capable of degrading the amplifying medium. It is characterized in that lamps (5) are integrated into a jacket (3) that absorbs at least some of the second radiation.

Abstract: The various laser architectures described herein provide increased gain of optical energy as well as compensation of optical phase distortions in a thin disk gain medium. An optical amplifier presented herein provides for scalable high energy extraction and gains based on a number of passes of the signal beam through a gain medium. Multiple, spatially separate, optical paths may also be passed through the same gain region to provide gain clearing by splitting off a small percentage of an output pulse and sending it back through the amplifier along a slightly different path. By clearing out the residual gain, uniform signal amplitudes can be obtained.

Abstract: An optical receiving apparatus includes an optical amplification medium that receives an excitation light and an input light, an optical loss medium that receives an output light from the optical amplification medium, a monitor that detects a power level of an output light from the optical loss medium, a controller that controls a power of the excitation light such that the power level of the output light detected by the monitor is at a target value, and a receiver that receives the output light from the optical loss medium, the output light not being optically amplified.

Abstract: There is provided a wide-band optical amplifier (10) that is capable of amplifying a wide-band signal. The wide-band optical amplifier (10) includes a first amplifier (NOPA1) that emits, based on a to-be-amplified light beam having a predetermined range of wavelengths and a first pump beam (L2) having a first wavelength, the to-be-amplified light beam having a first range of amplified wavelengths, where the first range is a part of the predetermined range, and a second amplifier (NOPA2) that emits, based on the to-be-amplified light beam having the first range of amplified wavelengths and a second pump beam (L3) having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, the to-be-amplified light beam having a second range of amplified wavelengths, where the second range is different from the first range.

Abstract: It is disclosed a method for driving a laser diode such as to enable mitigation or elimination of so called spiking effects related to the number of injected carriers in the laser overshooting the equilibrium value at the beginning of the lasing process. In this manner, among other things, the efficiency of a master oscillator power amplifier that may be utilized in range finding applications will be improved. It is further disclosed an optical pulse transmitter comprising such a laser diode.

Abstract: A laser amplifier module having an enclosure includes an input window, a mirror optically coupled to the input window and disposed in a first plane, and a first amplifier head disposed along an optical amplification path adjacent a first end of the enclosure. The laser amplifier module also includes a second amplifier head disposed along the optical amplification path adjacent a second end of the enclosure and a cavity mirror disposed along the optical amplification path.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for amplifying an energy beam such as a beam of laser light or a charged particle beam. An exemplary method includes providing a liner having a first end, a second end, a liner axis, and a lumen extending along the liner axis and being bound by interior reflective walls of the liner. An energy beam is introduced into the first end of the liner. The beam propagates through the lumen from the first end to the second end as the beam reflects multiple times from the interior walls of the liner. Meanwhile, an implosive force is applied to the liner. The implosive force compresses the interior walls implosively toward the liner axis in a manner that amplifies the beam as the beam propagates through the lumen of the imploding liner. The amplified energy beam can be used for any of various purposes including ignition of a fusion target.

Abstract: Use of quasi-phase-matched (QPM) materials for parametric chirped pulse amplification (PCPA) substantially reduces the required pump peak power and pump brightness, allowing exploitation of spatially-multimode and long duration pump pulses. It also removes restrictions on pump wavelength and amplification bandwidth. This allows substantial simplification in pump laser design for a high-energy PCPA system and, consequently, the construction of compact diode-pumped sources of high-energy ultrashort optical pulses. Also, this allows elimination of gain-narrowing and phase-distortion limitations on minimum pulse duration, which typically arise in a chirped pulse amplification system. One example of a compact source of high-energy ultrashort pulses is a multimode-core fiber based PCPA system. Limitations on pulse energy due to the limited core size for single-mode fibers are circumvented by using large multimode core.