Abstract: A method for manufacturing a laser-active solid having a bonded passive Q-switch is provided. A plane-parallel first wafer plate may be manufactured from a laser-active material. A second plane-parallel wafer plate may be manufactured from a material that is suitable as a passive Q-switch. The first wafer plate and the second wafer plate may be bonded to form a wafer block, which may then be coated on both end faces with a resonator mirror. Subsequently, the wafer block may be separated into multiple passively Q-switched solid state lasers.

Abstract: A monoblock laser cavity incorporates optical components for a short-pulse laser. These optical components are ‘locked’ into alignment forming an optical laser cavity for flash lamp or diode laser pumping. The optical laser cavity does not need further optical alignment upon fabrication. The improvements upon the original Monoblock design replaces the Cr:YAG Q-switch component with a MEMS scanner and replaces the Nd:YAG with Nd:YLF laser material.

Abstract: The compact Er:Yb:Glass Laser Cavity incorporates all optical components required for a short-pulse laser. These optical components are ‘locked’ into alignment forming an optical laser cavity for diode laser or flash lamp pumping. The optical laser cavity does not need optical alignment after it is fabricated. The improvement upon the original Er:Yb:Glass design replaces the Cobalt Spinel passive Q-switch component with a MEMS active Q-Switch component.

Abstract: A tunable laser light source having emission wavelengths in a visible or an adjoining spectral region includes a rotationally disposed laser substrate having more than one emission wavelength, a drive unit coupled to the laser substrate, a pulsed light source having a pulse transmitter, a trigger device, and a signal-delay unit. The trigger device, the signal-delay unit and the pulse transmitter are sequentially connected downstream of the drive unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a switchable dual wavelength solid state laser with a solid state gain medium (1) which is selected to emit optical radiation at a first wavelength with a first polarization and of at least a second wavelength with a second polarization different from said first polarization when optically or electrically pumped. A polarizing device (7) is arranged within the laser cavity, said polarizing device (7) being adjustable at least between said first and said second polarization. The two end mirrors (2, 3) of the laser cavity are designed to allow lasing of the solid state laser at the first wavelength when the polarizing device (7) is adjusted to the first polarization, and to allow lasing of the solid state laser at the second wavelength when the polarizing device (7) is adjusted to the second polarization. The proposed solid state laser allows an easy switching between two emission wavelengths.

Abstract: The invention relates to a laser system with a passively Q-switched laser 1, a spectrally widening element 3, and a compression element 4. Laser systems of this kind are utilized for generating ultra-short laser pulses. Systems, mode-coupled solid-state lasers known from prior art allow for generating laser pulses in the sub-10 ps range only with complicated and alignment-sensitive free-beam arrangements. Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to create a laser system that generates pulse durations of less than 10 ps and which is simple and compact to produce at the same time. In order to achieve this object, the present invention proposes that the passively Q-switched laser 1 is provided with a longitudinally monomode output radiation which is spectrally widened by means of the spectrally widening element 3 by self-phase modulation and is temporally compressed by the compression element 4.

Abstract: A controllable optical ring resonator, a photonic system and a method of controlling an optical ring resonator employ control electrodes periodically spaced apart along a closed loop optical path of an optical waveguide. The controllable optical ring resonator includes the optical waveguide and a plurality of the periodically spaced control electrodes. The photonic system includes an input optical waveguide segment and the controllable optical ring resonator adjacent and optically coupled to the segment. The method includes providing the plurality of periodically spaced control electrodes, providing an optical signal within the optical path, and addressing one or more of the control electrodes to interact with the optical signal within the optical path.

Abstract: A monoblock laser cavity incorporates optical components required for a short-pulse laser. These optical components are ‘locked’ into alignment forming an optical laser cavity for flash lamp or diode laser pumping. Optical alignment is not necessary after the optical laser cavity is fabricated. An exemplary Q-switched monoblock laser replaces the Cr:YAG Q-switch functionality with a MEMS scanner.

Abstract: To make it possible to use a type I nonlinear optical crystal or a quasi phase matching element as a third harmonic generation crystal there is provided a semiconductor laser, a solid state laser medium that outputs a fundamental wave, a second harmonic generation crystal that outputs a second harmonic wave from the fundamental wave, and a third harmonic generation crystal that outputs a third harmonic wave from the fundamental wave and the second harmonic wave. A quasi phase matching elements is utilized as the second harmonic generation crystal. It is possible to use a type I nonlinear optical crystal or a quasi phase matching element as the third harmonic generation crystal.

Abstract: In a method for operating an ignition device for an internal combustion engine, in particular of a motor vehicle, having a laser device which includes a laser-active solid having a passive Q-switching system as well as an optical amplifier connected downstream from the passive Q-switching system (46), the laser device generates a laser pulse for radiating into a combustion chamber, and the ignition device having a pump light source which provides a pump light for the laser-active solid and the optical amplifier (70) of the laser device. The energy of the laser pulse is controlled by varying a wavelength of the pump light.

Abstract: Disclosed is a laser device. The laser device includes a pulse generator which irradiates a laser beam between a high reflector mirror and an output coupler mirror to amplify and resonate the laser beam, a pulse output section which receives a laser beam pulse amplified and resonated through the output coupler mirror to output the laser beam pulse, and a Q switch which moves backward or forward in a direction perpendicular to a path of the laser beam formed between the pulse generator and the high reflector mirror. The output coupler mirror includes first and second mirrors provided on a base plate. Positions of the first and second mirrors are selectively changed as the Q switch moves backward or forward.

Abstract: The invention relates to a passively triggered microchip laser (1) formed by a cavity closed by an input mirror (4) and an output mirror (5), characterized in that the cavity includes deflection means (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) designed to deflect a light beam (14) between the input mirror (4) and the output mirror (5).

Abstract: A laser light source device includes a pump light source which emits transverse-multimode light; a plurality of resonator mirrors which define a resonator, at least part of the resonator mirrors outputting light to the outside, where the output light having plural wavelengths; a laser medium arranged in the resonator, the laser medium being pumped with the transverse-multimode light emitted from the pump light source; and a wavelength conversion element arranged in the resonator, the wavelength conversion element being irradiated with a transverse-multimode line beam of fundamental wave obtained by oscillation at the laser medium and outputting a line beam of converted wave.

Abstract: In a cavity-dumped, repetitively-pulsed, solid-state laser cavity dumping is protracted over a predetermined time longer than a round-trip time of the resonator of the laser. The cavity dumping is effected by a Pockels cell optical switch. During a dumping period a voltage applied to the Pockels cell falls in a predetermined time. Varying the voltage fall-time varies the duration of pulses provided by the laser, independent of the pulse-repetition frequency.

Abstract: A monoblock laser cavity incorporates optical components for a short-pulse laser. These optical components are ‘locked’ into alignment forming an optical laser cavity for flash lamp or diode laser pumping. The optical laser cavity does not need optical alignment after it is fabricated, increasing the brightness of the monoblock laser.

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: A laser device suitable for emitting pulses with a variable period and with stabilized energy includes: a resonant cavity including an amplifying medium presenting a stabilized gain G and suitable for emitting laser pulses at a wavelength ?, and a Q-switch, and a source of continuous pumping of the amplifying medium. It furthermore includes an injector positioned outside the resonant cavity, suitable for emitting a beam of wavelength ? into the amplifying material for the duration of the pumping, and which includes means for adjusting the power of this beam in order to reduce the gain of the amplifying medium to G/k, where k is a real number greater than 1.

Abstract: A device contains at least one wavelength-tunable multilayer interference reflector controlled by an applied voltage and at least one cavity. The stopband edge wavelength of the wavelength-tunable multilayer interference reflector is preferably electrooptically tuned using the quantum confined Stark effect in the vicinity of the cavity mode (or a composite cavity mode), resulting in a modulated transmittance of the multilayer interference reflector. A light-emitting medium is preferably introduced in the cavity or in one of the cavities permitting the optoelectronic device to work as an intensity-modulated light-emitting diode or diode laser by applying an injection current. The device preferably contains at least three electric contacts to apply forward or reverse bias and may operate as a vertical cavity surface-emitting light emitter or modulator or as an edge-emitting light emitter or modulator.

Abstract: Designs and techniques for constructing and operating femtosecond pulse lasers are provided. One example of a laser engine includes an oscillator that generates and outputs a beam of femtosecond seed pulses, a stretcher-compressor that stretches a duration of the seed pulses, and an amplifier that receives the stretched seed pulses, amplifies an amplitude of selected stretched seed pulses to create amplified stretched pulses, and outputs a laser beam of amplified stretched pulses back to the stretcher-compressor that compresses their duration and outputs a laser beam of femtosecond pulses. The amplifier includes a dispersion controller that compensates a dispersion of the amplified stretched pulses, making the repetition rate of the laser adjustable between procedures or according to the speed of scanning. The laser engine can be compact with a total optical path of less than 500 meters, and have a low number of optical elements, e.g. less than 50.

Abstract: The invention relates to a Q-switched laser comprised of a pump light source (1), an optical resonator accommodating a laser medium (6), and a passive Q-switch (5). It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved Q-switched laser which is of a simple and compact setup while having the least possible jitter of the repetition time. To achieve this target, the invention proposes that by means of a beam splitter (8) part of the light coupled out of the optical resonator is passed on to an optical delay line (9) and coupled back into the optical resonator upon having passed through the optical delay line (9).

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: A high power pulsed laser system is configured with at least two gain blocks and with at least one saturable absorber (SA) coupled to the output and input of the respective gain blocks. The SA is configured so that Qsat_sa<Qsat_gb, wherein Qsat_sa is a saturation energy of the SA, and Qsat_gb is a saturation energy of the gain blocks. The SA is further configured with a recovery time ?<1/f providing for the substantially closed state of the SA, wherein the f is a pulse repetition rate, and with the recovery time ? smaller than a round trip time Tround_trip=2*(L1+L2)*n/c, where L1, L2—lengths of the respective gains gain blocks, n—a refractive index of active media, c—a speed of light in vacuum.

Abstract: A laser display system and method that includes some or all of the following parts: an optical apparatus that includes two spatial light modulators and a laser, and switches the laser between the light modulators; two lasers that combine pulses to illuminate one spatial light modulator; controlling a laser Q-switch to stay in CW mode for variable periods of time to generate variable-amplitude pulses; and loading and resetting a digital micromirror device between pulses of light.

Abstract: An optical nose for detecting the presence of molecular contaminants in gaseous samples utilizes a tunable seed laser output in conjunction with a pulsed reference laser output to generate a mid-range IR laser output in the 2 to 20 micrometer range for use as a discriminating light source in a photo-acoustic gas analyzer.

Abstract: A system generates FIR laser radiation. An electron source generates an electron beam. A grating horn interacts with the electron beam to produce the FIR laser radiation. The grating horn may comprise a flat base and a pair of grating elements attached to the base, each of the grating elements being ruled with a grating period, the grating elements oriented in phase and in substantial symmetry about a normal to the flat base.

Abstract: A laser gain medium crystal comprising a square rod of laser gain medium material having top and bottom surfaces that are finely ground to introduce scattering surfaces to cancel parasitic lasing. The square rod of laser gain material has input and output faces and side surfaces, and portions of the side surfaces near the output face of the square rod are finely ground to introduce scattering surfaces to cancel parasitic lasing. The rest of the side surfaces of the square rod are polished.

Abstract: A diode-pumped solid state pulsed laser includes an intracavity nonlinear crystal for wavelength conversion by difference frequency mixing and a secondary resonant cavity containing an additional nonlinear crystal for parametric amplification. Primary and secondary cavities are capable of injection seeding and wavelength stabilization resulting in a very narrow, stable, and well defined spectral output. The combination of pump diode pulsing, the implementation of the intracavity parametric oscillator and parametric amplifier results in very efficient operation. Optical fiber coupled parametric oscillator byproduct light allows simple and non-invasive wavelength diagnostics and monitoring upon connection to an optical spectrum analyzer.

Abstract: A compact optically-pumped solid-state laser designed for efficient nonlinear intracavity frequency conversion into desired wavelengths using periodically poled nonlinear crystals. These crystals contain dopants such as MgO or ZnO and/or have a specified degree of stoichiometry that ensures high reliability. The laser includes a solid-state gain media chip, such as Nd:YVO4, which also provides polarization control of the laser; and a periodically poled nonlinear crystal chip such as PPMgOLN or PPZnOLT for efficient frequency doubling of the fundamental infrared laser beam into the visible wavelength range. The described designs are especially advantageous for obtaining low-cost green and blue laser sources. Also described design of the continuously operated laser with an electro-optic element for modulation of the intensity of the laser output at frequencies up to hundred of megahertz. Such modulation is desired for various applications, including compact projectors with high resolution.

Abstract: Systems and methods generate laser pulse trains for material processing. In one embodiment, stable laser pulse trains at high repetition rates are generated from a continuous wave (CW) or quasi-CW laser beams. One or more laser pulses in the laser pulse train may be shaped to control energy delivered to a target material. In another embodiment, multiple laser beams are distributed to multiple processing heads from a single laser pulse, CW laser beam, or quasi-CW laser beam. In one such embodiment, a single optical deflector distributes multiple laser beams among respective processing heads.

Abstract: A laser system includes a first laser diode configured to generate first light in a first direction along an optical path; a laser resonator having a gain medium, anisotropic saturable absorber, and a wavelength selective outcoupler positioned in the optical path upon which the first light impinges a first side thereof so as to pump the gain medium (first light from the first laser diode is absorbed in the gain medium), a second laser diode configured to generate second light in a second direction along the optical path toward a second side of the resonator, passes through the wavelength selective outcoupler unimpeded and is absorbed by the saturable absorber element, wherein the second light has a polarization corresponding to the orientation of the saturable absorber; the wavelength selective outcoupler is configured to only allow third light of a predetermined wavelength to have feedback in the laser resonator, achieve gain in the resonator, and be emitted from the laser resonator.

Abstract: A laser assembly and method of operating the assembly are described in which a pump beam is directed through an end-pumped solid-state laser gain medium four or more times. The pump beam is directed at a slight angle through a first end of the medium, reflects off the inner surface of the second, opposite end (to form a “V”), and then reflected by an external or integrated mirror back through the first end and off the inner surface of the opposite end again (back through the “V”).

Abstract: The configurations of an electro-optic Bragg deflector and the methods of using it as a laser Q-switch in a Q-switched laser and in a Q-switched wavelength-conversion laser are provided. As a first embodiment, the electro-optic Bragg deflector comprises an electrode-coated electro-optic material with one of a 1D and a 2D spatially modulated electro-optic coefficient. When a voltage is supplied to the electrodes, the electro-optic material behaves like a Bragg grating due to the electro-optically induced spatial modulation of the refractive index. The second embodiment relates to an actively Q-switched laser, wherein the electro-optic Bragg deflector functions as a laser Q-switch. The third embodiment of the present invention combines the Q-switched laser and a laser-wavelength converter to form a Q-switched wavelength-conversion laser, wherein the EO Bragg deflector can be monolithically integrated with a quasi-phase-matching wavelength converter in a fabrication process.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus and/or a system of laser marking of an interior cavity of a securing means of a substance container is disclosed. In one embodiment, a solid-state laser marking system to mark a securing means of a substance container includes a semiconductor laser to emit a pumping laser beam. The solid-state laser marking system also includes a resonator to create the laser beam that is then focused through a lens to mark the securing means of the substance container having a maximum diameter of 5 cm. Further, the solid-state laser marking system includes a solid-state laser crystal doped with a rare-earth element, to produce a laser beam in response to being pumped by the pumping laser beam and a laser resonator. The laser resonator is configured to focus the laser beam of a spot size of less than 150 microns and a beam quality of M2 less than 1.3.

Abstract: A laser device includes an outcoupling mirror, a laser medium, a phase-conjugate mirror based on stimulated Brillouin scattering, and an end mirror all arranged along an optical axis of the laser device. A controllable modulator is positioned between the phase-conjugate mirror and the end mirror. The outcoupling mirror and the end mirror form a start cavity. The outcoupling mirror and the phase-conjugate mirror form a main cavity.

Abstract: A device is provided for igniting a fuel-air mixture in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine with the aid of electromagnetic radiation, in particular light. The device includes at least two laser radiation sources, each having an optical resonator. The resonators are spatially oriented with respect to one another in such a way that modes of the laser radiation sources are coupled to one another and are able to generate time-shifted pulses of the electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: A pulsed light generator of the invention includes: an excitation light source; a fiber grating into which excitation light from the excitation light source enters; a rare-earth doped optical fiber optically coupled with the fiber grating, in which a rare-earth element is doped into a core, serving as an optical transmitting section; an optical switch including a deflection element for causing a Q-switching operation; a first optical fiber that causes light from the rare-earth doped optical fiber to enter into the optical switch; and a second optical fiber for waveguiding pulsed light output from the optical switch. One surface side of the optical switch, into which light enters, is subjected to anti-reflection treatment with a reflectance with respect to a wavelength of the pulsed light output from the optical switch being 0.1% or less.

Abstract: A two-resonator laser arrangement for provides visible-wavelength radiation by sum-frequency mixing two different wavelengths of radiation circulating in the resonators in an optically nonlinear crystal located in the resonators. One of the resonators includes a solid-state gain-medium providing of one the two wavelengths and the other resonator includes a semiconductor gain-medium providing the other of the two wavelengths. A very short excited-state lifetime of the semiconductor gain-medium provides that noise and instability commonly encountered in the output of prior-art intra-resonator frequency-converted lasers is substantially reduced.

Abstract: A pulsed laser for machining, has a mode switch, e.g. Q-switch device (15, 30, 40), in a resonant optical cavity (20) capable of supporting a given lasing mode, e.g. a transverse mode of oscillation when lasing action is started, arranged to induce, e.g. temporarily, a localized change, e.g. loss, in the cavity. The latter alters the given lasing mode, e.g. causes the oscillation to hop to a higher transverse mode temporarily, which on its hand may be extinguished by an aperture limiting diaphragm (5) or equivalent and subsequently reduce the induced loss temporarily, to return the oscillation to the given transverse mode and output the laser pulse. A modulator can be used for inducing the temporary loss for a first transverse lasing mode and extinguishing the higher transverse mode with a diaphragm. The induced loss can be over a localized area much smaller than the dimensions of a beam of the laser, so that a miniaturized modulator can be used. In this way pulsed operation may be achieved.

Abstract: An optical system includes a first gain medium configured to be excited by an energy source and in response generate a first optical signal having first and second wavelengths. A Q-switch is disposed adjacent to the first gain medium for generating a pulsed optical signal in response to receiving the first optical signal. A non-linear optical crystal is configured to output a second optical signal having a frequency based on difference frequency generation of the first and second wavelengths of the pulsed optical signal.

Abstract: A monoblock laser cavity incorporates optical components for a short-pulse laser. These optical components are ‘locked’ into alignment forming an optical laser cavity for flash lamp or diode laser pumping. The optical laser cavity does not need optical alignment after it is fabricated, increasing the brightness of the monoblock laser.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some implementations mode selection and wavelength tuning of optical parametric generation is achieved through intrinsic nonlinear crystal dispersion.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a high voltage switch which may comprise a chain of MOS field-effect transistors (MOSFETs). The current of the individual MOSFETS, and hence the chain, can be controlled by means of adding a current measuring resistance into the source path of the transistors and transmitting the voltage arising there via a capacitor to a gate connector of the transistors.

Abstract: A laser processes a workpiece with laser pulses delivered at random time intervals and at substantially constant energy levels by characterizing the laser cavity discharge behavior and utilizing that information for adjusting dummy pulse time periods to compensate for the energy errors. Dummy pulses are laser pulses that are blocked from reaching a workpiece. A second way for providing constant pulse energies employs an AOM for varying amounts of laser energy passed to the workpiece. A third way of providing constant pulse energies entails extending the pulse period of selected pulses to allow additional laser cavity charging time whenever a dummy pulse is initiated.

Abstract: A system and method for controllably chirping electromagnetic radiation from a radiation source includes an optical cavity arrangement. The optical cavity arrangement enables electromagnetic radiation to be produced with a substantially linear chirp rate and a configurable period. By selectively injecting electromagnetic radiation into the optical cavity, the electromagnetic radiation may be produced with a single resonant mode that is frequency shifted at the substantially linear chirp rate. Producing the electromagnetic radiation with a single resonant mode may increase the coherence length of the electromagnetic radiation, which may be advantageous when the electromagnetic radiation is implemented in various applications. For example, the electromagnetic radiation produced by the optical cavity arrangement may enhance a range, speed, accuracy, and/or other aspects of a laser radar system.

Abstract: A laser gain medium crystal comprising a square rod of laser gain medium material having top and bottom surfaces that are finely ground to introduce scattering surfaces to cancel parasitic lasing. The square rod of laser gain material has input and output faces and side surfaces, and portions of the side surfaces near the output face of the square rod are finely ground to introduce scattering surfaces to cancel parasitic lasing. The rest of the side surfaces of the square rod are polished.

Abstract: A pulsed CO2 laser is Q-switched by an intracavity acousto-optic (AO) Q-switch including an AO material transparent at a fundamental wavelength of the laser. In one example the AO material is germanium.

Abstract: In a method for operating a laser device, which has a laser-active solid having a passive Q-switch, the laser device is acted upon using pumping light in such a way that a specifiable curve over time of the inversion density comes about in the laser-active solid, as a result of which an especially precise control of the time behavior is achieved during the generation of passively Q-switched laser pulses.

Abstract: An intracavity resonant Fabry-Perot saturable absorber (R-FPSA) induces modelocking in a laser such as a fiber laser. An optical limiter such as a two photon absorber (TPA) can be used in conjunction with the R-FPSA, so that Q-switching is inhibited, resulting in laser output that is cw modelocked. By using both an R-FPSA and a TPA, the Q-switched modelocked behavior of a fiber laser is observed to evolve into cw modelocking.

Abstract: Geometrical design of laser microchips is disclosed that allows variation of the optical path length in the different media by simple displacement of the microchip, the movement having a non-zero projection orthogonal to the pump beam. The concept can be implemented to vary optical loss in the lasing cavity, the absorbed pump power, or the optical length of the cavity. Passively Q-switched microchip laser output performance can thus be controlled by simple transverse displacement of the microchip relative to the pump beam. The above microlaser can be combined with voltage-controlled variable-focus output optics in order to control the peak power density of the laser pulses.

Abstract: A mode-locked short pulse laser resonator including a pump laser beam input, a non-linear laser medium, a plurality of resonator mirrors as well as a first outcoupler mirror and a second outcoupler mirror, wherein the first outcoupler mirror is arranged for coupling out laser radiation having first spectral properties, and the second outcoupler mirror is arranged for coupling out laser radiation having second spectral properties which are different from the first spectral properties.