Abstract: A method for operating an ignition device for an internal combustion engine, particularly of a motor vehicle, having a laser device which has a laser-active solid that has a passive Q-switch. The duration of a pumping light pulse that is applied to the laser device is selected as a function of a specifiable number of laser pulses that is to be generated using the laser device.

Abstract: A monolithic passively Q switched microlaser includes an optically transparent heat conductive element bonded to a gain medium, which is in turn bonded to a saturable absorber, which may also be bonded to a second optically transparent heat conductive element. Only the gain medium and saturable absorber are disposed within the laser resonator.

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: A laser system according to the invention comprises pump generating means (x02, x03) for generating at least a first and a second, preferably focused, pump beam, and lasing means (x06, x07) for emitting radiation by being appropriately pumped. The lasing means (x06, x07) is disposed in a first resonator so as to receive the first pump beam in order to generate a first beam (x21) having a first frequency, and the lasing means (x06, x07) is disposed in a second resonator so as to receive the second pump beam in order to generate a second beam (x22) having a second frequency. At least one Q-switch (x08; x17, x18) is disposed in the first and the second resonator, so that the first beam and the second beam both pass a Q-switch (x08; x17, x18). The laser system (x01) has an output (x13) generated from said first beam (x21) and said second beam (x22), and at least a part of said output (x13) is fed back to a regulation system (x14), said regulation system (x14) controlling said pump generating means (x02, x03).

Abstract: An ignition device for an internal combustion engine includes at least one pump light source which supplies a pump light. In addition, a laser device is provided which generates a laser pulse for emission into a combustion chamber. A light guide device transmits the pump light from the pump light source to the laser device. Finally, a laser-active solid body, a passive Q-switch, an incoupling mirror, and an output mirror of the laser device are arranged as one integrated monolithic part.

Abstract: A laser comprising: a first reflector and a second reflector defining a first resonator cavity; a third reflector defining a second resonator cavity with the first reflector; a laser material disposed such that it is located in both the first and the second resonator cavities, the laser material being capable of generating at least a first and a second wavelength of laser light when pumped by pump radiation from a pump source located external to the first and second resonator cavities; wherein the first reflector is adapted to reflect the first wavelength of laser light into the first resonator cavity and the third reflector is adapted to reflect the second wavelength of laser light into the second resonator cavity.

Abstract: A compact and efficient ultraviolet laser source based on a optically-pumped solid-state or fiber laser that produces near-infrared output light suitable for nonlinear frequency conversion. The infrared laser output is frequency tripled or quadrupled to produce light in the ultraviolet wavelength range (200 nm to 400 nm). The novel technology is the use of highly efficient periodically poled nonlinear crystals, such as stoichiometric and MgO-doped lithium tantalate and lithium niobate. As opposed to conventional frequency-converted UV laser sources, which have high power consumption, high cost, and low efficiency, the laser sources of this invention utilize high efficiency nonlinear conversion provided by periodically poled materials and allow lower-cost architectures without additional focusing lenses, high power pump diodes, etc.

Abstract: A system and method for generating ultraviolet laser radiation by pumping a ruby based active laser medium in a second complex laser cavity with an output from a first complex laser cavity. The laser system includes a first complex optical cavity a second complex optical cavity, an output from the first complex optical cavity at a second harmonic of the first fundamental frequency pumps a ruby based active medium of the second complex optical cavity. In some embodiments, the ruby based active medium can be Cr:Al2O3 type ruby.

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: 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 laser controlling method can generate laser of stable laser pulses, and eliminate useless time from a machining procedure. The method uses a gain medium and a Q-switch, and emits exciting light to the gain medium, thereby setting the Q-switch in a continuous oscillation mode, and prepares a given Q-switch pause time before a laser pulse is generated. When the continuous oscillation is kept going longer than a given time, the control method sets a Q-switch pause time for obtaining a first laser pulse to be different from a Q-switch pause time for obtaining a second laser pulse and onward.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for switching an unpolarized pulsed laser is disclosed. An example is a laser system having a source for producing input energy in response to an input drive signal. A laser medium is provided for receiving the input energy and converting the input energy to a circulating beam which is reflected between an output mirror and a reflective mirror disposed on opposing sides of the laser medium. A displacer is disposed between the mirrors and in a path of the circulating beam. The displacer splits the circulating beam into an e-polarized wave and an o-polarized wave. A Pockels cell is disposed between the displacer and the reflective mirror. The Pockels cell is energized to change the phase of the polarized waves and deenergized to allow transmission of the waves without a phase change.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for applying laser energy having desired pulse characteristics, including a sufficiently short duration and/or a sufficiently high energy for the photomechanical treatment of skin pigmentations and pigmented lesions, both naturally-occurring (e.g., birthmarks), as well as artificial (e.g., tattoos). The laser energy may be generated with an apparatus having a resonator with the capability of switching between a modelocked pulse operating mode and an amplification operating mode. The operating modes are carried out through the application of a time-dependent bias voltage, having waveforms as described herein, to an electro-optical device (e.g., a Pockels cell) positioned along the optical axis of the resonator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser oscillation method for effectively suppressing fluctuations in pulse widths. The laser oscillation method oscillates a pulsed beam in a laser that comprises pumping means, a resonator, Q-switching means and a controller. The pumping means continuously supplies pumping light to a gain medium, which is arranged on the resonating optical path of the resonator and generates emission light by being supplied with pumping energy. The Q-switching means modulates the resonator losses of the resonator. The controller controls an extinction ratio of Q-switching means to a value that has been selected in accordance with the frequency of repeat use in the pulsed beam such that fluctuations in the full width at half maximum of a pulsed beam outputted from the laser are within a prescribed range of the region of frequency of repeat use used by the Q-switching means.

Abstract: A narrow linewidth injection-seeded Q-switched fiber ring laser based on a low-SBS optical fiber. High peak powers are achieved through the use of a single-clad erbium doped fiber with an acoustic waveguide. 12.5 ?J per pulse (250ns pulse width) is achieved before a weakened form of stimulated Brillouin scattering appears. This laser has the potential to scale to very high power in a low-SBS dual clad fiber.

Abstract: In the case where, e.g., because of provision of a high-gain and high-energy Q-switched laser oscillator in a laser system in a MOPA configuration, the duration ?z from the time point when oscillation-stage Q switches (13a and 13b) start the gate ON to the time point when a pulse laser beam (18) starts to grow is shorter than the fall time ?f of amplification-stage Q switches (13c, 13d, and 13e), by implementing control in such a way that the gate-ON timing of the oscillation-stage Q switches (13a and 13b) lag behind the gate-ON timing of the amplification-stage Q switches (13c, 13d, and 13e) by a predetermined time, the loss in the pulse laser beam (18) at the amplification-stage Q switches (13c, 13d, and 13e) can be prevented, while the gain deterioration due to a spontaneously amplified ray (17) produced in the amplification stage is being suppressed. Therefore, a high-energy pulse laser beam can efficiently be obtained.

Abstract: It is an object to enable easily adjusting a focus position for coping with thermal lens effects. There is provided a laser-light scanning portion including a Z-axis scanner capable of adjusting the focus position of laser light in the direction of the optical axis, an X-axis scanner and a Y-axis scanner. Further, there are provided a laser driving control portion for controlling a laser oscillation portion and the laser-light scanning portion, a processing-condition setting portion for setting a laser-light outputting condition and a processing pattern as processing conditions for processing in a desired processing pattern, and an amount-of-correction identification section for identifying, as an amount of focus-position correction, the deviation of the focus position in the direction of the optical axis which is caused by thermal lens effects induced based on the laser-light outputting condition set by the processing-condition setting portion.

Abstract: Optical devices including waveguide grating structures are described. In accordance with one embodiment, an optical device is provided comprising a horizontal waveguide grating structure having at least one waveguiding layer and at least one subwavelength periodic grating layer. The optical device further comprises upper and lower cladding layers immediately adjoining respective upper and lower surfaces of the waveguide grating structure and having refractive indices lower than a lowest-index one of the waveguiding layers, incident radiation propagating through one of the upper and lower cladding layers toward the waveguide grating structure. The waveguide grating structure is configured for peak reflection of the incident radiation at a peak reflection frequency. A cumulative thickness of the waveguiding layers is less than one tenth of a free space wavelength of the incident radiation at the peak reflection frequency divided by an average refractive index of the waveguiding layers.

Abstract: In a solid-state laser device, a single outer casing (1) having an approximately sealed structure is included; a single or a plurality of inner casings (2) are provided inside the outer casing (1); in some or all of the inner casings (2), an air cleaning unit (4) is included in which the air within the outer casing (1) is made clean and supplied into the inner casings (2); inside the outer casing (1), there disposed are a laser light-source (5, 6, 7) having a solid-state laser medium (501) and a light resonator, and an optical system (10, 11, 901) that transmits or interrupts a laser beam (8) emitted from the laser light-source; in addition, the laser light-source (5, 6, 7) and the optical system (10, 11, 901) or part of them are contained inside the inner casings (2); thus, in a simple, compact and inexpensive configuration, it is possible to prevent degradation of optical components and dew condensation thereon, and to stably supply a laser beam.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides a laser oscillation apparatus in which a control circuit can be simplified to variably control a Q switch pulse width with low cost and a controlling method thereof. A laser oscillation apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a laser oscillator head, a Q switch pulse width setting circuit, an LD current control circuit, an LD driver, an RF amplitude control circuit, and an RF driver. The laser oscillator head includes an internal AOQ-SW element, and an excitation LD. The LD current control circuit and the LD driver controls a current applied to excitation LD such that the current becomes not more than a laser oscillation threshold in synchronization with timing when an optical resonator of the laser oscillator head oscillates one-time or plural-time Q switch pulse.

Abstract: A dual-cavity single longitudinal mode (SLM) laser oscillator generates a pulsed laser signal having a long pulsewidth, long coherence length, and good shot-to-shot energy stability. The laser oscillator has a first cavity between an output coupler and a rear mirror and a second cavity between the output coupler and an intra-cavity mirror disposed between the output coupler and rear mirror. High-loss cavity optics and a passive Q-switch achieve a very high number of round trips that reduce the number of cavity modes down to two or three. The dual cavity design further discriminates between the remaining modes and allows SLM operation. The laser oscillator and an amplifier can be used as a pump laser for a laser system that generates red, green, and blue pulses for holographic recording. A wavelength conversion stage uses optical parametric amplifier(s), doubling crystals, and sum-frequency mixers to produce RGB light from the pump pulses.

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 system for laser amplification includes a dual-crystal Pockels cell which is used to control emission of laser pulses from an ultra-fast laser. The Pockels cell is constructed to enable adjustment of the rotational orientation of one crystal relative to the other crystal. The rotational orientation of one or both crystals in the Pockels cell is adjusted to control sidebands in the laser pulse.

Abstract: A laser annealing apparatus comprises a laser oscillator having a Q switching action, one or a plurality of partially reflective mirrors for split a laser beam emitted from the laser oscillator into a plurality of laser beams, a plurality of optical fibers which respectively transmit the plurality of laser beams split by the partially reflective mirrors, and whose respective emission ends are arranged linearly in one direction, a first optical system for synthesizing and homogenizing the plurality of laser beams emitted from the optical fibers, and a second optical system for focusing the laser beam emitted from the first optical system on the work piece surface as a rectangular laser beam whose beam shape is long in the lateral direction and short in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: For performing hologram recording or reproduction, an oscillation wavelength half value width ?? of a coherent light source 21 satisfies a relationship of ??<?2/(S×2 sin ?), when a substantial hologram size is S, a substantial cross angle between reference light and signal light is ?, and the oscillation wavelength of the coherent light source is ?. Even when stray light is generated, the coherent light source 21 can suppress generation of an unnecessary interference fringe due to the stray light, and stably record and reproduce holograms.

Abstract: The invention relates to an internal combustion engine with a laser ignition device (1), Q-switched, pumped solid-state laser with a pulsed pumped light source (30), a solid laser crystal (2), enclosed in a resonator, a Q-switch (4), for increasing the power density, at least one output mirror (6) and a focussing device (7), by means of which the laser beam (26) may be focussed in a combustion chamber.

Abstract: A vertical external cavity surface emitting laser (VECSEL) having an improved mirror that forms an external cavity to modulate an emitted laser beam and display apparatus employing the same are provided. The VECSEL includes: a pumping light source; a laser chip that is excited by a pump beam emitted by the pumping light source to emit a laser beam of a predetermined wavelength; a folding mirror that is separated from the laser chip and is obliquely disposed relative to an axis of incident light emitted by the laser chip and converts the propagation path of an incident laser beam; a movable mirror unit facing the folding mirror and rotates so as to selectively reflect a laser beam reflected from the folding mirror to the folding mirror.

Abstract: Multiple laser resonators share a common acousto-optic Q-switch. The Q-switch is driven by a radio-frequency (RF) transducer that causes an acoustic wave to propagate in the Q-switch. Turning off the RF transducer discontinues propagation of the acoustic wave and causes each of the laser resonators to deliver an optical pulse. The finite velocity of the acoustic wave causes the pulses to be delivered temporally spaced apart.

Abstract: A laser controlling method can generate laser of stable laser pulses, and eliminate useless time from a machining procedure. The method uses a gain medium and a Q-switch, and emits exciting light to the gain medium, thereby setting the Q-switch in a continuous oscillation mode, and prepares a given Q-switch pause time before a laser pulse is generated. When the continuous oscillation is kept going longer than a given time, the control method sets a Q-switch pause time for obtaining a first laser pulse to be different from a Q-switch pause time for obtaining a second laser pulse and onward.

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.

Abstract: A passive Q-switch for a laser system, and a method for its production. The laser is operative at near infrared wavelength region, including the eye-safe region. The Q-switch includes a saturable absorber based on IV-VI semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs), embedded in a polymer matrix. The NCs preferably include lead selenide, lead sulfide, or lead selenide sulfide. The NCs may be surface passivated, and may feature a PbSe/PbS core-shell configuration.

Abstract: A laser system comprises a source, a laser medium, first and second mirrors, a Q-switch, and a control system. The source produces input energy. The laser medium converts the input energy to an output beam. The first and second mirrors are disposed on opposing sides of the laser medium. The output beam reflects between the first and second mirrors. The first mirror is an output mirror for releasing a pulsed laser beam having an energy level. The Q-switch is made of material that has an alterable optical property in response to a Q-switch input signal. The control system selectively varies the Q-switch input signal to control the energy level of the pulsed laser beam. A first Q-switch input signal produces a pulsed laser beam for a plurality of pulses at a maximum power level, while a second Q-switch input signal produces a pulsed laser beam at an intermediate power level.

Abstract: A monolithic pumped laser cavity design is disclosed. Elements of the laser cavity, such as gain material, Q-switch, reflector, and outcoupler, are contact bonded together with a thermally conductive epoxy. The assembly is then operatively coupled to a heat sink (e.g., by mechanical or chemical means). The assembly is potted in thermally conductive potting material. The stacked elements or a subset thereof may be bonded to heat sink mounts and/or face cooling layers. In this fashion, various elements can be easily assembled and bonded together to provide the desired combination of laser energy, pulse width, and repetition frequency. The thermally conductive potting material provides structural integrity, as well as thermal management by extracting heat from the encased assembly to the heat sink. The optional heat sink mounts and face cooling operate to further extract heat and reduce thermal loading. Outcoupling to fiber may also be provided.

Abstract: A system for producing a laser light pulse is disclosed. The system includes a travelling wave or ring laser incorporating a gain medium with polarizing means for introducing substantially polarized radiation having a first polarization state into the travelling wave laser and output coupling means to substantially output couple radiation having an output polarization state from the travelling wave laser. The system further includes polarization changing means incorporated into the optical path of the travelling wave laser for changing the polarization of radiation having the first polarization state to a seeding polarization state, wherein radiation with the seeding polarization state seeds the gain medium, and radiation intensity modulation means for modulating the intensity of radiation in the travelling wave laser to vary the feedback of radiation into the gain medium, wherein the radiation intensity modulation means also modulates the radiation with respect to the output coupling means.

Abstract: A method for preventing spatial or spectral beam seeding in a Q-switched laser is described. The Q-switch trigger of the laser is delayed by several laser resonator lifetimes after the end of the pump pulse. In this way, beam seeding is completely eliminated whilst pre-lase is maintained. The method described may be used for any laser system where the fall time of the pump radiation is sufficiently fast with respect to the upper state lifetime of the laser medium.

Abstract: A laser system for hard body tissue ablation has a pumped laser, wherein the laser system is operated in pulsed operation with several individual pulses of a temporally limited pulse length and wherein the individual pulses follow one another with temporal pulse spacing. The pumped laser has an inversion population remaining time, the inversion population remaining time being the time within which, in the absence of pumping, the remaining inversion population of the laser energy status is reduced by 90%. The pulse spacing is in the range of ?50 ?s and ? to the inversion population remaining time.

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: A Q-modulated semiconductor laser comprises an optical gain section and an electro-absorptive modulator section, separated by a vertically etched air gap acting as a partially reflecting mirror. The modulator section is placed inside an anti-resonant Fabry-Perot cavity and acts as the rear reflector of the laser. The change of the absorption coefficient in the modulator section results in a change in the Q-factor of the laser, and consequently the lasing threshold and output power. Different embodiments are disclosed, which involve a distributed feedback (DFB) laser, a Fabry-Perot laser, a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) laser, or a wavelength switchable multi-cavity laser. The integrated Q-modulated laser has advantages of high speed, high extinction ratio, low wavelength chirp and low cost.

Abstract: An apparatus for treatment of dental tissue has a first laser source optically connected to a first channel and the same first laser source optically connected to a second channel. The second laser source is optically connected to the first channel. That second laser source is designed to be pumped via the first channel by the diode laser to generate a power of radiation sufficient to cut hard dental tissue. The second channel is connected to a device for treatment of soft dental tissue and is designed to transmit radiation from the diode laser sufficient for treating soft dental tissue. In that apparatus the first laser source can be a diode laser designed to emit radiation of a wavelength selected from a range of 700 nm to 2700 nm. The second laser source can be a solid-state or fiber laser designed to emit a wavelength from a range of 2700 nm to 3000 nm.

Abstract: A monolithic passively Q switched microlaser includes an optically transparent heat conductive element bonded to a gain medium, which is in turn bonded to a saturable absorber, which may also be bonded to a second optically transparent heat conductive element. Only the gain medium and saturable absorber are disposed within the laser resonator.

Abstract: A Q-switched laser system is disclosed. The laser system employs a quasi-phase-matched electro-optic (QPM EO) crystal as the laser Q-switch. When applied with a certain modulating electric field, the QPM EO crystal can function as a polarization rotator to rotate the polarization direction of the resonant laser beam in a polarization-dependent laser resonator, thereby switching the laser resonator between high-loss and low-loss cavity states to achieve laser Q-switching. Compared with traditional electro-optic Q-switched laser system, the disclosed laser system is characterized by a low switching-voltage, reduced cost, and compactness. A quasi-phase-matched electro-optically Q-switched wavelength-conversion and wavelength-tunable laser system is also disclosed. The disclosed laser system integrates a QPM electro-optic Q-switch and a QPM nonlinear wavelength converter in a single crystal substrate to perform a high-efficiency intracavity wavelength conversion.

Abstract: Solid-state lasers pumped by incoherent or partially coherent, monochromatic light sources such as high power VCSEL arrays. Efficient and uniform injection of pumping energy into gain medium is achieved through spectral match of the pump source with the gain medium absorption and multi-bounce reflections of unabsorbed pump light in a diffusing pump chamber. One preferred embodiment of the diffusing pump chamber is a hollow cylinder coaxially surrounding the gain medium. One or more transparent windows, slit-shaped or otherwise, for transmission of pump light are evenly distributed around the perimeter of the chamber and are parallel to the axis. Another preferred embodiment of the diffusing pump chamber is a highly reflecting compound parabolic concentrator. A 2-D VCSEL array is employed as the pump source and the gain medium is located at the focusing point of the chamber.

Abstract: A monoblock laser cavity includes a plurality of discrete optical components disposed serially on a substrate and sharing a common optical axis. The optical components include a laser rod of gain material, a Q-switch, an OPO crystal, an output coupler, and a positive lens. The output coupler has a convex input end face and a concave output end face, and acts as the expanding lens element of a beam expander, and the positive lens completes the beam expander to improve the beam quality.

Abstract: A monoblock laser cavity includes a plurality of discrete optical components disposed serially on a substrate and sharing a common optical axis. The optical components include a laser rod of gain material, a Q-switch, an OPO crystal, and an output coupler. The output coupler has at least one convex end face to improve the beam quality.

Abstract: A monoblock laser cavity includes a plurality of discrete optical components disposed serially on a substrate and sharing a common optical axis. The optical components include a laser rod of gain material, a Q-switch, an OPO crystal, an output coupler, and a positive lens. The output coupler has a convex input end face and a concave output end face, and acts as the expanding lens element of a beam expander, and the positive lens completes the beam expander to improve the beam quality.

Abstract: A laser spark distribution and ignition system that reduces the high power optical requirements for use in a laser ignition and distribution system allowing for the use of optical fibers for delivering the low peak energy pumping pulses to a laser amplifier or laser oscillator. An optical distributor distributes and delivers optical pumping energy from an optical pumping source to multiple combustion chambers incorporating laser oscillators or laser amplifiers for inducing a laser spark within a combustion chamber. The optical distributor preferably includes a single rotating mirror or lens which deflects the optical pumping energy from the axis of rotation and into a plurality of distinct optical fibers each connected to a respective laser media or amplifier coupled to an associated combustion chamber. The laser spark generators preferably produce a high peak power laser spark, from a single low power pulse.

Abstract: A simultaneously mode-locked, Q-switched laser is configured to prevent loss of mode lock during laser operation. A preferred embodiment prevents loss of mode lock by operating the laser between the Q-switched pulses with a residual level of laser power sufficient to maintain a mode-locked state. The residual laser power output can be blocked by a pulse picking device.

Abstract: A Q-switched all-fiber laser utilizes a long period fibre grating (LPFG) modulator. The LPFG modulator is characterized by optical spectral characteristics that are controlled by application of stress via an actuator. In particular, the actuator applies stress to selected sections of the LPFG in order to modulate a light signal at a specified wavelength. Further, a controller is utilized to control the application of stress in the time domain, and thereby switch the Q-factor of the fiber laser cavity. In addition to the LPFG, the laser cavity comprises a pair of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) and a fiber gain medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a light source apparatus having a structure to enable a short pulse optical output with high pulse energy or a high pulse peak equivalent to that of a Q switch laser light source. The light source apparatus comprises a seed light source, a pre-stage optical amplifier, a subsequent-stage optical amplifier, and a control section. After the pulse light outputted from the seed light source is amplified by the pre-stage optical amplifier, the pulse light is amplified further by the subsequent-stage optical amplifier. In the subsequent-stage optical amplifier, a ring-type resonator is constituted by an optical coupler, an optical coupler, an optical amplification waveguide, an optical isolator, an optical coupler, an optical waveguide, a lens, a Q switch, a lens, and an optical waveguide that are disposed sequentially on the propagation path of the pulse light.

Abstract: A laser-induced optical wiring apparatus is provided wherein optical wiring is realized by digital operations of a laser oscillator. The apparatus includes optical ring resonator formed of a loop-shaped optical waveguide on substrate. At least two optical gain sections are provided on the optical ring resonator. When each optical gain section is activated, a laser oscillator including the optical ring resonator and optical gain sections is enabled to oscillate. In this state, the gain of at least one of the optical gain sections is changed in accordance with an input signal, thereby changing the optical route gain of the optical ring resonator to change the oscillation state of the laser oscillator. A change in the laser oscillation state is detected by the optical gain section other than the at least one optical gain section, whereby an output signal is acquired.