Abstract: An improved shared aperture sampler for high power laser beams includes a buried mirror positioned behind a dichroic reflective surface that reflects the high power beam and permits the sample beam to pass through and to be focused or deflected by the buried mirror.

Abstract: A laser beam focussed on a moving surface, e.g. of a rolling mill, is modulated by means of a rotating disk with through-orifices. The radial lateral faces of the orifices have, relative to the axis of the laser beam, angles of inclination which are different from each other; this difference in inclination is such that the laser beam deviated by one of the radial lateral faces is then reflected by the opposite radial lateral face towards the zone of the surface which is struck by the laser beam passing, without being deviated, through the orifice. The difference in inclination may be between 15.degree. and 30.degree.. The lateral faces of the through-orifices may be lined with a reflective material.

Abstract: A laser device includes a multipass resonator which has, in the beam path between two resonator end mirrors, at least two opposite beam folding mirrors with confronting mirror surfaces. At least one of the beam folding mirrors is limited in its width and at least one has a beam discharge area. To produce a low-order laser mode, preferably a 00 mode, the mirror surface of at least one beam folding mirror has its reflectivity dimishished in the region outside of the desired modes of radiation.

Abstract: A reflection filter is disposed on a solid state laser so as to preferentially reflect TE or TM modes and to suppress oscillation within the resonator of the non-reflected modes. In one embodiment, the filter includes a layer having a plurality of grooves which may be straight and parallel or curved to approximate the mode shape. In another embodiment, the filter includes a polarization sensitive film, without grooves, which either absorbs or transmits the undesired mode. Specifically described is a buried heterostructure semiconductor DFB laser with such a reflection filter formed on at least one facet thereof.

Abstract: A lasing medium (3) and a Raman medium (20) share a common optical cavity. The lasing medium (3) projects laser light into the Raman medium (20) and, when a threshold intensity within the Raman medium is reached, the Raman medium absorbs the laser light and re-radiates coherent light at a shifted frequency. Optical elements within the system provide an optical cavity for the lasing medium and a second cavity for the Raman medium.

Abstract: A solid state gain medium is disposed between two mirrors to form a resonant cavity, the cavity length selected so that the gain bandwidth of the gain medium is less than the frequency separation of the cavity modes. By selecting this cavity length, only a single longitudinal mode will oscillate when the laser operates in a single transverse mode. The microlaser is optically pumped by any appropriate source such as a semiconductor injection laser or laser array. Suitable gain media are Nd:YAG and Nd pentaphosphate.

Abstract: An optical receiver particularly suited for use in a noisy environment, the receiver includes an optical gain device for amplifying an input signal to produce an amplified input signal, a photodetector, and a mode selector. The optical gain device includes an optical gain medium, an optical input port through which the input signal may be received into the optical gain medium, and an optical output port through which an optical output signal may leave the optical gain medium. The output signal includes the amplified input signal, plus any noise generated within the optical gain device. The input and output ports include antireflection means. In a preferred embodiment, the mode selector comprises a single mode fiber-optic cable that transmits a single spatial mode of the output signal to the photodetector.

Abstract: In a transverse-pumped, solid-state laser, a nonabsorptive cladding surrounds a gain medium. A single transverse mode, namely the TEM.sub.00 mode, is provided. The TEM.sub.00 mode has a cross-sectional diameter greater than a transverse dimension of the gain medium but less than a transverse dimension of the cladding. The required size of the gain medium is minimized while a threshold for laser output is lowered.

Abstract: A laser resonator has a semitransparent outlet mirror and a first mirror, with an active element between the mirrors, all the elements arranged perpendicular to the optical axis of the resonator. A shutter is provided behind the first mirror and a second mirror is arranged behind the shutter, perpendicular to the optical axis of the resonator. The second mirror is fully reflective for radiation with stronger laser transition and the first mirror is fully reflective for radiation with weaker laser transition and fully penetrable for radiation with stronger transition. The resonator can change frequency simply by opening or closing the shutter. It can be advantageously used, for example, in the design and construction of laser scalpels.

Abstract: An optical resonator for a laser includes an optical element mounted for rotation about two mutually transverse axes and controllable by a computer for automatically adjusting the orientation of the optical element.

Abstract: The external resonator type semiconductor laser of the present invention includes a semiconductor laser element, a reflection member having a reflecting mirror surface for feeding back to the laser element a laser beam emitted from an emitting end surface of the semiconductor laser element, and a mount member for fixedly mounting the laser element and reflection member thereon. The coefficient of linear expansion of the mount member is adapted to be smaller than the coefficient of linear expansion of the semiconductor laser element and reflection member so that the distance between the emitting surface and the reflecting surface (i.e. the external resonator length) decreases with a rise in temperature.

Abstract: Specification of an etalon included in a multimode, narrow-band oscillation excimer laster used as a light source for light exposure in photolithography are set to satisfy a relation S.lambda.W.lambda.R.lambda. (u,v)d.lambda..gtoreq..alpha., where .alpha. is an optical transfer function necessary for light exposure of resist according to a reticle pattern, R.lambda.(u,v) is an optical transfer function of monochromatic light for an illuminating system and a reduced-projection lens, W.lambda. is a weight which is applied to a waveform of a power spectrum in an oscillation laser beam at a wavelength .lambda.. Further, an inclination angle .lambda. of the etalon in its normal direction with respect to an optical axis when the etalon is provided between the chamber and rear mirror is set to satisfy a relation .theta.>tan.sup.

Abstract: A Raman laser (10) is provided using a pump laser (22) as a source of radiation at a first wavelength and a Raman cell (30) for converting the first wavelength radiation to a second wavelength. The pump laser (20) provides polarized radiation at a predetermined first wavelength which is focused by a focusing means (40) into a Raman medium (32) which converts radiation at the first wavelength to a predetermined second wavelength by Raman scattering processes. A reflection means (50) which is aligned normal to the first wavelength radiation is disposed between the pump laser (20) and focusing means (40). The reflection means is substantially 100% reflective of radiation at the second wavelength and substantially non-reflective of radiation at the first wavelength.

Abstract: The present invention provides layered devices to control the spatial and spectral distribution of energy in optical beams, particularly high-intensity laser beams. These devices include improved versions of prior art thin-film (vacuum-deposited) interference filters, rugate structure anti-reflection coatings, Q-switches, pulse shapers, modulators, optical bistable devices and the like. Control is provided using materials with large second and third order susceptibilities to electric field polarization and, if necessary, means to apply appropriate electric fields.

Abstract: A coupled waveguide injection laser is provided with two waveguiding ridges (36,37 or 60,61) that are configured such that the coupling between them produces a first order supermode for which a signal current modulation produces optical amplitude modulation with substantially no attendant frequency modulation. In a related structure the configuration affords the facility of providing for the zero order supermode optical frequency modulation with substantially no attendant amplitude modulation.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser device comprising a multi-layered semiconductor crystal containing an active region for laser oscillation, wherein the extended portions of said active region which are adjacent to both sides of one facet having the width of a selected value of said device constitute light-absorbing regions by which light in a high-order transverse mode is absorbed to a greater extent than that in a fundamental transverse mode, thereby achieving laser oscillation in a stable fundamental transverse mode up to a high output power.

Abstract: This invention relates to a laser apparatus having a gain medium disposed along an optical path between a first and second reflector, with the first one being a phase conjugate reflector. The second reflector comprises an SBS medium for generating a moving grating, but without forming an SBS mirror. An output coupling means is positioned between the gain medium and the second, non-phase conjugate, reflector for providing a beam of output radiation. A third reflection means is positioned in the optical path of the laser output beam for intercepting and reflecting a predetermined percentage of the output radiation. This reflected radiation is directed to the back or non-medium side of the second reflector by a fourth reflection means. The fourth reflection means receives radiation from the third reflection means and directs it into the second (SBS) reflector along an optical path toward the laser medium that is substantially parallel to the first optical path of the laser.

Abstract: A microlaser comprises a solid state gain medium, such as YLF or YAG, positioned end to end with a mode selector etalon formed by a fused silica flat, the end of which is adjacent to a planar end of the gain medium is coated with a thin film of nichrome and the other end of which is coated with a multilayer-dielectric partially-transmissive reflector. The other end of the gain medium is curved and coated to be reflective of the laser light and transmissive of the pump light which enters through such end. The thin nichrome film is designed to absorb unwanted modes which have an electric field component at such film while a wanted mode has a null at such film in their standing wave patterns. By substituting birefringent crystalline quartz for the fused-silica, there may be derived emission at two longitudinal modes whose polarization vectors are orthogonal and whose wavelengths are slightly different.

Abstract: High-power, single transverse mode laser operation is achieved in an extended-cavity structure by combining a semiconductor gain medium having a large optical cavity together with a length of single mode optical fiber between first and second reflector surfaces. The first reflector surface is formed on an end facet of the semiconductor gain medium; the second reflector surface is formed on an end of the optical fiber. Output power is efficiently coupled from the fiber end of the extended-cavity laser to a standard transmission medium.

Abstract: A dynamically one-mode semiconductor laser having a laser diode with a coupled external resonator includes a resonator mirror disposed opposite a light emitting face of the laser diode and a collimation optics between the diode and the resonator mirror. The collimation optics includes a refractive hemispherical micro-lens having flat side applied to the resonator mirror which is manufactured by fusing a small drop of glass onto the resonator mirror.

Abstract: A laser beam generating device that can vary its output by mechanical means. The laser output can selectively be chopped by selectively moving a chopping wheel into the path of the laser beam, whereby full power is obtained without the chopper and reduced power is obtained with the chopper.

Abstract: Disclosed is a laser apparatus and a related method for use with a laser medium of a type which emits a beam of coherent laser energy having both low and high order modes. End reflectors are provided for reflecting at least a portion of the energy in the beam back through the laser medium, and positive and negative lens elements are positioned on opposing sides of the lasing medium so that discrimination against the higher order modes is achieved by non-linearly amplifying the reflected beam portion passing through the lasing medium.

Abstract: A phase-locked semiconductor laser array in which the phase of oscillation of alternate laser elements is adjusted externally to the laser cavity. A phase plate having parallel ribs of tapered thickness is positioned in close proximity to the emitting facet of a laser array, and is adjusted in position until the ribs are registered with alternate laser elements, and the thickness presented to the emitted laser beams is sufficient to cause a phase change of 180 degrees. After light from the array has passed through the phase plate, the entire set of beams is in phase and produces a practically single-lobed far-field pattern.

Abstract: For operating a laser at different wavelengths, at least one of the two mirrors of the oscillator is subdivided into two or more regions with different spectral reflectivity, where each region reflects only one of the emission wavelengths of the laser medium and is largely permeable for the remaining emission wavelengths. Each such region can be inserted separately into the ray path of the laser.

Abstract: A seeded electro-optically Q-switches laser includes a pulser for pulsing the Q-switch within the seeded laser. The Q-switch pulser includes a pulse-shaping network having a saturable core inductor connected in series with the flow of current to the Q-switch for causing the developed pulse voltage waveform in Q-switch to have an initially reduced rate of change to reduce unwanted Fourier frequency components of the seed optical radiation in the optical resonator of the slave laser, whereby enhanced single-mode operation of the slave laser is obtained with reduced seed power.

Abstract: A printer having holographic scanning disc for scanning the imaging beam from a laser diode across a recording member, the diode having diode biasing and modulating current inputs for modulating the diode and thereby exposing and creating images on the recording member, a heating-cooling device in heat exchange relation with the diode for controlling diode temperatures, and a current sensor for monitoring the diode biasing and modulating currents and operating the heating-cooling device to adjust diode temperatures to maintain diode temperatures within a non-mode hopping temperature range.

Abstract: A diode pumped Nd:YAG laser is disclosed. The YAG rod is coated on its ends to define an optical resonator containing the YAG rod. The YAG rod is made sufficiently short, i.e., 1 mm, so that it will support only two axial resonant (lasing) modes. The rod is transversely stressed to polarize the two original modes and to excite a third lasing mode orthogonally polarized to the first two modes. The third mode is separated from the first two modes to provide stable, single mode TEM.sub.001 output. The transverse stress is applied by means of a spring clamp made of a material, Be-Cu, having a low temperature coefficient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser system that has an optical resonator, a laser medium included in the optical resonator, a pumping device for exciting the laser medium, and a device for tuning the laser action. The tuning device includes an optically aberrated lens element located in the optical resonator. The profile of the laser beam is determined by the focal length of the central rays and abberation parameter of the abberated lens element.

Abstract: A device for guiding an electron beam from an electron gun to a microwave resonator in a microwave source operating according to the gyrotron principle, including a beam duct for guiding the electron beam, wherein the beam duct encloses the electron beam and has an electrically highly conductive surface area. For damping unwanted wave modes inside the beam duct, a plurality of damping openings are provided in the surface area of the beam duct. The characteristic aperture size (a) of the damping openings is larger than the wavelength of the modes to be damped. A particularly simple implementation employs wire mesh with an appropriate mesh size used as the material for the surface area of the beam duct.

Abstract: A laser which discriminates against a high gain transition in laser materials allowing a low gain transition to oscillate is provided by using more than two mirrors in the laser cavity which are highly reflective at the frequency of the high gain transition.

Abstract: The present invention deals with an optical transmission filter for effecting differential phase delay upon light in a beam polarized in a P dimension, as a function of position within the filter aperture. The filter employs two lenses of birefringent material, the crystal optic axes of the respective lens materials being oriented in mutually orthogonal positions and at a 45.degree. angle to the P dimension. The lenses have their adjacent surfaces respectively concave and convex with the same radius of curvature and their non-adjacent surfaces flat.The phase response of the filter is a function of the radial distance of a beam element from the filter axis with spherical lenses and a function of a linear coordinate distance from the filter axis with cylindrical lenses. A two-part construction for one lens, which permits adjustment of the difference in center thicknesses between the two lenses, allows adjustment of the differential phase delay with respect to a spacial reference.

Abstract: A high power single spatial mode semiconductor laser provides strong lateral index guiding to maintain single transverse mode output and yet has a large cavity area. The large cavity area provides low series resistance, low thermal resistance, and lower operating current densities and photon densities than can be achieved by conventional cavity designs. The result is a laser which can operate at high output power at a single transverse mode. In the plane of the p-n junction, the active layer has a cross-section including a waveguide section of width between 1-2 microns which provides lateral mode stability and discrimination against high order transverse modes with a directly adjacent amplifier section consisting of a layer of about 5-20 microns width and several hundred microns in length. Due to the large cross section area of the amplifier section, the majority of the current flows through the amplifier section where most of the heat is generated.

Abstract: An apparatus for amplifying a laser beam through injection locking of a laser array by a single master laser is presented. The apparatus is comprised of a master laser which produces a beam that is shaped or focused onto a laser array facet which is further comprised of an array junction plane wherein the laser array is biased above threshold.

Abstract: An optical square wave multivibrator includes a semiconductor laser that operates near the polarization transition temperature in a pure TM mode at low injection currents and switches operation to a pure TE mode at high injection currents, and vice versa. Near such temperature, the semiconductor laser experiences large hysteresis loops with high contrast ratio in its polarization-resolved power vs current characteristic while total power exhibits only slight change in hysteresis. The switching behavior of the TE mode is complementary to that of the TM mode. The laser is biased within the hysteresis loops. A current pulse applied in one direction to the laser causes it to provide a TE mode laser output, whereas a current pulse applied in the other direction causes the laser to provide a TM mode laser output.

Abstract: An injection laser fabricated in accordance with the teachings of the present invention comprises a laser cavity having first and second active laser regions disposed in tandem therein, means for injecting current into the first and second active laser regions to provide gain distributions over wavelength regions in the two active laser regions which partially overlap to form a combined gain distribution over a range of wavelengths and means for providing wavelength within the range. In various embodiments of the present invention, the means for providing wavelength selective reflector or means for coupling energy out of the active regions. Moreover, the wavelength of the output radiation in various embodiments is determined by the values of the injected current density in the two active laser regions and the relative magnitudes of the loss at specific wavelengths.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an injection laser which advantageously suppresses mode-partition-noise. The laser comprises a laser cavity with a gain or active material and means for providing a small amplitude wavelength selective loss. In one embodiment of the present invention the means for providing a small amplitude loss is a wavelength selective reflector.

Abstract: The power output of a gas laser is maximized by (1) suppressing high order transverse modes, (2) broadening the gain curve to increase the number of axial modes that can lase in a given length of cavity and to thereby reduce power variation due to longitudinal mode sweeping resulting from thermal effects on cavity length, (3) suppressing unwanted infrared lasing activity, and (4) reducing beating noise resulting from frequency offset due to dispersion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a single-mode laser provided with a folded optical resonator, comprising a laser rod 1, resonator mirrors 3A, 3B deposited by evaporation on a single mirror plate 3, a stop 6 provided with two separate apertures 6A, 6B which are overlapped by the laser rod 1 when they are viewed along it and which are located so that the rays traversing the aperture 6A or 6B towards the resonator mirrors 3A, 3B, respectively, completely impinge only on the high reflecting resonator mirror 3A or on the semitransparent resonator mirror 3B, a foil Q-switch 5 and a reversing prism 4.The device according to the invention is compact, of moderate price and is provided with a dynamically stable optical resonator, it generating single-mode laser pulses with a divergence below 2 mrad, but with an energy about 15 mJ and with a width about 10 nsec.The device according to the invention is intended for use e.g. in ophthalmology or elsewhere where the laser pulses characterized above are required.

Abstract: Disclosed is a distributed feedback semiconductor laser provided with a grating which effects optical feedback by means of periodic corrugation disposed inside an optical resonator. The optical resonator has at least two regions having different bragg wavelength, and these regions are arranged longitudinally in the direction of an optical axis. The laser device can realize stable single longitudinal mode oscillation.

Abstract: An extended laser sensor including a laser with an opticla gain lasing medium optically coupled to an optical resonant cavity including reference and sensor arms. Optical path length variations in the sensor arm induced by an incident physical field modulate the operating parameters of the laser. The field is sensed by monitoring these modulated operating parameters.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an injection laser which advantageously suppresses mode-partition-noise. The laser comprises a laser cavity with a gain or active material and means for providing a small amplitude wavelength selective loss. In one embodiment of the present invention the means for providing a small amplitude loss is a wavelength selective reflector.

Abstract: A distributed feedback semiconductor laser which has periodic corrugations formed in a layer adjoining a light emitting layer so as to extend in the direction of travel of light and performs laser oscillation by the injection of current into the light emitting layer, in which a part of at least one metal electrode has a TM mode suppressing region disposed at a position where light is essentially distributed in the thickwise direction of the laser. A window region formed of a semiconductor larger in energy gap than the light emitting layer is disposed at both ends of the laser oscillation region in the direction of travel of light, the length of the window region being limited so that no substantial reflection occurs therein.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an injection laser which advantageously reduces main mode output power fluctuation. The laser comprises a laser cavity having an active material joined at one end to a passive waveguide. The passive waveguide has a length which is equal to or greater than the length of the active material and an index of refraction which is substantially equal to that of the active material to prevent multicavity interference. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the passive material is fabricated from a semiconductor material having a bandgap which is larger in energy than the energy of a photon in the laser radiation.

Abstract: Laser devices being capable of calling freely any desired mode out of a variety of irradiation modes stored beforehead and of reproducing the mode quickly. Specifically, such devices in which a variety of working condition parameters, such as laser output, irradiation time and pulse width, etc., are stored as one set beforehand in a memory within the laser device, and an operator can call a particular mode as the case demands so as to operate the device in a desired state instantly. And further, such devices in which the working condition parameters stored in the said memory can freely be eliminated and changed.

Abstract: In an optical system such as a ring laser gyroscope cavity, oscillations occur in many transverse modes. The desired modes are allowed to exist by suppressing undesired modes utilizing a light stop apparatus. One light stop is made by treating a dielectric mirror with an electron beam causing a phase change to occur to the undesired reflected waves. An alternative light stop is made by depositing an absorptive material on a dielectric mirror for absorbing some of the energy of the undesired modes. Both light stop embodiments are adjustable with respect to a laser wave in a resonant cavity.

Abstract: Semiconductor lasers having cleaved optically coupled cavities operating electrically isolated produce output of a single longitudinal mode. Wavelength tuning of the single longitudinal mode is possible.

Abstract: Control circuits stabilize and maintain coupled-cavity lasers in a single longitudinal mode. The laser is electrically connected and mutually and optically coupled to a control means responsive to a light output signal from the laser for controlling the laser by generating a control signal to the laser to produce single longitudinal mode output. The single mode output is maintained even during high speed modulation in which the current or ambient conditions vary.

Abstract: Method and means are disclosed for rapidly tuning a laser over a large number of wavelengths. The means of the present invention includes first and second reflecting means which define the optical resonating cavity of a laser, and further includes a dispersive means adapted to sequentially select and direct one and only one of the wavelengths of light from the beam emitted by a laser's amplifying medium along a path back through the laser's amplifying medium as one of the reflecting means is continuously rotated. One embodiment of the present invention forms the rotating reflecting means as a faceted polygonal solid with at least one face thereof being a Littrow reflective grating. A pulsed laser is adapted to tune to a different wavelength of light each time some or all of the grating faces of the polygonal solid are rotated to intercept the longitudinal axis of the laser.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved gas laser which includes an elongated cylindrical chamber of cross-sectional dimension which has an internal cylindrical wall and which is suitable for confining a laser gas discharge. The internal cylindrical wall has a plurality of grooves extruded on its internal wall surface. A laser gas is disposed in the elongated cylindrical chamber. A pair of reflectors reflect light energy from the laser gas discharge within the elongated cylindrical chamber so that the light energy travels longitudinally the length of the elongated cylindrical chamber and is optically independent of the internal walls of the elongated cylindrical chamber. The improved gas laser also includes a pair of electrode plates which excite the laser gas and an rf generator which applies a voltage between the pair of electrode plates in order to establish a laser gas discharge in said laser gas. The plurality of grooves provide optical mode control.

Abstract: Described is an internally mode stabilized injection laser. Stabilization is obtained in a coupled cavity structure where one cavity is passive. The passive cavity is a high efficiency waveguide with dimensions chosen to suppress unwanted modes.