Abstract: A pulse width expansion apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a polarization beam splitter and a transfer optical system. The transfer optical system includes ¼-wavelength and reflection mirror pairs. The ¼-wavelength mirror pair include first and second ¼-wavelength mirrors. The first ¼-wavelength mirror provides ¼-wavelength phase shift and reflects a pulse laser beam. The second ¼-wavelength mirror provides ¼-wavelength phase shift and reflects the pulse laser beam reflected by the first ¼-wavelength mirror. The reflection mirror pair are disposed on an optical path before and after or between the ¼-wavelength mirror pair. The transfer optical system transfers an image of an input pulse laser beam on the polarization beam splitter to the optical path between the ¼-wavelength mirror pair at one-to-one magnification as a first transfer image and transfers the first transfer image to the polarization beam splitter at one-to-one magnification as a second transfer image.

Abstract: Methods and devices for an optical assembly for a laser generator comprise: a laser source producing a first beam of light and an optical assembly. The optical assembly comprises a prism. The prism has a bottom surface configured to receive a first beam at an incoming angle of incidence relative to a first surface normal, and a hypotenuse surface configured to transmit, at an exit angle relative to a second surface normal, a second beam having a second aspect ratio. The optical assembly further comprises a plano-convex lens configured to transmit the second beam to a coupler. The coupler comprises a first coupling plane at a first distance from the plano-convex lens and a second coupling plane at a second distance from the plano-convex lens. The combination of the prism and the plano-convex lens is configured to change the beam divergence, so that the first coupling plane has a third aspect ratio and the second coupling plane has a fourth aspect ratio.

Abstract: An optically computed optical coherence tomography (OC-OCT) technology is disclosed. The OC-OCT system performs depth resolved imaging by computing the Fourier transform of the interferometric spectra optically. The OC-OCT system modulates the interferometric spectra with Fourier basis function projected to a spatial light modulator and detects the modulated signal without spectral discrimination. The optical computation strategy enables volumetric OCT imaging without performing mechanical scanning and without the need for Fourier transform in a computer. OC-OCT performs Fourier transform signal processing optically, without the need of mechanical scanning, and before data acquisition unlike traditional OCT methods and systems. The scan-less OCT imaging is achieved through the use of spatial light modulator (SLM) that precisely manipulates light wave to generate output with desired amplitude and phase.

Abstract: A laser system includes a beam shaping unit, a random phase plate, and a collimating optical system in an optical path between a solid-state laser device and an excimer amplifier. When a traveling direction of a laser beam entering the excimer amplifier is a Z direction, a discharge direction of a pair of discharge electrodes is a V direction, a direction orthogonal to the V and Z directions is an H direction, a shaping direction of the beam shaping unit corresponding to the V direction is a first direction, a shaping direction of the beam shaping unit corresponding to the H direction is a second direction, an expansion rate in the first direction is E1, and an expansion rate in the second direction is E2, the beam shaping unit expands a beam section of the laser beam such that an expansion ratio defined by E2/E1 is lower than 1.

Abstract: A photoacoustic apparatus includes a laser light irradiating unit that irradiates an inside of a subject with pulsed light; a photoacoustic signal acquiring unit that acquires a photoacoustic signal from a photoacoustic wave from the subject; a light amount detecting unit that detects a light amount of the pulsed light; a correlation data memory that stores first correlation data and second correlation data; an energy estimating unit that estimates an energy on the basis of the amount of the pulsed light and the first correlation data; a pulse width estimating unit that estimates a pulse width on the basis of the estimated energy and the second correlation data; and a photoacoustic signal correcting unit that corrects the photoacoustic signal on the basis of a first difference between the estimated energy and a reference energy and a second difference between the estimated pulse width and a reference pulse width.

Abstract: A laser system includes a beam shaping unit, a random phase plate, and a collimating optical system in an optical path between a solid-state laser device and an excimer amplifier. When a traveling direction of a laser beam entering the excimer amplifier is a Z direction, a discharge direction of a pair of discharge electrodes is a V direction, a direction orthogonal to the V and Z directions is an H direction, a shaping direction of the beam shaping unit corresponding to the V direction is a first direction, a shaping direction of the beam shaping unit corresponding to the H direction is a second direction, an expansion rate in the first direction is E1, and an expansion rate in the second direction is E2, the beam shaping unit expands a beam section of the laser beam such that an expansion ratio defined by E2/E1 is higher than 1.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling laser firing timing and hence bandwidth in a laser capable of operating at any one of multiple repetition rates.

Abstract: A projector with a detection function according to the present disclosure includes: a projection optical system that projects image light on a projection plane; an irradiation optical system that generates an irradiation beam on the basis of light obtained from a light source, and outputs the irradiation beam, in which the irradiation beam is used for detection of a detection object on the projection plane, and the detection object is configured to be detected; an imaging device that scattered light of the irradiation beam derived from the detection object enters; and an illumination control section that performs temporal light-quantity modulation of the light obtained from the light source to cause coherence of the irradiation beam to be reduced.

Abstract: A method and a system for controlling an output of an optical system, the method comprising generating a plurality of optical signal components having different optical properties and passing the generated optical signal components as input to an optical system comprising an optical device and/or an optical medium; an output of the optical system being based on interactions of the signal components within the optical device and/or the optical medium; and relative proportions of the optical signal components that are generated and individual optical properties thereof being selected to control the output of the optical system.

Abstract: A laser device (100), being configured for generating laser pulses by Ken lens based mode locking, comprises a laser resonator (10) with a plurality of resonator mirrors (11.1, 11.2, 11.

Abstract: In methods and devices for generating a laser pulse of an excitation laser that is actuated by a driver in response to a triggering time of a trigger signal, the driver actuation signal is generated taking into account the time interval between the triggering time and a preceding triggering time.

Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to optical systems, and more particularly, optical systems for temporal compression or stretching of optical pulses.

Abstract: A sensing method for in-situ non-perturbing measurement of characteristics of laser beams at the exit of the laser beam delivery fiber tips include measuring power of a laser beam transmitted through delivery fiber tip in fiber-optics systems. A sensing devices for in-situ non-perturbing sensing and control of multiple characteristics of laser light transmitted through light delivery fiber tips includes a fiber-tip coupler comprised of a shell with enclosed delivery fiber having a specially designed angle-cleaved endcap and one or several tap fibers that are specially arranged and assembled at back side of the endcap and other variations. Methods and system architectures for in-situ non-perturbing control of characteristics of laser beams at the exit of the laser beam delivery fiber tips include fiber-tip couplers and sensing modules that receive laser light from tap fibers, and systems for optical processing to enhance light characteristics suitable for in-situ measurement.

Abstract: A laser module includes one or more connectors and a laser source. The one or more connectors are configured to receive electrical power from, and to output a light beam to, a panel of a system. The laser source is configured to (i) be powered by the electrical power, and (ii) produce the light beam using the electrical power. The one or more connectors and the laser source are detachable from the panel, and when detached from the panel, the laser source is not powered by the electrical power.

Abstract: Chirped pulse amplification (CPA) systems configured to generate and amplify multi-pulses are described. The nonlinear interaction of pulses can generate a multiple pulse pack with a dense time separation between pulses. Reducing or eliminating the nonlinear interaction can be provided by spectrally and/or temporally splitting pulses in the chirped amplification system.

Abstract: A tomographic imaging device includes a light source, a light pulse generator, a wave shaper, a splitter, a frequency shifter, a light path length changer, an optical detector, filters, a demodulator and an analyzer. The light pulse generator generates an optical pulse train from an output of the light source. The wave shaper modulates the optical pulse train by binary phase shift keying with PN codes. The splitter splits the pulse train into two signals, one is shifted by the frequency shifter, and one has a path length changed by the light path length changer. The optical detector inputs back scattered light from an object and the signal whose length has changed, and generates a difference signal. The filters filter the difference signals, and the demodulator demodulates the filter outputs. The analyzer calculates a reflection site of the measurement object by analyzing the output signal of the demodulator.

Abstract: The present application discloses a cavity dumped low repetition rate infrared tunable femtosecond laser source configured to produce pulses of 200 femtoseconds or less with a peak power of four megawatts or more for use in a variety of applications including multi-photon microscopy.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a video projection control apparatus, a video projection control method, a program, and a video projection apparatus that enable a more effective countermeasure against a speckle noise. A calculating part calculates projection signal data to project video using a laser beam as a light source, from video signal data, a correcting part applies, to the projection signal data, a correction process of shifting a wavelength of the laser beam for, for example, each frame of the video for projection, and a converting part converts the projection signal data into a driving current supplied to the laser light source. In addition, the laser light source has a property that the wavelength shifts in accordance with an emission intensity employed when the laser light is emitted. The present technique is applicable to, for example, a video projection apparatus that uses a laser beam as its light source.

Abstract: Disclosed is a laser system that includes a femtosecond oscillator, a regenerative amplifier for chirped pulse amplification of femtosecond laser pulses, and a compressor. The regenerative amplifier includes a plurality of positive Group Delay Dispersion (GDD) mirrors disposed within a cavity of the regenerative amplifier. The compressor receives amplified laser pulses from the regenerative amplifier.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry collects magnetic resonance data in accordance with a pulse sequence. The processing circuitry determines image quality based on the magnetic resonance data. The processing circuitry selects a re-collection pulse sequence when it is determined that the image quality does not satisfy criteria, the re-collection pulse sequence having at least one of a type of sequence or an imaging condition differing from that of the pulse sequence.

Abstract: A tissue treatment system includes an applicator connected with a base unit. The applicator includes a light source to generate light energy. A light guide directs the light energy to biological tissue and is configured to contact biological tissue. A thermoelectric cooler has a cold side and a hot side, with the cold side being associated with the light guide. A hot side plate is mounted to the hot side of the thermoelectric cooler. A first fluid passage is between the reservoir and the hot side plate to deliver cooling fluid over the hot side plate to chill the cold side of the thermoelectric cooler and cool the light guide and biological tissue. A second fluid passage is associated with the light source to direct cooling fluid to the light source prior to being returned to the reservoir. The first and second fluid passages define a single cooling fluid circulation loop.

Abstract: An ultrashort light pulse oscillated from an ultrashort pulse oscillator enters a waveguide (2) via a polarization control element (3). After conversion into a supercontinuum by a nonlinear optical effect, it is compressed by a prism pair compressor (71) as pulse compressor (7), and then emitted. The waveguide (2), which is a nonlinear fiber with normal dispersion in the wavelength range from 850 to 1550, generates the supercontinuum having a spectrum continuous in a wavelength band width of at least 200 nm included in the wavelength range from 850 to 1550 nm. The supercontinuum, which has a peak power within 1 to 100 kW, can be used as excitation light in a multiphoton excitation fluorescence microscope for fluorescence observation of biological samples.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus comprises a processing chamber defining a window for receiving a laser beam and an optical module. The optical module is removably-mountable to the processing chamber for delivering the laser beam through the window. The optical module contains optical components for focusing and steering the laser beam and a controlled atmosphere can be maintained within the module.

Abstract: Spectral filtering or shaping is applied to an imaging system of an aerial vehicle such as a UAV to ensure that the measurements between a camera system and an ambient light sensor system are proportional under all light conditions. The spectral filtering is applied so that the resulting spectral sensitivity curves of the ambient light sensor system and of the camera system are proportional to one another over a spectral region. Thereafter, it is determined if there is a difference between a target ambient lighting condition and a real-time ambient lighting condition collected by the ambient light sensor system when an image was obtained. If a difference exists, a color correction can be applied to the image. This results in more accurate color correction and more spectrally accurate and consistent images.

Abstract: A laser applying mechanism which has a laser oscillator adapted to oscillate a pulsed laser and to emit a linearly polarized pulsed laser beam. The laser applying mechanism includes: a polarization plane composing unit adapted to selectively synthesize a pulsed laser beam having a second polarization plane rotated by 90 degrees with respect to a pulsed laser beam having a first polarization plane which is emitted from the laser oscillator; an amplifier adapted to amplify a power of the pulsed laser beam composed by the polarization plane composing unit; and a pulsed laser beam extracting unit adapted to extract a pulsed laser beam having a polarization plane to be utilized, from among the pulsed laser beam having the first polarization plane and the pulsed laser beam having the second polarization plane which are contained in the pulsed laser beam amplified by the amplifier.

Abstract: A modulation pattern calculation apparatus includes an iterative Fourier transform unit, a filtering process unit, and a modulation pattern calculation unit. The iterative Fourier transform unit performs a Fourier transform on a waveform function including an intensity spectrum function and a phase spectrum function, performs a replacement of a temporal intensity waveform function based on a desired waveform after the Fourier transform and then performs an inverse Fourier transform, and performs a replacement to constrain the phase spectrum function after the inverse Fourier transform. The filtering process unit performs a filtering process of cutting a part exceeding a cutoff intensity for each wavelength, on the intensity spectrum function in a frequency domain.

Abstract: A monolithic integrated semiconductor random laser comprising substrate, lower confinement layer on the substrate, active layer on the lower confinement layer, upper confinement layer on the active layer, strip-shaped waveguide layer longitudinally made in middle of the upper confinement layer, P+ electrode layer divided into two segments and made on the waveguide layer and N+ electrode layer on a back face of the lower confinement layer, wherein the two segments correspond respectively to gain region and random feedback region. The random feedback region uses a doped waveguide to randomly feedback light emitted by the gain region and then generates random laser which is random in frequency and intensity. Further, the semiconductor laser is light, small, stable in performance and strong in integration.

Abstract: This invention provides an effective and rapid method of laser processing for separating semiconductor devices formed on hard and solid substrates (6) with a one pass process. The method is based on generating fractures along the scribing trajectory which extend deep into the bulk of a workpiece (6), wherein thermal stress is induced by delivering at least two processing (ultra short pulse) pulsed-beams (7), containing at least primary and secondary pulses. Primary pulses are used to generate a heat accumulated zone, which allows for more efficient absorption of the secondary pulses, which generate a sufficient heat gradient to produce mechanical failures, necessary for mechanically separating the workpiece (6) into separate pieces.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for optical frequency comb generation with self-generated optical harmonics in mode-locked lasers for detecting the carrier envelope offset frequency. The mode-locked laser outputs an optical frequency comb and a harmonic output. The harmonic output provides an optical heterodyne resulting in a detectable beat note. A carrier envelope offset frequency detector detects the beat note and generates an optical frequency comb signal. The signal can be used to stabilize the optical frequency comb output.

Abstract: Methods for making a material superwicking and/or superwetting (superhydrophyllic) involving creating one or more indentations in the surface of the material that have a micro-rough surface of protrusions, cavities, spheres, rods, or other irregularly shaped features having heights and/or widths on the order of 0.5 to 100 microns and the micro-rough surface having a nano-rough surface of protrusions, cavities, spheres, rods, and other irregularly shaped features having heights and/or widths on the order of 1 to 500 nanometers. Superwicking and/or superwetting materials having micro-rough and nano-rough surface indentations, including metals, glass, enamel, polymers, semiconductors, and others.

Abstract: A solid-state laser system includes: a first solid-state laser device configured to output a first pulse laser beam; a second solid-state laser device configured to output a second pulse laser beam; a first non-linear crystal disposed on a first optical path and configured to convert the first and second pulse laser beams into a third pulse laser beam and output the third pulse laser beam; and a second non-linear crystal disposed on a second optical path and configured to convert the second and third pulse laser beams into a fourth pulse laser beam and output the fourth pulse laser beam. The second pulse laser beam is incident on the second non-linear crystal at a first timing before the first non-linear crystal. Residual light of the second pulse laser beam is incident on the first non-linear crystal at a second timing later than the first timing.

Abstract: Methods and devices for an optical assembly for a laser generator comprise: a laser source producing a first beam of light and an optical assembly. The optical assembly comprises a prism. The prism has a bottom surface configured to receive a first beam at an incoming angle of incidence relative to a first surface normal, and a hypotenuse surface configured to transmit, at an exit angle relative to a second surface normal, a second beam having a second aspect ratio. The optical assembly further comprises a plano-convex lens configured to transmit the second beam to a coupler. The coupler comprises a first coupling plane at a first distance from the plano-convex lens and a second coupling plane at a second distance from the plano-convex lens. The combination of the prism and the plano-convex lens is configured to change the beam divergence, so that the first coupling plane has a third aspect ratio and the second coupling plane has a fourth aspect ratio.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to the use of medical devices for the treatment of vascular conditions. In particular, the present disclosure provides devices and methods for using laser-induced pressure waves to disrupt vascular occlusions. The present disclosure not only provides devices and methods for using laser-induced pressure waves to disrupt vascular occlusions or portions thereof, but the present disclosure also provides devices and methods for disrupting calcium in the media and/or intima layer of an arterial wall.

Abstract: A laser beam generation apparatus includes a light source section including a plurality of seed lasers each emitting laser light, an optical amplification section disposed to face the seed lasers of the light source section and configured to amplify the laser light emitted from the seed lasers and received at an incidence surface to output the amplified laser light from an emission surface, and a plurality of light-guiding paths configured to guide the laser light emitted by the seed lasers to enter the incidence surface of the optical amplification section, wherein at least one of the plurality of light-guiding paths has an optical distance different from optical distances of other light-guiding paths, wherein the optical amplification section is configured to combine the laser light from the plurality of light-guiding paths and output the combined laser light as a laser beam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a modulator system adapted to generate high voltage pulses suitable for supply across a high voltage load having a thermionic cathode, such as a magnetron. The modulator system comprises a high voltage DC PSU connected to a switching mechanism adapted to generate high voltage pulses from the high voltage DC PSU for application to a thermionic cathode of a high voltage load. The modulator system further comprises an isolation transformer; a heater PSU adapted to be connected to a cathode heater through the isolation transformer and to provide an AC current thereto.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of: preparing a semiconductor substrate including a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer; and irradiating the semiconductor substrate with laser light from the first semiconductor layer side to divide the semiconductor substrate into individual semiconductor chips. The first semiconductor layer includes a semiconductor material transparent to the laser light. The second semiconductor layer includes a semiconductor material opaque to the laser light. In the step of irradiating with the laser light, laser light having intensity that makes the semiconductor material of the first semiconductor layer opaque to the laser light is irradiated.

Abstract: Online calibration of laser performance as a function of the repetition rate at which the laser is operated is disclosed. The calibration can be periodic and carried out during a scheduled during a non-exposure period. Various criteria can be used to automatically select the repetition rates that result in reliable in-spec performance. The reliable values of repetition rates are then made available to the scanner as allowed values and the laser/scanner system is then permitted to use those allowed repetition rates.

Abstract: A method and apparatus estimating direct current bias of an optical modulator and a receiver. The method includes: performing signal processing to obtain a phase noise compensated signal, extracting a receiving signal component based on the phase noise compensated signal, removing the receiving signal component from the phase noise compensated signal, and calculating a received signal power based on the signal with the receiving signal component being removed. The method includes calculating a direct current bias of the optical modulator based on the receiving signal component, the received signal power and a drive signal power of the optical modulator.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to produce a step function with a designed transition (rise and/or fall) time on the order of <10 ns that reaches steady state by implementing a system that sums a number of currents at different rise times (frequencies) to generate the step function. The system also includes a passive output filter, composed of low resistance, inductance and very low capacitance to mitigate overshoot and high frequency noise.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a apparatus and method for measuring a waveform of a light wave. A light wave measurement apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a pulse separation unit to separate an input light wave into a fundamental pulse and a signal pulse, a time delay adjustment unit to adjust a time delay between the fundamental pulse and the signal pulse, a focusing unit to focus the fundamental pulse and the signal pulse whose time delay is adjusted on an ionization material, and an ionization yield measurement unit to measure an ionization yield from electrons and/or ions generated by the focused fundamental pulse and signal pulse. The waveform of the input light wave is obtained by obtaining an ionization yield modulation changed by the signal pulse as a function of the time delay.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods and systems in which idle tones are added at an ingress and terminated at an egress of a given fiberoptic communication link between ROADM nodes. An equalization process can be performed across the spectrum of available wavelength channels and then a determination can be made of a number of channels that can be added or dropped at a given time that meet a maximum threshold for change in power of the channels in the available wavelength. As channels without information-carrying signals are filled with idle tones, the stability of the optical system can be improved as there is less variability in power change when all of the channels have a substantially similar nominal power and a signal on one or more of those channels are added or removed.

Abstract: A laser polycrystallization apparatus including: a light source for emitting a laser beam; a diffraction grating for receiving the laser beam from the light source, changing a path and a magnitude of the received laser beam, and outputting the changed laser beam; a light split portion for splitting the laser beam received from the diffraction grating; and a light superposition portion for superposing the split laser beams received from the light split portion and irradiating the superposed split laser beams to a substrate. An angle between the laser beam irradiated to an incidence surface of the diffraction grating from the light source and a line substantially perpendicular to an emission surface of the diffraction grating is an acute angle.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the controlled generation of bubbles in a medium having a liquid phase are generally provided. Laser pulses having a time-dependent pulse parameter controllable over their duration are generated. The medium is irradiated with the laser pulses with a radiant exposure sufficient to initiate microcavitation within the medium during each laser pulse. The time-dependent pulse parameter of each laser pulse is controlled according to a generally positive variation over the pulse duration such that the medium absorbs a greater quantity of energy from the laser pulse at an end of the pulse duration than at a beginning thereof. Such methods and systems may be used for various applications such as biology, medicine or material processing.

Abstract: The laser system includes a first laser apparatus, a second laser apparatus, a charging voltage measuring unit configured to measure the charging voltage of the first storage capacitor and the charging voltage of the second storage capacitor, at least one bleeding circuit configured to reduce the charging voltage of the first storage capacitor and the charging voltage of the second storage capacitor, and a bleeding circuit controller configured to control the at least one bleeding circuit based on the voltage measured by the charging voltage measuring unit.

Abstract: A method includes acquiring a pulse detection bitmap from an imaging sensor array into a digital read out integrated circuit (DROIC), filtering the pulse detection bitmap within the DROIC to convert the pulse detection bitmap into a filtered pulse detection bitmap, and determining for a given pixel in the filtered pulse detection bitmap whether the pixel has a value that exceeds a threshold, indicating a true laser pulse return has been detected in the pixel.

Abstract: A device comprising a master clock configured to produce a pulse sequence having a wideband light signal of approximately 800 nanometers or red visible wavelength of a predetermined amplitude. The device comprises X laser amplifiers along a common optical path each amplifier being triggered by a burst of X pulses with high-peak power and high-average power. The X laser amplifiers receive the pulse sequence of the master clock and sequentially amplifying the pulse sequence wherein a last laser amplifier of the X laser amplifiers produces an amplified pulse sequence. A compressor is configured to compress the amplified pulse sequence to produce a laser signal having a sequence of directed energy (DE) pulses each DE pulse having a pulse width in a femtosecond range to induce when striking a solid surface of a target object transient electric fields in a microwave frequency range. A system and method are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a laser pulse delay system and a laser annealing system. The laser pulse delay system comprises: a beam splitter, a first reflective unit and a delay unit. The beam splitter is configured to split a laser beam emitted by a laser into a first beam and a second beam, such that the first beam is transmitted to the first reflective unit and the second beam is transmitted to the delay unit. The first reflective unit is configured to reflect the first beam it receives, such that the reflected first beam is transmitted to a component to be irradiated. The delay unit is configured to delay the second beam it receives, such that the delayed second beam is transmitted to the component to be irradiated.

Abstract: A light source assembly includes a housing assembly and at least two sets of disparate light sources that are coupled to the housing assembly. The sets of disparate light sources include a first plurality of disparate light sources; and a second plurality of disparate light sources. Each plurality of disparate light sources includes a first light source that generates a first light beam having a first center wavelength and a second light source that generates a second light beam having a second center wavelength that is different than the first center wavelength. The first plurality of disparate light sources generates a first output beam that is directed along a first central beam axis. The second plurality of disparate light sources generates a second output beam that is directed along a second central beam axis that is spaced apart from the first central beam axis by at least approximately sixty degrees.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to the use of medical devices for the treatment of vascular conditions. In particular, the present disclosure provides devices and methods for using laser-induced pressure waves to disrupt vascular blockages. The present disclosure not only provides devices and methods for using laser-induced pressure waves to disrupt vascular blockages, but the present disclosure also provides devices and method for assisting the guidewire in penetrating an occlusion, devices and method for using a sealable valve in the tip of the balloon catheter to reduce the overall size and diameter of the balloon catheter, thereby allowing the balloon catheter to penetrate smaller size blood vessels and devices and method that use stationary light absorbing material in lieu of and/or in combination of using liquid medium that flows into a balloon for a balloon catheter.

Abstract: The inventive system for crystallizing an amorphous silicon (a-Si) film is configured with a quasi-continuous wave fiber laser source operative to emit a film irradiating pulsed beam. The fiber laser source is operative to emit a plurality of non-repetitive pulses incident on the a-Si. In particular, the fiber laser is operative to emit multiple discrete packets of film irradiating light at a burst repetition rate (BRR), and a plurality of pulses within each packet emitted at a pulse repetition rate (PRR) which is higher than the BRR. The pulse energy, pulse duration of each pulse and the PRR are controlled so that each packet has a desired packet temporal power profile (W/cm2) and packet energy sufficient to provide transformation of a-Si to polysilicon (p-Si) at each location of the film which is exposed to at least one packets.