Abstract: A method of tuning the time duration of laser output pulses, the method including spectrally dispersing optical pulses and further comprising providing an optical pulse having a time duration and a spectral bandwidth; spectrally dispersing (243, 245) the optical pulse so as to provide a selected change in the time duration of the pulse responsive to the spectral band-width of the pulse; outputting (226) an optical output pulse having a first time duration that is responsive to the selected change in time duration; providing another optical pulse; changing the amount of spectral bandwidth of the another optical pulse (272) to be different than that of the optical pulse or changing the amount of spectral dispersion so that spectrally dispersing the another optical pulse provides a change in time duration that is different than the selected change; and outputting (226) another optical output pulse having a second time duration that is responsive to the different change in time duration, the second time duration

Abstract: A photonic generator is provided. The photonic generator uses ultra-wide band millimeter wave (MMW) for generating a high-power ultra-broad band white noise. Thus, the present disclosure can be used for failure detection of instantaneous all-band device, noise detection of instantaneous all-band amplifier and mixer, wide-band cipher transmission, pseudo-random bit generation, ADC dithering of analog-digital converter, saturation power test of wide-band optical communicator, system noise detection of MMW receiver, and gain and phase detection of MMW interferometer.

Abstract: This invention discloses a high spectral brightness laser generating device and a method thereof, which comprises a laser generator, a dispersion-increasing fiber. The laser generator generates a first laser pulse. The dispersion-increasing fiber is coupled to the laser generator. The first laser pulse becomes a second laser pulse by passing through the dispersion-increasing fiber. The bandwidth of the second laser pulse is narrower than that of the first laser pulse. The unit brightness of the second laser pulse is higher than that of the first laser pulse.

Abstract: A laser adjustment system can include an adjustable seed-beam restrictor, configured to be attachable to a stretcher-compressor in a transverse-adjustable manner, and to restrict an incidence of a seed beam, generated by an oscillator, on the stretcher-compressor, wherein the stretcher-compressor is configured to be integrated into a chirped pulse amplification laser engine, and to stretch a duration of seed pulses of the seed beam.

Abstract: Pulsed light source comprising pulse generation means (1), such as an optical oscillator, whose output is divided into three arms: two arms (3, 4) to generate a CEP-stable, ultrabroadband idler output; and a third arm (5) to generate a narrowband pump output. The pump output and idler output seed an OPCPA (13), generating stable ultrashort pulses.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating pulses of laser radiation at higher repetition rates than those of available excimer lasers are disclosed that use multiple electronic triggers for multiple laser units and arrange the timings of the different triggers with successive delays, each delay being a fraction of the interval between two successive pulses of a single laser unit. Methods and systems for exposing nanoscale patterns using such high-repetition-rate lasers are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for obtaining high-energy, high repetition rate laser pulses simultaneously using continuous wave (CW) amplifiers is described. The method provides for generating micro-joule level energy in pico-second laser pulses at Mega-hertz repetition rates.

Abstract: A method of stabilizing a carrier envelope phase of laser pulses generated with a laser device, comprising the steps of generating laser pulses with a seed laser unit, amplifying the laser pulses with an amplifier unit, generating an amplifier output signal derived from the laser pulses amplified with the amplifier unit, and controlling the carrier envelope phase of the laser pulses with an amplifier loop based on the amplifier output signal, wherein the controlling step comprises a step of adjusting an optical path of the amplifier unit in dependence on the amplifier output signal, wherein the adjusting step comprises introducing a dispersive material into the optical path of the amplifier unit. Furthermore, a stabilizing device for stabilizing a carrier envelope phase of laser pulses and a laser device including at least one stabilizing device are described.

Abstract: A laser and amplifier combination delivers a sequence of optical pulses. Pulses from the laser are temporally stretched by a pulse stretcher before amplification and temporally compressed by a pulse compressed after amplification. The pulse stretcher includes a diffraction grating on which pulses being compressed are incident. An arrangement is provided for measuring the carrier-envelope phase of the pulses and adjusting the incidence angle of pulses on the grating cooperative with the measurement such that the carrier envelope phase of the pulses in the sequence is about constant.

Abstract: An exposure device includes: a light source (LS) which emits a pulse light; and a variable shaped mask (8) which has a plurality of aligned micro movable mirrors and forms an arbitrary pattern by selectively changing the operation state of the movable mirrors. A substrate (P) is exposed to the light emitted from the light source and passes through the variable shaped mask. The exposure device further includes a control device (100) which controls the operation timing to change the operation state of the movable mirrors and the pulse application timing of the pulse light emitted from the light source so that they are synchronized.

Abstract: A method of controlling a wavelength-tunable laser selecting an oscillation wavelength with a combination of a plurality of wavelength selection portions of which wavelength peak is different from each other, comprising: a first step of confirming a control direction of the wavelength selection portion in a case where a setting value is changed from a first setting value for achieving the first wavelength to a second setting value for achieving the second wavelength; a second step of setting a setting value that is shifted from the second setting value in a direction that is opposite of a pre-determined changing direction on the wavelength selection portion as a prepared setting value, when the control direction confirmed in the first step is opposite to the pre-determined changing direction; and a third step of changing the prepared setting value set in the second step to the second setting value.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for creating a mark desired properties on an anodized specimen and the mark itself. The method includes providing a laser marking system having a controllable laser pulse parameters, determining the laser pulse parameters associated with the desired properties and directing the laser marking system to mark the article using the selected laser pulse parameters. Laser marks so made have optical density that ranges from transparent to opaque, white color, texture indistinguishable from the surrounding article and durable, substantially intact anodization. The anodization may also be dyed and optionally bleached to create other colors.

Abstract: When an output instruction is input to the control unit, the control unit controls the seed laser light source and the pumping light source to be either in a pre-pumped state or in an output state. In the pre-pumped state, laser light is not output from the seed laser light source, and pumping light with a predetermined intensity based on a laser light intensity set by the output setting unit is output from the pumping light source for a certain period of time. In the output state, laser light is output from the seed laser light source, and pumping light is output from the pumping light source, so that laser light with the intensity set by the output setting unit is output.

Abstract: The performance of a laser scanner is optimized in the field by automatically determining appropriate laser parameters for the scan location. A laser control system uses information such as the environmental temperature to select an appropriate range of start points for various laser parameters, such as pump temperature and laser currents. Test pulses over that range can be used to determine optimal operating parameters.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a spatial light modulator configured to receive an optical pulse train; and output a modulated optical pulse train; a non-linear optical system that receives the modulated optical pulse train and generates a non-linear optical signal; and a power detector that detects a power of the generated non-linear optical signal. A control system outputs a signal to the spatial light modulator to cause it to modulate the optical pulse train by modulating the spectral phase of the optical pulse at wavelengths within a current wavelength range subset and maintain the spectral phase of the optical pulse constant at wavelengths outside the current wavelength range subset; and based on the detected power, extracts values of the spectral phase for the optical pulse at wavelengths within the current wavelength range subset, the values extracted being those that compress the optical pulses.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mirror arrangement for guiding a laser beam in a laser system having at least one first end mirror and one second end mirror, wherein said end mirrors define a resonator having an optical resonator axis, wherein the laser beam is guided into the resonator as an input laser beam and is guided out of the resonator again after multiple reflection at the first and second end mirrors as an output laser beam. The sequence of reflections at the first and second end mirror thereby determines a direction of rotation between the first and second end mirror, defined as an axis of rotation relative to the resonator axis, whereby a first beam path is defined and the laser beam circulates in a direction of rotation between the first and second end mirrors in the resonator defined as an axis of rotation relative to the resonator axis.

Abstract: A laser apparatus may include a seed laser device configured to output a pulse laser beam, a pulse energy adjusting unit configured to vary pulse energy of the pulse laser beam, at least one amplifier for amplifying the pulse laser beam, at least one power source for varying an excitation intensity in the at least one amplifier, and a controller configured to control the pulse energy adjusting unit on a pulse-to-pulse basis for the pulse laser beam passing therethrough and to control the at least one power source for a group of multiple pulses of the pulse laser beam.

Abstract: A modelocked fiber laser is designed to have strong pulse-shaping based on spectral filtering of a highly-chirped pulse in the laser cavity. The laser generates femtosecond pulses without a dispersive delay line or anomalous dispersion in the cavity.

Abstract: Provided is a laser source apparatus including a single laser source that emits an ultrashort-pulse laser beam; a wavelength conversion mechanism that generates a plurality of pulsed laser beams having different wavelengths by converting at least a part of wavelength of the ultrashort-pulse laser beam; a dispersion adjusting section that adjusts the amount of frequency dispersion for each of the pulsed laser beams; and an introducing optics that emits the plurality of pulsed laser beams whose frequency dispersion amounts are adjusted by the dispersion adjusting section. The dispersion adjusting section adjusts the amount of frequency dispersion for each of the pulsed laser beams so that each of the pulsed laser beams introduced to the irradiation optics of the optical apparatus from the introducing optics to excite a specimen is close to a substantially Fourier-transform-limited pulse.

Abstract: A process and system for processing a thin film sample are provided. In particular, a beam generator can be controlled to emit at least one beam pulse. The beam pulse is then masked to produce at least one masked beam pulse, which is used to irradiate at least one portion of the thin film sample. With the at least one masked beam pulse, the portion of the film sample is irradiated with sufficient intensity for such portion to later crystallize. This portion of the film sample is allowed to crystallize so as to be composed of a first area and a second area. Upon the crystallization thereof, the first area includes a first set of grains, and the second area includes a second set of grains whose at least one characteristic is different from at least one characteristic of the second set of grains. The first area surrounds the second area, and is configured to allow an active region of a thin-film transistor (“TFT”) to be provided at a distance therefrom.

Abstract: A circuit assembly controlling an optical system to generate optical pulses is provided. The optical system includes a seed light source optically coupled to an amplitude modulator. The circuit assembly includes a control circuit which generates a pulsed seed drive signal for driving the seed laser source, as well as logic signals defining successions of ON and OFF states and having a predetermined relative timing relationship. One or more of the logic signals is delayed by a corresponding programmable delay line to adjust the relative timing relationship between the logic signals. A logic gating module combines the logic signals according to one or more logical rule, thereby providing a modulator drive signal. Using this circuit assembly, the optical system outputs an optical pulse at each ON state of the modulator drive signal synchronized with the passage of one of the seed optical pulses through the amplitude modulator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser apparatus with a structure for realizing a fast response in carrying out a start and an end of output of pulsed laser light while effectively suppressing damage to an optical amplifying medium. The laser apparatus is provided with a seed light source, an optical amplification section, a pulse modulator, a pump power controller, and a main controller. The pulse modulator receives an output start instruction and an output end instruction fed from the main controller and controls a start and an end of output of seed light from the seed light source. The pump power controller receives a pump trigger signal fed from the main controller and increases or decreases a power of pump light supplied to the amplification section.

Abstract: A laser driving device includes: a pulse signal generating unit that, after a voltage has risen from a predetermined reference voltage to a predetermined output voltage and a time of a sum of an oscillation period of relaxation oscillation and a light emission start time in a predetermined laser diode has nearly elapsed, generates a pulse signal having a waveform that falls divisionally in two or more stages from the output voltage to the reference voltage; and an output unit that generates a laser drive signal by performing signal processing on the pulse signal and outputs the signal to the laser diode.

Abstract: A supercontinuum source capable of emitting waves between the infrared range and the ultraviolet range, includes a pulsed laser source (12) capable of generating a laser beam and a non-linear microstructured optical fibre (14) capable of receiving the laser beam, in such a way that the supercontinuum source is capable of generating a beam (F?) over a pulse duration (T?), characterized in that the supercontinuum source includes elements for varying the pulse duration.

Abstract: An intense optical high field generator capable of generating an intensive optical high field includes an optical amplification medium that converts optical energy for a wide band or plural bands and performs optical energy conversion into oscillating light oscillated from an optical resonator. The generator also includes: a negative dispersion element that imparts negative dispersion to a pulse light, which is the oscillating light; a mode locking unit that mode locks the optical resonator; a positive dispersion element that imparts positive dispersion on the pulse light; an optical system; and a vacuum chamber that accommodates the negative dispersion element, the mode locking unit, and the positive dispersion element 4, such that an intensive optical high field generating point takes in the pulse light from the negative dispersion element or the positive dispersion element and is formed within the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for creating a color and optical density selectable visible mark on an anodized aluminum specimen. The method includes providing a laser marking system having a laser, laser optics and a controller operatively connected to said laser to control laser pulse parameters and a controller with stored laser pulse parameters, selecting the stored laser pulse parameters associated with the desired color and optical density, directing the laser marking system to produce laser pulses having laser pulse parameters associated with the desired color and optical density including temporal pulse widths greater than about 1 and less than about 1000 picoseconds to impinge upon said anodized aluminum.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the active control of a wavelength-swept light source used to interrogate optical elements having characteristic wavelengths distributed across a wavelength range are provided.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for creating marks on an anodized aluminum specimen with selectable color and optical density. The method includes providing a laser marking system having a laser, laser optics and a controller operatively connected to said laser to control laser pulse parameters. The laser marking system is directed to produce laser pulses having laser pulse parameters associated with the desired color and optical density in the presence of a fluid directed to the surface of the anodized aluminum specimen while marking.

Abstract: Two pulsed lasers (14) or sets of lasers propagate beams of pulses (20) having orthogonally related polarization states. A beam combiner (24) combines the orthogonal beams to form a combined beam propagating along a common beam path (16) to intersect an optical modulator (30) that selectively changes the polarization state of selected pulses of either beam to provide a composite beam (18) including similarly polarized pulses from the orthogonal beams. The composite polarized beam has a composite average power and a composite repetition rate that are greater than those provided by either laser. The optical modulator can also selectively control the polarization states of pulses from either laser to pass through or be blocked by a downstream polarizer (32). Additional modulators may facilitate pulse shaping of the pulses. The system is scalable by addition of sets of single lasers or pairs of lasers with beam combiners and modulators.

Abstract: The present application discloses a novel chirped pulse amplification (CPA) fiber laser that has easily reconfigured output repetition rate and energy, and high spatial and temporal quality.

Abstract: The invention disclosed here teaches methods and apparatus for altering the temporal and spatial shape of an optical pulse. The methods correct for the spatial beam deformation caused by the intrinsic DC index gradient in a volume holographic chirped reflective grating (VHCRG). The first set of methods involves a mechanical mean of pre-deforming the VHCRG so that the combination of the deflection caused by the DC index gradient is compensated by the mechanical deformation of the VHCRG. The second set of methods involves compensating the angular deflection caused by the DC index gradient by retracing the diffracted beam back onto itself and by re-diffracting from the same VHCRG. Apparatus for temporally stretching, amplifying and temporally compressing light pulses are disclosed that rely on the methods above.

Abstract: Provided is a recording apparatus including a self-excited oscillation semiconductor laser that has a double quantum well separate confinement heterostructure and includes a saturable absorber section to which a negative bias voltage is applied and a gain section into which a gain current is injected, an optical separation unit, an objective lens, a light reception element, a pulse detection unit, a reference signal generation unit, a phase comparison unit, a recording signal generation unit, and a control unit.

Abstract: Processing a workpiece with a laser includes generating laser pulses at a first pulse repetition frequency. The first pulse repetition frequency provides reference timing for coordination of a beam positioning system and one or more cooperating beam position compensation elements to align beam delivery coordinates relative to the workpiece. The method also includes, at a second pulse repetition frequency that is lower than the first pulse repetition frequency, selectively amplifying a subset of the laser pulses. The selection of the laser pulses included in the subset is based on the first pulse repetition frequency and position data received from the beam positioning system. The method further includes adjusting the beam delivery coordinates using the one or more cooperating beam position compensation elements so as to direct the amplified laser pulses to selected targets on the workpiece.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for improving wavelength control in tunable laser sources. Embodiments of the systems and methods include delivering a fraction of the light output from the laser to an optical filter subsystem. The optical filter subsystem is capable of outputting at least one filter response signal, and comprises 2 complementary optical etalon filters with nominally identical free spectral ranges but offset by nominally one third of the free spectral range. The filter response signal is processed in a control unit which executes a control algorithm to generate a tuning signal that is used to control the wavelength of the laser.

Abstract: A pulse width modulation method for controlling the output power of a pulsed gas discharge laser powered by a pulsed RF power supply comprises delivering a train of digital pulses to the RF power supply. Each pulse in the train has an incrementally variable duration. The power supply is arranged to deliver a train of RF pulses corresponding in number and duration to the train of digital pulses received. The average power in the RF-pulse train can be varied by incrementally varying the duration of one or more of the digital pulses in the digital pulse train. The train of RF pulses is used to power a gas discharge laser. The gas discharge laser outputs a pulse train corresponding to the RF pulse train.

Abstract: A method of operating a digitally modulated solid state laser is disclosed. The laser is optically pumped by a current-supply driven diode-laser radiation and with output-power stabilized at a desired value by a light regulator cooperative with a power monitor and the current source is disclosed. When the laser is turned on, the current-source is enabled and the light-regulator is disabled. A current regulator allows current from the current-supply to increase until the monitored power reaches the desired value. At this point, the light regulator is enabled and the light regulator assumes control of the current-supply for maintaining the output-power at the desired level.

Abstract: A system and methods for the quasi-remote compression and focusing of a moderate-intensity laser pulse to form a much higher intensity beam that can be directed at a target and used as a probe beam or used in a probe beam converter to generate other forms of electromagnetic radiation or energetic particles. A system for the quasi-remote propagation of high-intensity laser beams in accordance with the present invention comprises a main platform on which a first, “seed” laser pulse is generated, stretched, and amplified, and a remote platform, located at a distance from the main platform, which is configured to receive the amplified and stretched pulse and convert it into the high-intensity laser beam. The high-intensity laser beam in turn can then be converted into one or more probe beams directed at a target object.

Abstract: A femtosecond laser based laser processing system having a femtosecond laser, frequency conversion optics, beam manipulation optics, target motion control, processing chamber, diagnostic systems and system control modules. The femtosecond laser based laser processing system allows for the utilization of the unique heat control in micromachining, and the system has greater output beam stability, continuously variable repetition rate and unique temporal beam shaping capabilities.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for generating an ultra-short ultra-high intensity pulse laser, comprising: a pulse laser providing unit which generates an ultra-short ultra-high intensity pulse laser, stretches pulse width, then selects and provides only a pulse laser having a predetermined polarizing angle; a polarization characteristic adjusting unit which divides the pulse laser provided by the pulse laser providing unit into S-polarizing component light and P-polarizing component light, varies the phase difference and amplitude difference between the S-polarizing component light and the P-polarizing component light, and combines the two types of light to generate a pulse laser with varied polarization characteristics; and a pulse compression unit which compresses the pulse width of the pulse laser, the polarization characteristics of which are varied by the polarization characteristic adjusting unit, and outputs the pulse laser.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating pulses of laser radiation at higher repetition rates than those of available excimer lasers are disclosed that use multiple electronic triggers for multiple laser units and arrange the timings of the different triggers with successive delays, each delay being a fraction of the interval between two successive pulses of a single laser unit. Methods and systems for exposing nanoscale patterns using such high-repetition-rate lasers are disclosed.

Abstract: A pulse shaper for compensating group runtime effects is provided. The pulse shaper comprising a first and a second dispersive element. An optical pulse can be coupled to the pulse shaper along a coupling direction such that said pulse exits from the pulse shaper after passing through the first and the second dispersive element along an exit direction. The first and the second dispersive element are formed and arranged to be movable relative to each other such that the path length to be traversed by the optical pulse through the first and the second dispersive element after coupling to the pulse shaper can be adjusted without any change in an offset between the coupling direction and the exit direction. The first and the second dispersive element are arranged in such a way that the shape of the optical pulse experiences a change as the pulse travels through the pulse shaper.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of amplification based on spatio-temporal frequency drift for a pulse laser comprising a so-called CPA (Chirped Pulse Amplification) frequency-shift amplifying chain, the various spectral components spatially spread. The various components separately amplified.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser apparatus having a structure for easily shortening a pulse. In the laser apparatus, as a result of a phase control unit adjusting a modulation period of an external modulator and an output period of pulsed light of a seed light source, it is possible to generate pulsed light which is outputted only during a period when the modulation period and the output period overlap each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of enabling generation of pulsed lights each having a narrow pulse width and high effective pulse energys. A pulse light source has a MOPA structure, and comprises a single semiconductor laser, a bandpass filter and an optical fiber amplifier. The single semiconductor laser outputs two or more pulsed lights separated by a predetermined interval, for each period given according to a predetermined repetition frequency. The bandpass filter attenuates one of the shorter wavelength side and the longer wavelength side, in the wavelength band of input pulsed lights.

Abstract: The invention relates to a laser amplification system for generating retrievable laser pulses having at least one laser source, in particular with a pulse selector arranged downstream thereof for the targeted selection of amplifiable laser pulses, a laser medium for amplifying laser pulses generated by the laser source and a loss modulator, wherein the loss modulator is arranged and connected such that said modulator modulates the amplification of the laser pulses by the laser medium by loss generation so that the retrievable laser pulses are provided with a predefined pulse time and/or pulse energy. Before an amplification process for one of the laser pulses, the current amplification of the laser medium is determined and the loss generation is controlled by the loss modulator depending on the current amplification of the laser medium.

Abstract: Techniques and devices for producing short laser pulses based on chirping and stretching of short seed laser pulses and subsequent power amplification. Such laser pulses with relatively narrow spectral bandwidths can be used in certain laser applications where narrow spectral bandwidth laser pulses are advantageous. In the examples described in this document, the generated laser pulses with relatively narrow spectral bandwidths may have relatively long pulse durations (e.g., greater than 1 ps) due to the stretching operation in the pulse generation.

Abstract: An ultra-short high-power light pulse source including a first laser pump source (1), a mode-locked laser oscillator (2), a second laser pump source (4), a waveguide (6) capable of inserting spectral phases into the light pulses, and a compressor (8) capable of generating predetermined spectral phases into the light pulses. The waveguide (6) includes an element capable of compensating the predetermined spectral phases generated at least by the compressor (8), the second laser pump source (4) being capable of delivering a second pump light flow (5) having a power PL such that the spectral phases generated by the wave guide (6) are opposed or quasi opposed to the predetermined spectral phases generated by the compressor (8) in order to generate compressed ultra-short light pulses (9) at the output of the compressor (8) with a planar or quasi planar spectral phase.

Abstract: A method of controlling a wavelength-tunable laser selecting an oscillation wavelength with a combination of a plurality of wavelength selection portions of which wavelength peak is different from each other, comprising: a first step of confirming a control direction of the wavelength selection portion in a case where a setting value is changed from a first setting value for achieving the first wavelength to a second setting value for achieving the second wavelength; a second step of setting a setting value that is shifted from the second setting value in a direction that is opposite of a pre-determined changing direction on the wavelength selection portion as a prepared setting value, when the control direction confirmed in the first step is opposite to the pre-determined changing direction; and a third step of changing the prepared setting value set in the second step to the second setting value.

Abstract: A direct ultrashort laser system is provided. In another aspect of the present invention, a method of measuring laser pulse phase distortions is performed without requiring an adaptive pulse shaper or interferometry. In yet another aspect of the present invention, a system, a method of operating, a control system, and a set of programmable computer software instructions perform Multiphoton Intrapulse Interference Phase Scan processes, calculations, characterization and/or correction without requiring an adaptive pulse shaper.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrashort pulse laser processing device. The ultrashort pulse laser includes a stage a transfer member, a front confocal microscope, a front laser generating unit, and a front highpowered lens. A sample is provided on the stage to be processed, the transfer member transfers the stage, and the front confocal microscope is provided above the stage. The front laser generating unit is provided between the front confocal microscope and the stage to generate an ultrashort pulse laser, and the front high-powered lens focuses the laser provided from the front laser generating unit.