Abstract: A tube preparation step of preparing a resin tube that has a tube wall impregnable with a solution including a fine substance and is made of a light-transmitting resin material, a solution preparation step of preparing a solution that includes a fine fluorescent substance that emits fluorescence or a fine scattering substance that scatters light as an oscillation material and an impregnation step of causing the resin tube to be immersed in the solution and causing the tube wall of the resin tube to be impregnated with the oscillation material, are included.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory includes a first memory cell configured to be set with a first threshold voltage, the first threshold voltage being one of different threshold voltage levels, a second memory cell configured to be set with a second threshold voltage, the second threshold voltage being one of different threshold voltage levels, a first word line coupled to the first memory cell, a second word line coupled to the second memory cell, and a controller configured to read data of one of different bits based on a combination of the first threshold voltage of the first memory cell and the second threshold voltage of the second memory cell.

Abstract: A light emitting unit includes a light emitting sealed body and a voltage application circuit. The light emitting sealed body includes a container to which laser light for maintaining plasma is incident and from which light from the plasma is emitted, a first electrode which includes a first discharge portion, and a second electrode which includes a second discharge portion. An end portion of the first discharge portion has a shape in which a thickness is thinned as it goes toward the second discharge portion and an end surface of the second discharge portion extends along a plane perpendicular to an extending direction of the first discharge portion. The voltage application circuit controls a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode by adjusting a voltage applied to at least the first electrode.

Abstract: An illumination device includes: an optical fiber, the optical fiber allowing light emitted from a light source to be introduced at a first end portion thereof and to be guided through the optical fiber while emitting a portion of the light through a side surface of the optical fiber; a light-transmissive tube, the light-transmissive tube covering the side surface of the optical fiber such that a gap is located between the tube and the side surface of the optical fiber; and a light-shielding cap covering a second end portion of the tube at a side opposite the light source such that a space is located between a bottom portion of the cap and the second end portion of the tube. A second end portion of the optical fiber projects past the second end portion of the tube and is located at an inner side of the cap.

Abstract: A spark gap arrangement includes a discharge chamber, an electrode head and a contact connection arranged outside the discharge chamber. The electrode head is electrically conductively connected and mechanically coupled to the contact connection in such a way that, when the contact connection is removed from its position or when the contact connection reaches a preset position, the electrically conductive connection is interrupted, and the electrode head is mechanically decoupled from the contact connection so that the electrode head is movable in the direction of the discharge chamber interior and/or within the discharge chamber.

Abstract: A laser device including a laser crystal, a first lens, an induced light source, a third light source and a second lens and a method for generating a laser light are disclosed. The laser crystal includes a gain medium, a first cross section and a second cross section. The first lens is located on the first cross section of the laser crystal. The induced light source is adapted to generate an induced light entering into the laser crystal through the first lens. The third light source is adapted to generate a third light which is adapted for emitting the laser crystal. The third light and the induced light are adapted to induce the liquid crystal to make the liquid crystal generate a first light and a second light.

Abstract: A method for generating an extended underwater plasma. A first laser pulse is fired into a body of water to form an underwater optical filament coinciding with a low-energy plasma. A second laser pulse is fired into the water, targeted at the plasma. The second pulse heats the plasma, causing the formation of an extended superheated plasma volume in the water. The two laser pulses can be simultaneous or can be sequential, with the second pulse following the first pulse by up to the filament plasma lifetime. The extended superheated plasma creates an underwater acoustic pulse, wherein the duration, waveform and directivity of the pulse can be tailored by controlling the shape of the underwater laser-generated plasma.

Abstract: The laser includes an optical fiber including a cavity containing a microfluidic gain medium bounded by a composite structure of alternating layers of high and low index materials forming an axially invariant, rotationally symmetric photonic bandgap cavity. The optical fiber also includes at least one microfluidic channel containing liquid crystal modulators in the fiber cladding extending in an axial direction and further includes a pair of electrodes flanking the microfluidic channel. An electrical potential across the pair of electrodes will rotate the liquid crystal molecules to rotate the linearly polarized state of light emitted from the cavity. An external linear polarizer is disposed around the fiber to modulate azimuthal laser intensity distribution.

Abstract: Methods for producing a laser-guided underwater electrical discharge are provided. One or more electrodes defining a desired electrical discharge path are situated in a body of water and are attached to an external electrical power supply. A high-powered, intense laser beam is fired into the water. The laser beam forms an optical filament in the water, which in turn forms an ionized channel having a much greater conductivity than the surrounding water. An external power supply drives an electrical discharge along the path of the ionized channel due to its greater conductivity.

Abstract: A solid-state suspension laser. The novel laser includes a gain medium comprised of a plurality of solid-state gain particles suspended in a fluid. The laser also includes a pump source for pumping the gain particles and a resonator for amplifying and outputting laser light generated by the gain medium. In an illustrative embodiment, the gain medium is adapted to flow, and the pumping of the gain medium occurs outside of the resonator. The flow velocities and the densities of the gain particles in the gain medium can be optimized for optimal absorption efficiency during the pumping and/or for optimal extraction efficiency in the resonator as well as for overall laser performance optimization, including power, efficiency and beam quality scalability.

Abstract: A solid-state laser emitting material for use in conjunction with a light source includes a polymer matrix functioning as host materials, containing laser dye of rhodamine 590 or rhodamine 610 as gain materials and nano-submicron particles as scatters therein. The lowest lasing threshold of the laser emitting material is approximately 5 mJ/cm2 for 585 nm emission and 2 mJ/cm2 for 630 nm emission.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to lasers comprising fluidic channels, such as microfluidic channels. In some instances, the channel contains two or more fluids. The fluids may remain non-mixed within the channel, for example, due to immiscibility and/or laminar flow within the channel. The fluids may be arranged in the channel such that light propagating in a first fluid is prevented by the second fluid from exiting the first fluid, for example, due to differences in the indexes of refraction (e.g., causing internal reflection of the fluid to occur). Thus, in one embodiment, a first fluid may be at least partially surrounded by a second fluid having a second index of refraction lower than the index of refraction of the first fluid. In some embodiments, the fluidic channel is used as a laser, for instance, a dye laser, i.e., a laser created by directing light at a dye to produce coherent light. The dye may be present in one or more fluids within the fluidic channel.

Abstract: A laser oscillation element 1 according to the invention comprises a cholesteric liquid crystal layer 2 containing cholesteric liquid crystals, a cholesteric liquid crystal layer 3 containing cholesteric liquid crystals facing the cholesteric liquid crystal layer 2, and a defect layer 4 containing a dye 5 which emits fluorescence upon optical excitation disposed between the cholesteric liquid crystal layers 2, 3. A selective reflection wavelength band in the cholesteric liquid crystals overlaps with the emission band of the fluorescence emitted by the dye 5, the helical winding directions of the cholesteric liquid crystals contained in the cholesteric liquid crystal layers 2, 3 are identical, and the transition moments of the dye 5 are aligned parallel to the surfaces of the cholesteric liquid crystal layers 2, 3. According to the laser oscillation element 1, a laser oscillation can be generated with high efficiency. Moreover, continuous wave lasing can be generated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microfluidic dye laser including a pump light source configured to provide light having a pump light wavelength. The microfluidic dye laser also includes an elastomer substantially optically transparent at the pump light wavelength and at a microfluidic dye laser wavelength. A microfluidic channel configured to accept a fluidic dye is defined in the elastomer. An optical grating is formed in a single mode 3D waveguide in the microfluidic channel in order to provide a single mode microfluidic dye laser light as output in response to illumination with light from the pump light source. In another aspect, the invention features a method of tuning a wavelength of a microfluidic dye laser light by mechanically deforming the elastomeric laser chip to change the grating period in the optical cavity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lasing complex comprising a room temperature solution containing cadmium sulfide (CdS) quantum dots. Optical gain has been observed in CdS nanocrystal quantum dots in strong confinement regime in toluene solution at room temperature using femtosecond transient absorption techniques. The optical gain lifetime is measured to be 20 picoseconds under pump fluence of 0.77 mJ/cm2. The relative lower gain threshold compared to that of CdSe quantum dots is attributed to the long lifetime of fluorescence and biexcitons and the relatively sharp photoluminescence linewidth. The CdS nanocrystals are excellent gain media for semiconductor quantum dot based blue lasers.

Abstract: A Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) assembly including a VCSEL structure having a light-emitting region located on its surface, a relatively wettable region of a surface modifier coating formed over the light emitting region, and a microlens formed on the relatively wettable region. A relatively non-wettable region of the surface modifier coating is formed around the light-emitting region (e.g., on the electrode surrounding the light-emitting region). The surface modifier coating is formed, for example, from one or more organothiols that change the surface energies of the light-emitting region and/or the electrode to facilitate self-assembly and self-registration of the microlens material. The microlens material is printed, microjetted, or dip coated onto the VCSEL structure such that the microlens material wets to the relatively wettable region, thereby forming a liquid bead that is reliably positioned over the light-emitting region. The liquid bead is then cured to form the microlens.

Abstract: A laser. The novel laser includes a gain medium, a pump source adapted to optically excite the gain medium in a first location, and a resonator adapted to extract energy from the gain medium in a second location distinct from the first location. In an illustrative embodiment, the gain medium is comprised of a plurality of solid-state gain particles suspended in a fluid. The gain medium is adapted to flow, and optical excitation of the gain medium occurs outside of the resonator. In a preferred embodiment, the flow velocity and the density of gain particles in the gain medium are adjusted for optimal absorption efficiency during optical excitation and then for optimal extraction efficiency in the resonator. In addition, the resonator may be shaped for optimal extraction efficiency, while pump modules that hold the gain medium during optical excitation are shaped for optimal absorption efficiency.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for maintaining a quality of a Raman medium in a Raman conversion cell. In various examples, a flow velocity of the Raman medium is tailored based on a spatial nonuniformity of heat deposition resulting from the Raman conversion in the cell. In particular, in one example, the flow velocity of the Raman medium may be tailored to be higher where the heat deposition/temperature rise is larger and smaller elsewhere in the cell. This type of flow velocity profile reduces the overall required volumetric flow of the Raman medium in the cell without significantly affecting a quality of the Raman medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser gain medium comprising at least one active species adapted to be stimulated to emit laser light within a predetermined wavelength range and optical feedback means defining a resonator for said laser light. The feedback means comprise at least one substantially solid cholesteric layer having a substantially planar texture exhibiting selective reflection of light defined by a reflection band tuned to said predetermined wavelength range.

Abstract: Output optical energy pulses including relatively high energy magnitudes at the beginning of each pulse are disclosed. As a result of the relatively high energy magnitudes which lead each pulse, the leading edge of each pulse includes a relatively large slope. This slope is preferably greater than or equal to 5. Additionally, the full-width half-max value of the output optical energy distributions are between 0.025 and 250 microseconds and, more preferably, are about 70 microseconds. A flashlamp is used to drive the laser system, and a current is used to drive the flashlamp. A flashlamp current generating circuit includes a solid core inductor which has an inductance of 50 microhenries and a capacitor which has a capacitance of 50 microfarads.

Abstract: The heat capacity laser concept is extended to systems in which the heat capacity lasing media is a liquid. The laser active liquid is circulated from a reservoir (where the bulk of the media and hence waste heat resides) through a channel so configured for both optical pumping of the media for gain and for light amplification from the resulting gain.

Abstract: A laser having a lasing chamber and a semiconductor pumping device with trivalent titanium ions dissolved in a liquid host within the lasing chamber. Since the host is a liquid, it can be removed from the optical cavity when it becomes heated avoiding the inevitable optical distortion and birefringence common to glass and crystal hosts.

Abstract: A high average power, low optical distortion laser gain media is based on a flowing liquid media. A diode laser pumping device with tailored irradiance excites the laser active atom, ion or molecule within the liquid media. A laser active component of the liquid media exhibits energy storage times longer than or comparable to the thermal optical response time of the liquid. A circulation system that provides a closed loop for mixing and circulating the lasing liquid into and out of the optical cavity includes a pump, a diffuser, and a heat exchanger. A liquid flow gain cell includes flow straighteners and flow channel compression.

Abstract: High-efficiency laser-like emission at low thresholds in dipolar organic materials upon pulsed optical excitation, without using any external mirrors. Unusually high conversion efficiencies and low thresholds in laser-like emission have been observed in the solutions of organic molecular salts having large dipole moments and specific dye molecules having high photoluminescence efficiencies. Pumped with frequency-doubled pulses from a Nd:YAG laser, conversion efficiencies in the range of 15-40% were achieved without incorporation of external mirrors. The threshold pump energies for such emission have been observed to be low (<8 ?J). The spectrally narrowed output beam was found to have low divergence, high degree of polarization, and pulse-width less than that of the excitation pulses (50 picoseconds).

Abstract: A dedusting unit for a laser optical element is provided. The dedusting unit comprises a high-voltage duct comprising a high-voltage conducting core having a first end and a second end and an insulator element disposed around the core. The first end of the core is connectable to a high voltage power supply and the second end of the core is electrically connected to a wire loop. The dedusting unit may be used in connection with a variety of gas lasers. In use, the dedusting unit is mounted to the laser tube so that the wire loop is disposed inside the gas laser tube in proximity to an optical element to be protected from dust. The dedusting unit is further mounted so that the wire loop is transverse to the resonating path of the laser light within the laser tube so that the resonating laser light may pass through the wire loop without being obstructed by the wire loop. A method for installing the dedusting unit to protect a laser optical element in a gas laser is also provided.

Abstract: A high average power, low optical distortion laser gain media is based on a flowing liquid media. A diode laser pumping device with tailored irradiance excites the laser active atom, ion or molecule within the liquid media. A laser active component of the liquid media exhibits energy storage times longer than or comparable to the thermal optical response time of the liquid. A circulation system that provides a closed loop for mixing and circulating the lasing liquid into and out of the optical cavity includes a pump, a diffuser, and a heat exchanger. A liquid flow gain cell includes flow straighteners and flow channel compression.

Abstract: A laser includes an optical cavity. A diode laser pumping device is located within the optical cavity. An aprotic lasing liquid containing neodymium rare earth ions fills the optical cavity. A circulation system that provides a closed loop for circulating the aprotic lasing liquid into and out of the optical cavity includes a pump and a heat exchanger.

Abstract: A generator produces a flow of gaseous molecular oxygen in the singlet sigma and/or singlet delta excited electronic states. The generator is comprised of an optical source; coupling optics to transport and concentrate optical source light; a vacuum chamber, reflective optics; a wall cooling system; an inlet system for injecting oxygen; an inlet system for injecting other gases which deactivate singlet sigma oxygen to singlet delta oxygen; and a means for interfacing this device to a lasing device and for directly flowing the singlet sigma or singlet delta oxygen into a laser cavity.

Abstract: In a dye laser system, a porous bed filter is loaded with dye prior to operation of the system. With repeated firings, the dye solution is filtered by the porous bed filter to remove by-products of the laser process. Solute concentration is monitored and dye and additives removed by the filter are replenished by a metering pump. Precise temperature control assures consistent filtering of dye by the filter for more consistent color and energy output. To control the metering pump, the differential output of a two-channel absorption detector is digitized. The digitized signal is loaded into a counter which drives the metering pump. The useful lifetime of the dye solution is enhanced by incorporating pH buffers in the solution.

Abstract: A gas laser discharge unit is provided. The discharge unit includes an elongated electrode plate having a plurality of spaced-apart holes therein and a plurality of coaxial high voltage ducts. Each duct extends through one of the holes in the electrode plate and includes a central conductive core and an insulator element arranged around the core to electrically insulate said core from the electrode plate. An elongated high voltage electrode is electrically connected to the cores of the ducts. In addition, an elongated ground electrode is positioned to oppose the high voltage electrode and form a gas discharge gap therebetween. The ground electrode is electrically connected to the electrode plate. The gas laser discharge unit may be removably mounted as a module into a gas laser tube, such as an excimer laser tube.

Abstract: A system for wavefront correction in an ultra high power laser. As the laser medium flows past the optical excitation source and the fluid warms its index of refraction changes creating an optical wedge. A system is provided for correcting the thermally induced optical phase errors.

Abstract: Thermally induced distortion of the optical wavefront caused by heating of the laser media by waste heat from the excitation process and absorption of laser radiation creates optical phase errors. A system generates an error signal derived from the optical phase errors. The error signal is fed back to the power supplies driving semiconductor diodes that excite the lasing liquid thereby introducing an electrically controllable wedge into the optical cavity to correct the optical phase errors.

Abstract: Band gap lasers based upon activated periodic one-dimensional structures are disclosed. The periodic structures may be cholesteric liquid crystals, other chiral materials, or materials with alternating dielectric layers with different indices of refraction. The amplifying component may be an organic dye, rare earth or other ion, conjugated polymer, or other luminescent materials. Lasing occurs at a predetermined frequency corresponding to that of modes at the edge of the stop band in these periodic structures or to the frequency of a defect mode introduced into the structure. The lasing threshold may be lowered and the efficiency raised by the following further considerations: Adjacent layers of different period, and correspondingly different stop band, are incorporated into the structure to serve as reflectors on either or both sides of the active medium. The peak emission of the active medium is chosen to be close to the frequency of one of the long-lived photon modes of the system.

Abstract: The average power capability of a solid-state laser is increased by cooling the lasing element to a cryogenic temperature. The laser pump chamber is configured to define a flow path for circulating cryogenic fluid. The cryogenic cooling is achieved for rod, slab, active-mirror or disc amplifier-type lasing elements.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sense amplifier that incorporates a logic function. Specifically, that logic function is incorporated into the sense amplifier such that the propagation time of the logic function is avoided and the effective data set-up time of the sense amplifier is reduced. The sense amplifier includes a pair of discharge paths having a true or a complementary version of the logic function associated therewith. When the true or complementary version of the logic function is asserted, one of the discharge paths is turned-on. The output signal that is associated with that discharge path is discharged to a logic low level and the other output signal is pulled to a logic high level. Accordingly, the resulting logic level of the logic function is generated and latched using only the sense amplifier circuit.

Abstract: A laser system utilizing a fluid as the excitatory medium for stimulated light emission, wherein the fluid is supplied from a sorbent-based fluid storage and dispensing system coupled in fluid-supplying relationship with the laser apparatus. The laser may be an excimer laser utilizing as the laser working fluid a rare gas halide compound such as fluorides and/or chlorides of krypton, xenon and argon, as well as fluorine and/or chlorine per se. The laser system may alternatively be a far infrared gas laser utilizing a gas such as CO.sub.2, N.sub.2 O, CD.sub.3 OD, CH.sub.3 OD, CH.sub.3 OH, CH.sub.3 NH.sub.2, C.sub.2 H.sub.2 F.sub.2, HCOOH, CD.sub.3 I, CH.sub.3 F, and C.sup.13 H.sub.3 F.

Abstract: The COIL gain generator system includes a reactor for producing singlet delta oxygen and a mechanism for mixing high momentum diluent with the singlet delta oxygen and with iodine for producing a high momentum, low static temperature mixture of the singlet delta oxygen, diluent and iodine. The singlet delta oxygen and the iodine react to produce excited iodine atoms which can lase efficiently due to the low static temperature and can, after lasing, recover to high pressure in a diffuser due to the high momentum of the mixture. This provides the capability of using a chemical pump which allows a completely sealed system with no outside exhaust.

Abstract: A method of coating an optical recording layer on a transparent grooved substrate is disclosed. The recording layer is coated from a mixture of a primary and a secondary solvent. The solvent mixture provides a wide range of conformalities for optical recording layers.

Abstract: A laser system having a resonant cavity that is stable in one axis so that a wavelength selector can be used for producing a narrow line output, and is unstable in an orthogonal axis for high energy extraction efficiency and for low output beam divergence. The resonant cavity terminates at one end with a cylindrical mirror and at the other end with a dispersive wavelength selector. A gain medium is disposed in the resonant cavity, and is excited by a power supply to generate a laser beam that oscillates in the resonant cavity. A portion of the laser beam is coupled out of the resonant cavity as an output laser beam. The cylindrical mirror has a cylindrical reflecting surface oriented to diverge the laser beam at a first azimuthal angle relative to an axis of the resonant cavity. The dispersive wavelength selector disperses the laser beam as a function of wavelength at a second azimuthal angle relative to the resonant cavity axis. The second azimuthal angle is orthogonal to the first azimuthal angle.

Abstract: A solid-state laser is proposed with an emission wavelength of greater than 1.4 .mu.m to eliminate the risk of damage to human skin and eyes. The proposed laser comprises: an active medium alloyed with Er.sup.3+ ions; an optical pumping source separated from the active medium by an additional filtering layer in the form of optical elements, and/or coating applied thereto, and/or a liquid medium, which intercept and eliminate ultraviolet radiation and are transparent to light in the excitation wavelength of the active medium. The cumulative internal transmission density of the filtering layer along the path of a given beam in the laser from the pumping source to the active medium, including the path in the casing of the pumping source, must be greater than 2 in the wavelength range below 320 nm and not more than 0.1 in the excitation spectrum of the active medium with wavelengths greater than 360 nm. Filtration in the laser is accomplished with the aid of, for example, a 0.3-1.5 .mu.

Abstract: Provided is method and apparatus for regenerating basic hydrogen peroxide (BHP) solution. Such solution is run through filters which are alternated for continuous filtration thereof, while the non-used filter is being cleaned. The filtered BHP solution is then reacted with H.sub.2 O.sub.2 and KO.sub.2 or KOH in a cooled reactor and again filtered and fed to a cooled storage tank as replenished BHP solution. The replenished BHP solution can then be fed to a singlet oxygen generator (SOG) for reaction with Cl.sub.2 to emit singlet delta oxygen (to fuel a COIL laser system) and depleted BHP solution, which is then recycled for filtration and regeneration as before. Thus the process of the invention provides for continuous regeneration of BHP solution for extended use in a COIL. That is, extended COIL run times are required by a COIL for welding and/or cutting operations. At the same time the process of the invention minimizes the amount of BHP required to run the COIL since the BHP is regenerated and recycled.

Abstract: A laser system comprises an optical head, a power supply and a computer for controlling the power supply. The optical head comprises a pair of mirrors and four pumping sections. Each pumping section comprises a pair of gas discharge lamps pumping an Nd:YAG laser element. The power supply provides the lamps with alternating current at 25 kHz so that the laser system produces a continuous, modulated or pulsed output light beam. The power supply comprises three boost converters connected in parallel for converting three phase mains supply to direct current and four DC-AC converters. Each DC-AC converter converts the DC output from the boost converters to an AC supply for the lamps of a respective one of the pumping sections.

Abstract: A controlled spectrum generation laser arrangement achieving greater uniformity in the optical power spectral distribution is realized by employing a matching plate that conforms the boundary interface of the active medium with the shape of the focal surface of the pump radiation. The matching plate ensures that for any portion of the active medium the pump radiation is focused at its boundary interface so as to achieve a uniform pump beam intensity.

Abstract: An infrared laser system includes a neodymium laser for generating a pulsed laser beam at a wavelength of 1.06 micrometers and a Raman cell containing a Raman active medium. The laser beam, having sufficient peak power to cause emission of light from the Raman active medium by stimulated Raman scattering, is directed through the Raman cell. Ethanol-d.sub.1 or methanol-d.sub.1 is used as the Raman active medium to generate wavelengths of about 1.5 micrometers, 2.8-2.9 micrometers, or both. The laser is preferably a neodymium YAG laser.

Abstract: A method for forming microilluminants, which comprises the steps of irradiating laser beam to microparticles doped with a laser pigment in a liquid medium, trapping the microparticles and causing these microparticles to emit light.According to this method, it is possible to form microilluminants, permitting application to new physical and chemical processes and to processing and modification of microparticles, and new developments such as optical STM.

Abstract: A pulse format for a laser system is disclosed for maximizing the energy delivered to a target immersed in an absorbing liquid. A first pulse is generated having an energy sufficient to initiate the formation of a vapor bubble in the liquid medium adjacent the end of the delivery device. A second, high energy pulse is generated after the vapor bubble initiated by the first pulse has expanded an amount sufficient to displace the liquid between the delivery device and the target. In this manner, the second pulse is delivered directly to the target and little energy is lost to the liquid medium.

Abstract: A large (high flow rate) dye laser amplifier in which a continuous replenished supply of dye is excited by a first light beam, specifically a copper vapor laser beam, in order to amplify the intensity of a second different light beam, specifically a dye beam, passing through the dye is disclosed herein. This amplifier includes a dye cell defining a dye chamber through which a continuous stream of dye is caused to pass at a flow rate of for example 30 gallons/minute, a specifically designed support vessel for containing the dye cell and a screen device for insuring that the dye stream passes into the dye cell in a substantially turbulent free, stagnation-free manner.

Abstract: An infrared laser system includes a neodymium laser for generating a pulsed laser beam at a wavelength of 1.06 micrometers and a Raman cell containing a Raman active medium. The laser beam, having sufficient peak power to cause emission of light from the Raman active medium by stimulated Raman scattering, is directed through the Raman cell. Ethanol-d.sub.1 or methanol-d.sub.1 is used as the Raman active medium to generate wavelengths of about 2.8-2.9 micrometers. The laser is preferably a neodymium YAG laser.

Abstract: An optical assembly is disclosed herein along with a method of operation for use in a dye lasing arrangement, for example a dye laser oscillator or a dye amplifier, in which a continuous stream of dye is caused to flow through a given zone in a cooperating dye chamber while the zone is being illuminated by light from a pumping beam which is directed into the given zone. This in turn causes the dye therein to lase and thereby produce a new dye beam in the case of a dye laser oscillator or amplify a dye beam in the case of a dye amplifier. The optical assembly so disclosed is designed to alter the pump beam such that the beam enters the dye chamber with a different cross-sectional configuration, preferably one having a more uniform intensity profile, than its initially produced cross-sectional configuration.

Abstract: The invention provides a laser medium having improved photodynamical properties. The medium includes the condensed phase, namely solid or liquid phase, of a mixture of one or more rare gases and a halogen donor. The gases are first combined and then condensed to form the laser medium. A solid state rare gas crystal laser is also provided.