Abstract:
A chirped pulse amplifier (CPA) system having a mode-locked laser and a high-speed pulse selector, wherein the pulse selector modulates output pulses based upon an applied modulation voltage. A pulse selector may be an integrated electro-optic modulator, for example a LiNbO3 modulator, or an electro-absorption modulator. Difficulties related to free-space alignment and operational stability of some prior designs are reduced or eliminated. Fiber coupling generally simplifies beam delivery and alignment. Some embodiments include an erbium fiber (or erbium-ytterbium) based CPA system operating at a wavelength of approximately 1550 nanometers. Similar performance can be obtained at other wavelengths, for example a 1.06 .micrometer Yb-doped fiber system. Moreover, high amplification and peak intensity at the output may be achieved while avoiding non-linear effects in the pulse selector, thereby providing for high intensity picosecond or femtosecond operation.
Abstract:
High power parallel fiber arrays for the amplification of high peak power pulses are described. Fiber arrays based on individual fiber amplifiers as well as fiber arrays based on multi-core fibers can be implemented. The optical phase between the individual fiber amplifier elements of the fiber array is measured and controlled using a variety of phase detection and compensation techniques. High power fiber array amplifiers can be used for EUV and X-ray generation as well as pumping of parametric amplifiers.
Abstract:
A system comprising: a) a light source, wherein said source comprises a quasi-cw laser diode (31); b) a lithium niobate modulator (32) arranged to receive output of said light source and outputting pulses which are less than or equal to approximately 10 ns at a repetition rate in a range of from 1 kHz to less than 10 MHz, and said modulator (32) is disposed at an output of said cw laser diode (31); c) an amplifier (33) arranged to amplify pulses output by said modulator (32); and d) a fiber (34) with positive, i.e. normal, group-velocity dispersion (GVD) and self phase modulation receiving an output of said amplifier (33). The quasi cw laser diode (31) is gated so that it does not emit for significantly longer times than the pulse duration. The output of the positive GVD fiber may be compressed to produce fs pulses with variable repetition rate.
Abstract:
Apparatus and method to generate a stream of pulses having a pulse repetition rate of at least about 50000 pulses per second and a per-pulse length of less than one picosecond, and to scan and focus the stream to an output light pattern suitable to sculpt tissue for a surgical procedure (e.g., ophthalmologic) using at least a high number of pulses to complete the operation in a matter of a few seconds, e.g., 100000 pulses in less than ten seconds. Some embodiments create a preconditioning negative dispersion that compensates for positive dispersion in the scanning system, in some embodiments; a lenticule is cut using the laser and scanning system and is mechanically removed through a side slit formed through the cornea surface.
Abstract:
In at least one embodiment a laser system includes a fiber laser source, a polarization controller and a wavelength converter. The relative power distribution between a pump wavelength and a signal wavelength is controllable using the polarization controller. An optional phase compensator is used to control polarization state of the output laser beam. In various embodiments the relative power distribution among multiple wavelengths may be controlled over a range of at least about 100:1.
Abstract:
Coherent and compact supercontinuum light sources for the mid IR spectral regime are disclosed and exemplary applications thereof. The supercontinuum generation is based on the use of highly nonlinear fibers or waveguides. In at least one embodiment the coherence of the supercontinuum sources is increased using low noise mode locked short pulse sources. Compact supercontinuum light sources can be constructed with the use of passively mode locked fiber or diode lasers. Wavelength tunable sources can be constructed using appropriate optical filters or frequency conversion sections. Highly coherent supercontinuum sources further facilitate coherent detection schemes and can improve the signal/noise ratio in lock in detection schemes.
Abstract:
Compact laser systems are disclosed which include ultrafast laser sources in combination with nonlinear crystals or waveguides. In some implementations fiber based mid-IR sources producing very short pulses and/or mid-IR sources based on a mode locked fiber lasers are utilized. Some embodiments may include an infrared source with an amplifier system comprising, in combination, a Tm fiber amplifier and an Er fiber amplifier. A difference frequency generator receives outputs from the Er and/or Tm amplifier system, and generates an output comprising a difference frequency. Exemplary applications of the compact, high brightness mid-IR light sources include medical applications, spectroscopy, ranging, sensing and metrology.
Abstract:
Various embodiments include a method of producing chemically pure and stably dispersed metal and metal-alloy nanoparticle colloids with ultrafast pulsed laser ablation. A method comprises irradiating a metal or metal alloy target submerged in a liquid with ultrashort laser pulses at a high repetition rate, cooling a portion of the liquid that includes an irradiated region, and collecting nanoparticles produced with the laser irradiation and liquid cooling. The method may be implemented with a high repetition rate ultrafast pulsed laser source, an optical system for focusing and moving the pulsed laser beams, a metal or metal alloy target submerged in a liquid, and a liquid circulating system to cool the laser focal volume and collect the nanoparticle products. By controlling various laser parameters, and with optional liquid flow movement, the method provides stable colloids of dispersed metal and metal-alloy nanoparticles. In various embodiments additional stabilizing chemical agents are not required.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a large-core optical fiber and a large-core optical fiber system, wherein the optical fiber comprises of a core having a core raidius ρ and a core index of refraction n core ; a first cladding disposed about said core, said first cladding having an outer radius ρ 1 and an index of refraction n cl , said core and said first cladding having a difference in index of refraction Δn = n core - n cl , and a numerical aperture (NA) less than about 0.05, said NA determined by n core and n cl ; and a second cladding disposed about said first cladding, said first cladding and said second cladding having a difference in index of refraction Δn 1 , wherein the first cladding radius ρ 1 is greater than about 1.1 ρ and less than about 2 ρ and the refractive index difference between said first cladding and said second cladding, Δn 1 , is greater than about 1.5 Δn and less than about 50 Δn. The optical fiber system for providing optical amplification consists of the large-core optical fiber, wherein said core of said large-core fiber is doped with one or more types of rare earth ions, said large-core optical fiber comprising of a combined waveguide formed by said core and said first cladding layer; an optical pump optically coupled to said large-core optical fiber; and an optical source optically coupled to an input of said large-core optical fiber.