Abstract:
A method and system for generating deep ultraviolet (DUV) laser light is disclosed, in one embodiment the DUV laser system includes a fiber laser source configured to emit a poised fundamental laser beam in the near-infrared with a pulse duration of less than 400 femtoseconds (fs), a nonlinear crystal assembly comprising first, second, and third nonlinear crystals that is configured to convert the fundamental laser beam to produce a fifth harmonic laser beam having a wavelength in a range from 200 nanometers (nm) to 230 nm, and at least one compensation plate disposed in at least one position preceding at least one of the first, second, and third nonlinear crystals and configured such that a pair of pulsed laser beams transmitted through the at least one compensation plate are spatially and temporally overlapped within the at least one of the first, second, and third nonlinear crystals.
Abstract:
A method and system of determining a z-distance between an optical fiber and a substrate are presented. The method can include, for instance: obtaining an image that includes an end of the optical fiber and a reflection of the end of the optical fiber from a surface of the substrate, and processing the image to determine a z-distance along a z-axis between the end of the optical fiber and the substrate.
Abstract:
A photonic device is configured with a photonic integrated circuit (PIC), a plurality of fiber-based gain mediums in optical communication with the PIC, and at least one optical pump outputting pump light coupled into two or more gain mediums, At least one of the fiber-based gain media and the PIC form a hybrid resonant optical cavity there between operative to lase light into the PIC. The gain media further include one or more fiber amplifiers amplifying light signals coupled into and decoupled from the PIC. The photonic device is integrated with Si photonic passive and active photonic elements, while all fiber links between the gain media and PIC are free from these elements.
Abstract:
A method and system for forming a photonic device. A photonic device may include a substrate, a cladding layer disposed on the substrate, an electrical device region formed within the cladding layer, the electrical device region having a plurality of electrical device component layers that include at least one metal layer, and a grating region formed within the cladding layer, the grating region including a grating coupler and the at least one metal layer. The at least one metal layer is deposited simultaneously in the electrical device and grating regions and is used in the grating region to reflect light emitted from the grating coupler.
Abstract:
Catheter steering handles that are ergonomically designed to enable an operator to reduce hand fatigue. Various ergonomic aspects of the disclosed steering handles include geometries that more naturally conform to the palm of the hand and that enable the hand to be held in a natural, low stress posture during operation of the steering handle. In another aspect of the disclosure, the catheter steering handle is configured so that the operator can release or partially release the grip on the handle, thereby enabling the operator to relax and flex the hand, thereby reducing fatigue.v
Abstract:
A gas shielding device may be used with a laser processing head, such as a welding head, to diffuse and distribute a shield gas over a larger gas shielding area for shielding a larger area of metal. The gas shielding device may be coupled to the laser processing head to move with the laser beam and may be arranged coaxially to provide the larger shielding effect in all directions of welding. The gas shielding device is particularly useful for welding titanium or other metals that are highly reactive with gases in the air and/or for larger welding areas (e.g., where the laser beam is wobbled).
Abstract:
An optical parametric device (OPD), which is selected from an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) or optical parametric generator (OPG), is configured with a nonlinear optical element (NOE) which converts an incoupled pump radiation at first frequency into output signal and idler radiations at one second frequency or different second frequencies, which is/are lower than the first frequency, by utilizing nonlinear interaction via a random quasi-phase matching process (RQPM-NOE). The NOE is made from a nonlinear optical material selected from optical ceramics, polycrystals, micro and nanocrystals, colloids of micro and nanocrystals, and composites of micro and nanocrystals in polymer or glassy matrices. The nonlinear optical material is prepared by modifying a microstructure of the initial sample of the NOE such that an average grain size is of the order of a coherence length of the three-wave interaction which enables the three wave nonlinear interaction with a highest parametric gain achievable via the RQPM process
Abstract:
The ultra-short pulse chirped pulse amplification (CPA) laser system and method of operating CPA laser system include outputting nearly transform limited (TL) pulses by a mode locked laser. The system and method further include temporarily stretching the TL pulses by a first Bragg grating providing thus each stretched pulse with a chirp which is further compensated for in a second Bragg grating operating as as a compressor. The laser system and method further include a pulse shaping unit measuring a spectral phase across the recompressed pulse and further adjusting the deviation of the measured spectral phase from that of the TL pulse by generating a corrective signal. The corrective signal is applied to the array of actuators coupled to respective segments of one of the BGs which are selectively actuated to induce the desired phase change, with the one BG thus operating as both stretcher/compressor and pulse shaper.
Abstract:
Laser processing systems and methods image a multiple core array to a work surface in a multiple processing beam array. An optical system separates processing beams and converges the beams toward the work surface and focuses each beam of the array at or near the work surface. A central axis with access for filler material flow to the work surface is provided. The processing beam array and central filler material feed provide omni-directional additive laser processing capability.
Abstract:
The disclosed method and handheld analyzer of elemental concentration measurement is based on spectral analysis of high temperature highly ionized plasma generated by laser-generated pulses. Due to a high pulse energy and short pulse duration, high intensity singly and multiply charged ion lines in addition to neutral atomic lines are excited. The pulsed laser source of the disclosed analyzer is configured to output a train of pulses of signal light at a 1.5-1.6 signal wavelength at a pulse repetition rate from 0.1 to 50 kHz, pulses duration from 0.01 to 1.5 ns, pulse energy between 100 and 1000 uJ and has a beam spot on the surface of the sample varying 1 to 60 μm. The above-described parameters provide at least a 20 GW/cm 2 laser power density sufficient to induce a high temperature, highly ionized plasma (plasma) which allows measuring the carbon concentration in carbon steels by employing doubly charged ionic line CIII with a detection limit down to 0.01% and other elements commonly present in carbon steels with detection limit below 0.01%.