An example laser system includes a laser source to transmit a source light generated based on optical feedback provided by a laser cavity. The laser system further includes a beam-splitter to split the source light into a reference light and a split source light. The laser system further includes a modulator to modulate the split source light's frequency. The modulated light may be transmitted towards and reflected from a target. The modulator and beam-splitter may receive, frequency-modulate, and pass the reflected light to the laser cavity. The laser cavity amplifies the reflected light and transmits the amplified light toward the beam-splitter, such that the amplified light follows a same path as the reference light. The laser system further includes a detector to receive the reference light and amplified light, and detect a beating frequency as an indication of presence of the reflected light. Related methods and devices are also disclosed.

The invention relates to a device for multispot scanning microscopy, having a multicolour light source for providing at least one illumination light beam, having a splitting device for splitting the illumination light beam into a plurality of illumination sub-beams, having first optical means for providing an illumination optical path for guiding and focussing the individual illumination sub-beams respectively into a light spot on or in a specimen to be examined, having a scan unit for guiding the light spots over the probe, having a detection unit for detecting detection light emitted by the specimen in detection sub-beams after irradiation with the individual illumination sub-beams, having second optical means for providing a detection optical path for guiding the detection sub-beams to the detector unit, having a control and evaluation unit for controlling the scan unit and for evaluating the detection light detected by the detection unit. The device is characterised in that in the illumination optical path for at least two of the illumination sub-beams a controllable beam manipulation means is present for independent setting of a spectral composition of the respective illumination sub-beam, and the control and evaluation unit is designed to control the beam manipulation means. The invention further relates to a method for multispot scanning microscopy.

Systems and methods for a tunable radio frequency synthesizer utilizing optical frequency combs are provided. In one embodiment, an RF signal generator comprises: an SBS pump laser segment including a first and second SBS pump laser each generating SBS laser light at different respective frequencies; a TE/TM dual comb resonator comprising a comb optical resonator coupled to the first and second SBS pump lasers, wherein the comb optical resonator generates a pair of counter-propagating optical frequency combs of different polarities from the SBS laser light; a filter resonator segment configured to provide feedback to the TE/TM dual comb resonator to lock a relative position of the pair of counter-propagating optical frequency combs, the filter resonator comprising a tunable optical filter to output a discrete tuned RF signal output based on a comb line pair that includes a single comb line from each of the pair of counter-propagating optical frequency combs.

A laser processing apparatus disclosed in the present application includes: an optical deflection unit capable of changing a deflection direction of and outgoing energy of an incoming laser pulse by changes of a frequency of and an amplitude of a driving signal to be supplied; and a control unit configured to supply driving signals with amplitudes corresponding to respective frequencies. In a laser processing apparatus configured to process a workpiece by leading outgoing laser pulse of the optical deflection unit to the workpiece and irradiating the workpiece with the laser pulse, as the amplitude corresponding to each of the frequencies, the control unit supplies an amplitude having the ratio that is close to the lowest ratio among ratios of the outgoing energy with respect to the incoming energy of the laser pulse at an amplitude having the largest outgoing energy of the optical deflection unit.

A system may include a laser source, and an AOM coupled to the laser source. The AOM may include an acousto-optic medium, and transducer electrodes carried by the acousto-optic medium. The system may also include an interface board having a dielectric layer, and vertically extending signal vias within the dielectric layer. Each vertically extending signal via may have a lower end in contact with a respective transducer electrode. The interface board may have laterally extending signal traces carried by the dielectric layer. Each laterally extending signal trace may be in contact with an upper end of a respective vertically extending signal via.

Exemplary apparatus and method are provided. In particular, an electromagnetic radiation can be emitted with, e.g. a light source arrangement. For example, the light source arrangement can include a cavity and a filter, and a spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation can be controlled, e.g., with such cavity and filter, to have a mean frequency that changes (i) at an absolute rate that is greater than about 100 terahertz per millisecond, and (ii) over a range that is greater than about 10 terahertz. Additionally or alternatively, the light source arrangement can include a frequency shifting device which can shift the mean frequency of the electromagnetic radiation.

Exemplary apparatus and method are provided. In particular, an electromagnetic radiation can be emitted with, e.g. a light source arrangement. For example, the light source arrangement can include a cavity and a filter, and a spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation can be controlled, e.g., with such cavity and filter, to have a mean frequency that changes (i) at an absolute rate that is greater than about 100 terahertz per millisecond, and (ii) over a range that is greater than about 10 terahertz. Additionally or alternatively, the light source arrangement can include a frequency shifting device which can shift the mean frequency of the electromagnetic radiation.

A variable focal length lens system includes a tunable acoustic gradient (TAG) lens; a TAG lens controller; and processor(s) configured to: (a) operate the TAG lens controller to drive a periodic modulation of the TAG lens optical power at a TAG lens resonant frequency, using a first amplitude driving signal that provides a first focal Z range extending between peak focus distances Z1max+ and Z1max−; and expose a first image using a first exposure increment approximately at the timing of Z1max+ or Z1max−; (b) adjust the TAG lens controller to drive the periodic modulation using a second amplitude driving signal that provides a second focal Z range extending between peak focus distances Z2max+ and Z2max−; and expose a second image using a second exposure increment approximately at the timing of Z2max+ or Z2max−; and (c) perform processing that includes determining focus metric values for the first and second images.

An optical device including an acousto-optic modulator (AOM), a laser, an upstream optical fibre extending between the laser and the AOM, a downstream optical fibre located downstream of the AOM and a reflector connected to the fibre downstream of the AOM. The optical device including the upstream fibre is a polarisation-maintaining optical fibre, and/or the downstream fibre is arranged so that a transit time of the optical beam through said downstream fibre from the AOM to the reflecting means is nonzero and shorter than or equal to half an open duration of the AOM, and/or the AOM includes a crystal in which the entrance/exit faces are planar and are at a nonzero angle to each other, and/or at least one of the two entrance/exit faces is at a nonzero angle to a direction of propagation of the acoustic wave in the crystal.

An optical device including an acousto-optic modulator (AOM), a laser, an upstream optical fibre extending between the laser and the AOM, a downstream optical fibre located downstream of the AOM and a reflector connected to the fibre downstream of the AOM. The optical device including the upstream fibre is a polarisation-maintaining optical fibre, and/or the downstream fibre is arranged so that a transit time of the optical beam through said downstream fibre from the AOM to the reflecting means is nonzero and shorter than or equal to half an open duration of the AOM, and/or the AOM includes a crystal in which the entrance/exit faces are planar and are at a nonzero angle to each other, and/or at least one of the two entrance/exit faces is at a nonzero angle to a direction of propagation of the acoustic wave in the crystal.