A device for high-speed real-time sampling of mid-infrared ultrafast light signals includes a time domain amplification unit and a detection unit. The time domain amplification unit is used to perform sampling and time domain amplification on signal light incident to the time domain amplification unit, and convert the signal light of a mid-infrared band into a near-infrared/visible band. The detection unit is used to receive and record information of the to-be-detected signal light processed by the time domain amplification unit to realize high-speed real-time sampling and measurement of the mid-infrared ultrafast light signal. The present disclosure can accurately obtain subpicosecond transient characteristics of the light signal, breaks through the capacity limit to the response rate of a traditional photoelectric detector, the bandwidth of the oscilloscope and the like, and is applicable to femtosecond-level mid-infrared ultrafast light signals.

Methods and apparatuses for manipulating and modulating of laser beams. The methods and apparatuses enable activating and deactivating of laser beams, while the laser systems maintain their operating power. Further, a hybrid pump module configured to be coupled to an optical fiber having a core and at least one clad, comprising: at least one focusing lens in optical with the optical fiber; plurality of diode modules, each configured to output a multi-mode beam in optical path with the clad; and at least one core associated module, in optical path with the core, configured to provide selected functions. Further, apparatus and methods configured for frequency doubling of optical radiation.

The present disclosure provides a liquid crystal phase shifter, comprising a first substrate and a second substrate which are oppositely arranged, and a liquid crystal layer positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein a plurality of spacers are distributed in the liquid crystal layer, the spacers are in contact with the first substrate and the second substrate, and include a first spacer arranged on the first substrate and a second spacer arranged on the second substrate, and the first spacer and the second spacer are abutted. The present disclosure also provides a manufacturing method of the liquid crystal phase shifter.

Apparatus include an optical cavity including an optical coupling portion situated to couple an optical signal input field to an intracavity optical signal field and an optical control input field to an intracavity optical control field, wherein the optical cavity includes a nonlinear optical medium that mediates a selective exchange of at least one predetermined temporal mode between the intracavity optical signal field and an intracavity optical register field based on a nonlinear phase-matched interaction between the intracavity optical signal, control, and register fields and selectable field characteristics of the optical control input field.

Provided herein is a wavelength converter capable of producing shorter wavelengths by wavelength conversion than in related art. A wavelength converter of the present disclosure includes: a first layer formed of a single crystal represented by general formula RAMO.sub.4; and a second layer formed of a single crystal represented by the general formula RAMO.sub.4 and having a direction of polarization reversed 180 from a direction of polarization of the first layer, wherein, in the general formula, R represents one or more trivalent elements selected from the group consisting of Sc, In, Y, and a lanthanoid element, A represents one or more trivalent elements selected from the group consisting of Fe(III), Ga, and Al, and M represents one or more divalent elements selected from the group consisting of Mg, Mn, Fe(II), Co, Cu, Zn, and Cd.

A system includes a waveform generator configured to generate a pulsed laser beam at a first wavelength. The system also includes at least one splitter configured to split the laser beam into multiple beams at the first wavelength. The system also includes at least one wavelength shifter configured to shift at least one of the multiple beams to another wavelength. The system also includes at least one combiner configured to combine the multiple beams into a multi-wavelength beam in which multiple wavelengths are co-aligned and propagating parallel to each other. The system also includes at least one nonlinear crystal configured to receive the multi-wavelength beam and generate multiple co-propagating beams using nonlinear wavelength conversion.

A wavelength conversion system including: A. a first nonlinear optical crystal to which first pulsed laser light having a first polarization state and a first wavelength and second pulsed laser light having a second polarization state and a second wavelength are inputted and which is configured to output in response to the input the second pulsed laser light and first sum frequency light having the second polarization state and a third wavelength produced by sum frequency mixing of the first wavelength with the second wavelength; and B. a second nonlinear optical crystal to which the first sum frequency light and the second pulsed laser light outputted from the first nonlinear optical crystal are inputted and which is configured to output in response to the input third pulsed laser light having a fourth wavelength.

A system for optical comb carrier envelope offset frequency control includes a mode-locked oscillator. The mode-locked oscillator produces an output beam using an input beam and one or more control signals. The output beam includes a controlled carrier envelope offset frequency. A beat note generator produces a beat note signal using a portion of the output beam. A control signal generator produces the one or more control signals to set the beat note signal by modulating the intensity of the input beam within the mode locked oscillator. Modulating the intensity comprises using a Mach-Zehnder intensity modulator or using an intensity modulated external laser to affect a gain medium within the mode-locked laser.

An optical imager comprising an input lens system, a non-linear optic crystal, a pump source, and a photodetector array; the input lens system coupling input or incident light onto the non-linear optic crystal, the pump source providing pump light for the non-linear optical crystal, the non-linear optical crystal producing output light from a combination of the input light and the pump light, and the photodetector array detecting the output light produced by the non-linear optic crystal. The non-linear optic crystal preferably has a waveguided structure. The non-linear optic crystal has an optical cavity which is preferably shared with optical cavities of a plurality of lasers generating the pump light.

A nonlinear fiber interferometer is disclosed suitable for fiber sensor and other applications. A first nonlinear fiber section amplifies probe and conjugate sidebands of a pump through four-wave mixing. A second section introduces a phase shift to be measured, for example from a sensor. A third nonlinear fiber section amplifies with phase-sensitive gain to increase signal-to-noise ratio. Based on phase-sensitive output power of probe and/or conjugate components, the phase shift can be measured. Superior performance can be obtained by balancing gain between the (first and third) nonlinear sections. Non-fiber, for example photonic integrated circuit, embodiments are disclosed. Differential sensing, alternative detection schemes, sensing applications, associated methods, and other variations are disclosed.