In some embodiments, a device for generating mid-infrared radiation is provided. The device may include a thin film quadratic nonlinear waveguide formed on a mid-infrared transparent cladding by a thin film material of a predetermined film thickness, the waveguide having a predetermined etch depth and a predetermined top width. At least one of the predetermined film thickness, the predetermined etch depth, and the predetermined top width may be tuned for the device to generate a coherent idler wave as a mid-infrared radiation from a fixed pump wave and a tunable signal wave.

A method for constructing a periodically-poled nonlinear crystal may include implanting ions in a bulk crystal of strontium tetraborate (SBO) or lithium triborate (LBO) to generate a damaged layer at a predetermined depth, attaching a handle material to the surface of the bulk crystal, cleaving the bulk crystal at the damaged layer to generate a thin plate, and polishing the thin plate to a thickness suitable for quasi-phase-matching (QPM) to generate laser output light having wavelengths in the range of about 120-200 nm. The surfaces of thin plates generated in this way are optically contacted, and resulting stacks are diced and arranged to generate many-layered QPM crystals. Methods, inspection systems, lithography systems and cutting systems incorporating the laser assembly are also described.

A manufacturing method for a wavelength conversion element, including: a first process of forming an optical waveguide core substrate having one or more periodic polarization inversion region with a second-order nonlinear effect; a second process of bonding the optical waveguide core substrate to a substrate having a refractive index lower than a refractive index of the optical waveguide core substrate in a range of used light wavelengths to form a bonded substrate, and thinning the optical waveguide core substrate to form a core layer; and a third process of processing the core layer of the bonded substrate to form an optical waveguide core, wherein, in the third process, a polarization inversion period of a periodic polarization inversion structure of the formed optical waveguide core is adjusted at least locally by selecting a formation position of the optical waveguide core with respect to the one or more periodic polarization inversion region.

A fluid filled fiber for a quasi-phase matched generator and a laser incorporating such a fluid filled fiber. The liquid filled fiber has charge transfer molecules dissolved in a solvent. In another embodiment, the liquid of the LF fiber comprises or consists essentially of highly polar liquids and/or charge transfer molecules having relatively high molecular dipole values. The liquid filled fiber is usable with a laser for differential frequency generation.

Embodiments can include a photonic structure comprising: a substrate; a waveguide formed over the substrate; an insulator layer formed over the waveguide, wherein the waveguide is formed of nonlinear optical material; and a tuning structure integrally formed on the photonic structure with the waveguide, the tuning structure configured for tuning the waveguide.

Controlling a low-threshold femtosecond supercontinuum (fs SCG) in a bulk nonlinear material (BNLM) with a positive thermo-optic coefficient (dn/dT>0 K.sup.1) is provided by coupling light at a first wavelength output by a fs oscillator at a full pulse repetition PRR into the BNLM. The coupling of light produces a nonlinear lens of the coupled beam in the BNLM which is insufficient to provide intensity of the light sufficient to reach ta threshold of the fs SCG. To raise the pulse energy and reach the SCG threshold, light at a second wavelength different from the first wavelength is absorbed in the BNLM to form a thermal lens in the BNLM which assist the nonlinear lens in creating the SCG.