A spatio-temporally incremental fiber sweep source includes a laser light pulse generator for generating light pulses and a fiber array of individual optical fibers. The fiber array has an input end and an output end, with the fibers at the input end receiving the light pulses substantially simultaneously. The optical fibers at the output end are arranged in a raster scan pattern, e.g., a square pattern, wherein the optical delay in each fiber is greater than the previous one in the scan pattern direction. As a result light exits the array in a completely optical two dimensional raster scan pattern. It has no moving parts, and thus no mechanical inertia, so extremely high speed scanning can be achieved.

An external resonator type light-emitting device includes a light source oscillating a semiconductor laser light and a grating element configuring an external resonator together with the light source. The light source includes an active layer oscillating said semiconductor laser light. The grating element includes an optical waveguide and a plurality of Bragg gratings formed in the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide includes an incident face to which the semiconductor laser light is incident and an emitting face from which an emitting light having a desired wavelength is emitted. A half value reflectance R.sub.50 is larger than a reflectance R.sub.2 at an emitting end of the light source. A half value reflectance R.sub.50 is 3% or larger. A combined reflectance is not less than the half value reflectance R.sub.50 in a wavelength region .sub.50. The wavelength region .sub.50 is continuous over 10 nm or more and 30 nm or less, provided that a half value reflectance is defined as 50 percent of a maximum value Rmax of the combined reflectance of the Bragg gratings.

A spatio-temporally incremental fiber sweep source includes a laser light pulse generator for generating light pulses and a fiber array of individual optical fibers. The fiber array has an input end and an output end, with the fibers at the input end receiving the light pulses substantially simultaneously. The optical fibers at the output end are arranged in a raster scan pattern, e.g., a square pattern, wherein the optical delay in each fiber is greater than the previous one in the scan pattern direction. As a result light exits the array in a completely optical two dimensional raster scan pattern. It has no moving parts, and thus no mechanical inertia, so extremely high speed scanning can be achieved.

An optical coupling element is configured to be positioned between and optically couple a first optical component configured to transmit a light beam, and a second optical component configured to receive light. The optical coupling element comprises a glass coupler body having a receiving side surface and an opposite transmitting side surface. The glass coupler body comprises a converging member configured to reduce divergence of light entering the glass coupler body via the receiving side surface; and a coupling waveguide extending within the glass coupler body between the converging member and an output facet on the transmitting side surface and being configured to transmit light from the converging member to the output facet.

Systems and methods for generating spectrally compressed photons from broadband emitted photon pulses. The system can include an input coupling having a first coupling ratio an output coupling having a second coupling ratio. The first coupling ratio is configurable and the second coupling ratio is fixed. A cavity can be connected to the input coupling and the output coupling. A controller in electrical communication with the coupling device can be configured to change the first coupling ratio of the input coupling.

An optical filter comprising a first lens, and first and second optical elements. The first lens has an optical axis, configured to focus beams propagating parallel to the optical axis at a focal point. The first optical element has a first semi-reflective surface, the first semi-reflective surface being curved and having a first radius of curvature around a first centre of curvature on the optical axis. The second optical element has a second semi-reflective surface. The first radius of curvature is between 1 and 10,000 times the distance between the first semi reflective surface and the focal point along the optical axis. The first and second semi-reflective surfaces are arranged to form a resonator. The first lens and the first and second semi-reflective surfaces are arranged along the optical axis such that light is transmittable along an optical path through the lens and the resonator. The optical filter further comprises one or more expansion elements located outside of the optical path, and arranged such that expansion of the expansion elements causes relative movement of the first and second semi-reflective surfaces.

An external resonator type light-emitting device includes a light source oscillating a semiconductor laser light and a grating element configuring an external resonator together with the light source. The light source includes an active layer oscillating the semiconductor laser light. The grating element includes an optical waveguide and a plurality of Bragg gratings formed in the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide includes an incident face on which the semiconductor laser light is incident and an emitting face from which an emitting light having a desired wavelength is emitted.

An external resonator type light-emitting device includes a light source oscillating a semiconductor laser light and a grating element configuring an external resonator together with the light source. The light source includes an active layer oscillating said semiconductor laser light. The grating element includes an optical waveguide and a plurality of Bragg gratings formed in the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide includes an incident face to which the semiconductor laser light is incident and an emitting face from which an emitting light having a desired wavelength is emitted. A half value reflectance R.sub.50 is larger than a reflectance R.sub.2 at an emitting end of the light source. A half value reflectance R.sub.50 is 3% or larger. A combined reflectance is not less than the half value reflectance R.sub.50 in a wavelength region .sub.50. The wavelength region .sub.50 is continuous over 10 nm or more and 30 nm or less, provided that a half value reflectance is defined as 50 percent of a maximum value Rmax of the combined reflectance of the Bragg gratings.

An integrated apertured micromirror is provided in which the micromirror is monolithically integrated with a micro-optical bench fabricated on a substrate using a lithographic and deep etching technique. The micromirror has an aperture therein and is oriented such that the micromirror is optically coupled to receive an incident beam having an optical axis in a plane of the substrate and to at least partially transmit the incident beam therethrough via the aperture.

Refractory anchoring devices include a main body and a mounting feature for mounting to a thermal vessel. The main body has the shape of two end-to-end Y's forming a central segment, branch segments extending from ends of the central segment, and extension segments extending from the branch segments, to collectively form four unenclosed cell openings that are semi-hexagonally shaped. Some embodiments include reinforcement segments extending into respective cell openings, voids extending through respective adjacent branch and extension segments, an underbody gap under the central segment, a single stud-welding stud for the mounting feature, and/or a collar-and-stud connection between the anchor main body and a stud-welding stud of the mounting feature. Refractory anchoring systems and methods include an array of the refractory anchoring devices arranged and mounted so that the unenclosed semi-hexagonal cell openings of adjacent anchoring devices cooperatively form substantially hexagonal cells.