In accordance with some embodiments, a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system comprise: a control system housing; a first LiDAR head housing separate and distinct from the control system housing; a light source within the control system housing configured to produce a first pulse signal; a light detector within the control system housing configured to detect a first return pulse signal associated with the pulse signal; a first pulse steering system within the first LiDAR housing configured to direct the first pulse signal in a first direction; a first fiber coupled to the light source and the first pulse steering system, the first fiber configured to carry the first pulse signal from the light source to the first pulse steering system; and a second fiber configured to carry a first returned pulse signal from the first LiDAR head housing to the light detector.

A master oscillator configured as a seed laser for a laser optical module includes a reduced size, temperature controlled non-planar ring oscillator, a piezo-electric transducer mounted on the non-planar ring oscillator, a pump laser diode, and coupling optics configured to couple a laser output of the pump laser diode to an end face of the non-planar ring oscillator. The pump laser diode may operate as a single-mode pump.

A master oscillator configured as a seed laser for a laser optical module includes a reduced size, temperature controlled non-planar ring oscillator, a piezo-electric transducer mounted on the non-planar ring oscillator, a pump laser diode, and coupling optics configured to couple a laser output of the pump laser diode to an end face of the non-planar ring oscillator. The pump laser diode may operate as a single-mode pump.

The system and method of using an ultra-short pulse mid and long wave infrared laser. The system is seeded with a 2 μm laser source having a pulse duration in the femtosecond range. The beam is stretched, to increase the pulse duration, and the beam is amplified, to increase an energy level of the laser beam. Both mid wave IR and long wave IR seed beams are first generated, and then amplified via one or more optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification stages. A compressor may be used to compress one or more of the output beams to achieve high peak power and controllable pulse duration in the output beams. The output beams may then be used to create atmospheric or material effects at km range.

A CW laser with a rotating ring gain element is disclosed. The ring is pumped at multiple locations and the laser generates a mid-IR output. Multiple pumped gain portions of the ring provide a power scaled output. The gain portions may be positioned in a single resonator cavity, in multiple resonator cavities, and in MOPA architectures with associated focusing, folding, and combining optical elements.

A combination of microvalves and waveguides may enable the creation of reconfigurable on-chip light sources compatible with planar sample preparation and particle sensing architecture using either single-mode or multi-mode interference (MMI) waveguides. A first type of light source is a DFB laser source with lateral gratings created by the light valves. Moreover, feedback for creating a narrowband light source does not have to be a DFB grating in the active region. A DBR configuration (Bragg mirrors on one or both ends of the active region) or simple mirrors at the end of the cavity can also be used. Alternately, ring resonators may be created using a valve coupled to a bus waveguide where the active gain medium is either incorporated in the ring or inside an enclosed fluid. The active light source may be activated by moving a fluid trap and/or a solid-core optical component defining its active region.

A combination of microvalves and waveguides may enable the creation of reconfigurable on-chip light sources compatible with planar sample preparation and particle sensing architecture using either single-mode or multi-mode interference (MMI) waveguides. A first type of light source is a DFB laser source with lateral gratings created by the light valves. Moreover, feedback for creating a narrowband light source does not have to be a DFB grating in the active region. A DBR configuration (Bragg mirrors on one or both ends of the active region) or simple mirrors at the end of the cavity can also be used. Alternately, ring resonators may be created using a valve coupled to a bus waveguide where the active gain medium is either incorporated in the ring or inside an enclosed fluid. The active light source may be activated by moving a fluid trap and/or a solid-core optical component defining its active region.

A method of key distribution, a key distribution system, a single photon source system and a method of generating single photons. The method of key distribution comprises the steps of: providing a free space optics, FSO, link between a transmitter and a receiver; detecting whether an eavesdropper is present along the FSO link; transmitting individual photons or weak coherent pulses, as an approximation of individual photons, each encoding a basic unit of the key according to a binary or higher number base system from the transmitter to the receiver; and comparing timing information associated with the transmission and reception of the individual photons for determining the key when it is detected that no eavesdropper is present along the FSO link.

A system for generating an energy beam based laser includes an apparatus for receiving an energy beam and for generating an energy beam based laser. The apparatus is configurable or controllable for tuning an output wavelength of the laser generated by the apparatus using the energy beam. The apparatus includes a first component for producing a first magnetic field oriented in a first direction and a second component for producing a second magnetic field oriented in a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction. A channel through the apparatus is defined by the first component and the second component through which the energy beam passes to generate the laser at an output of the apparatus. The apparatus is configurable or controllable for modifying at least one of the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field for tuning the output wavelength of the laser.

A system for generating an energy beam based laser includes an apparatus for receiving an energy beam and for generating an energy beam based laser. The apparatus is configurable or controllable for tuning an output wavelength of the laser generated by the apparatus using the energy beam. The apparatus includes a first component for producing a first magnetic field oriented in a first direction and a second component for producing a second magnetic field oriented in a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction. A channel through the apparatus is defined by the first component and the second component through which the energy beam passes to generate the laser at an output of the apparatus. The apparatus is configurable or controllable for modifying at least one of the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field for tuning the output wavelength of the laser.