In this patent, we teach methods to generate coherent X-ray and UUV rays beams for X ray and UUV microscopes using intense femtosecond pulses resulting the Ultra-Supercontinuum (USC) and Higher Harmonic Generation (HHG) from χ3 and χ.sup.5 media produce from electronic and molecular Kerr effect. The response of n.sub.2 (χ3) and n.sub.4 (χ5) at the optical frequency from instantaneously response of carrier phase of envelope results in odd HHG and spectral broadening about each harmonic on the anti-Stokes side of the pump pulse at wo typically in the visible, NIR, and MIR. From the slower molecular Kerr response on femtosecond to picosecond from orientation and molecular motion on n.sub.2 and n.sub.4 which follow the envelope of optical field of the laser gives rise to extreme broadening without HHG. The resulting spectra extend on the Stokes side towards the IR, RF to DC covering most of the electromagnetic spectrum. These HHG and Super broadening covering UUV to X rays and possibly to gamma ray regime for microscopes.

A single longitudinal mode ring Raman laser including: a pump source outputting a pump light power, resonantly coupled to a first ring resonator; a optical measurement and piezo-actuator for stabilising the resonant coupling of the pump light power to a first ring resonator; a first ring resonator including a Raman gain medium, wherein the Raman gain medium receives the pump light power and undergoes Raman lasing generating resonated Stokes power at the corresponding Stokes output wavelength; the first ring resonator acting as a feedback loop for the pump light power and the resonated Stokes power and outputting a portion of the Stokes power as the laser output.

A multi-wavelength laser device equipped with a linear cavity along which a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction are defined is disclosed. The apparatus includes, along the first direction, a first optical component, a gain and Raman medium, a sum frequency generation crystal, a first second-harmonic generation crystal and a second optical component. The first optical component allows a pumping light to transmit therethrough and be incident in the first direction. The gain and Raman medium receives the pumping light from the first optical component and generates a first infrared base laser light having a first wavelength and a second infrared base laser light having a second wavelength. The first and second optical components form a laser cavity for oscillation of these two infrared base laser lights. The sum frequency generation crystal receives the first and second infrared base laser lights and generates a first visible laser light having a third wavelength. The first second-harmonic generation crystal receives the first infrared base laser light and generates a second visible laser light having a fourth wavelength. The second optical element allows the first and the second visible laser lights to emit out along the first direction.

A multi-wavelength laser device equipped with a linear cavity along which a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction are defined is disclosed. The apparatus includes, along the first direction, a first optical component, a gain and Raman medium, a sum frequency generation crystal, a first second-harmonic generation crystal and a second optical component. The first optical component allows a pumping light to transmit therethrough and be incident in the first direction. The gain and Raman medium receives the pumping light from the first optical component and generates a first infrared base laser light having a first wavelength and a second infrared base laser light having a second wavelength. The first and second optical components form a laser cavity for oscillation of these two infrared base laser lights. The sum frequency generation crystal receives the first and second infrared base laser lights and generates a first visible laser light having a third wavelength. The first second-harmonic generation crystal receives the first infrared base laser light and generates a second visible laser light having a fourth wavelength. The second optical element allows the first and the second visible laser lights to emit out along the first direction.

A low-repetition-rate (10-Hz), picosecond (ps) optical parametric generator (OPG) system produces higher energy output levels in a more robust and reliable system than previously available. A picosecond OPG stage is seeded at an idler wavelength with a high-power diode laser and its output at ˜566 nm is amplified in a pulsed dye amplifier (PDA) stage having two dye cells, resulting in signal enhancement by more than three orders of magnitude. The nearly transform-limited beam at ˜566 nm has a pulse width of ˜170 ps with an overall output of ˜2.3 mJ/pulse. A spatial filter between the OPG and PDA stages and a pinhole between the two dye cells improve high output beam quality and enhances coarse and fine wavelength tuning capability.

The present disclosure relates to a broadband optical parametric chirped pulse amplifier insensitive to temperature comprises the first pulsed laser, the second pulsed laser, a pulse stretcher and a periodically poled nonlinear crystal. Via the proper arrangement of the non-collinear angles between the transmission directions of the signal light, the pump light and the idler light, to simultaneously satisfy the angular relationship required for constructing the non-collinear phase-matching configuration insensitive to wavelength and that required for constructing the non-collinear phase-matching configuration insensitive to temperature, the optical parametric chirped pulse amplifier not only can realize a broadband parametric amplification of the signal light (insensitive to wavelength), but also can effectively alleviate the phase mismatch in nonlinear crystal resulted from the excessively high local temperature (insensitive to temperature).

The present disclosure relates to a broadband optical parametric chirped pulse amplifier insensitive to temperature comprises the first pulsed laser, the second pulsed laser, a pulse stretcher and a periodically poled nonlinear crystal. Via the proper arrangement of the non-collinear angles between the transmission directions of the signal light, the pump light and the idler light, to simultaneously satisfy the angular relationship required for constructing the non-collinear phase-matching configuration insensitive to wavelength and that required for constructing the non-collinear phase-matching configuration insensitive to temperature, the optical parametric chirped pulse amplifier not only can realize a broadband parametric amplification of the signal light (insensitive to wavelength), but also can effectively alleviate the phase mismatch in nonlinear crystal resulted from the excessively high local temperature (insensitive to temperature).

A pulse generation unit generates a driving voltage signal including a pulse signal. A laser oscillation module oscillates a laser beam by carrying out, based on the driving voltage signal, a pulse oscillating operation. When the power command signal has a voltage command value corresponding to a laser power greater than a predetermined laser power during a high period, the pulse generation unit modulates, in a pulsed manner, a voltage value of the high period of the driving voltage signal so as to alternately repeat, for a preset period of time from a rising time of the high period of the driving voltage signal, a high state in which the voltage value is maintained and a low state in which the voltage value is lowered by a predetermined voltage value without being lowered to a voltage value of a low period of the driving voltage signal.

An electro-optic modulator (EOM) for altering an optical path length of an optical field is described. The EOM comprises first and second Brewster-angle cut nonlinear crystals having a first and second optical axis. The optical axes are orientated relative to each other such that when an optical field propagates through the nonlinear crystals it experiences no overall deviation. The nonlinear crystals are also arranged to be opposite handed relative to the optical field. The EOM has the advantage that its optical losses are lower when compared with those EOMs known in the art. In addition, the EOM can be inserted into, or removed from, an optical system without any deviation being imparted onto the optical field. This reduces the levels of skill and effort required on the part of an operator. The described method and apparatus for mounting the nonlinear crystals also suppresses problematic piezo-electric resonances within the nonlinear crystals.

An electro-optic modulator (EOM) for altering an optical path length of an optical field is described. The EOM comprises first and second Brewster-angle cut nonlinear crystals having a first and second optical axis. The optical axes are orientated relative to each other such that when an optical field propagates through the nonlinear crystals it experiences no overall deviation. The nonlinear crystals are also arranged to be opposite handed relative to the optical field. The EOM has the advantage that its optical losses are lower when compared with those EOMs known in the art. In addition, the EOM can be inserted into, or removed from, an optical system without any deviation being imparted onto the optical field. This reduces the levels of skill and effort required on the part of an operator. The described method and apparatus for mounting the nonlinear crystals also suppresses problematic piezo-electric resonances within the nonlinear crystals.