A spectral beam combining (SBC) fiber laser amplifier system including a beam shaper array assembly and a beam source that provides a plurality of beams having a low fill factor profile. The assembly includes an input beam shaper array having a plurality of input cells positioned adjacent to each other that are shaped to cause the beams to expand as they propagates away from the input array to be converted from the low fill factor profile to a high fill factor profile and be tapered to a lower value at a perimeter of each input array cell. The assembly further includes an output beam shaper array having a plurality of output cells positioned adjacent to each other that are shaped to cause the beams to stop expanding so that the output array provides a plurality of adjacent beams with minimal overlap and a minimal gap between the beams.

A beam shaper array assembly including a beam source that provides a plurality of beams having a low fill factor profile. The assembly also includes an input beam shaper array having cells positioned adjacent to each other, where each cell includes an input beam shaper that receives one of the plurality beams and is shaped to cause the beam to expand as it propagates away from the input array to be converted from the low fill factor profile to a high fill factor profile. The assembly further includes an output beam shaper array having cells positioned adjacent to each other, where each cell includes an output beam shaper that receives one of the converted beams and is shaped to cause the beam to stop expanding so that the output array provides a plurality of adjacent beams with minimal overlap and a minimal gap between the beams.

A method includes directing a first plurality of probe laser pulses through a sample, dividing each of the first plurality of probe laser pulses to generate a first interferogram, and generating first image data reproducible as a first phase image of the sample. A plurality of pump laser bursts are directed onto the sample to heat the sample. A second plurality of probe laser pulses are directed through the sample at a predetermined time delay. Each of the second plurality of probe laser pulses are divided to generate a second interferogram. Second image data is generated that is reproducible as a second phase image of the sample. A transient phase shift is determined in the second phase image relative to the first phase image. A vibrational spectroscopy property is determined of the sample based on the transient phase shift, thereby allowing an identification of chemical bond information of within the sample.

A novel methodology for characterizing and calibrating an entangled photon distribution system is disclosed. The entangled photon distribution system includes at least a source of entangled photon pairs, two photon detectors which detect photons among two channels and a controller. The methodology includes: for at least two different operational setting levels of the source of entangled photon pairs, measuring count rates for photons detected by the two photon detectors, individually and coincidently; fitting the measured individual and coincidence count rate data for the at least two different operational setting levels with theoretical models of detection probability; and determining operational parameters of the system from the fitting. The determined operational parameters of the system include the rate of generated entangled photon pairs by the source, the rates of Raman-scattered photons generated in the first and second channels, respectively, and the efficiency of the two photon detectors, respectively.

A substrate treating apparatus includes a process chamber having a processing space in which a substrate is plasma-treated and a laser irradiation unit irradiating the substrate with a plurality of lasers having different pulse widths to heat the substrate to reach a temperature at which the substrate is plasma-treated.

A diagnostic system is provided with a plurality of semiconductor light emitters, each configured to generate an optical beam, and a beam combiner to generate a multiplexed optical beam. An optical fiber or waveguide communicates at least a portion of the multiplexed optical beam to form an output beam, wherein the output beam is pulsed. A filter, coupled to at least one of a lens and a mirror to receive at least a portion of the output beam, forms an output light. A beam splitter splits the light into a sample arm and a reference arm and directs at least a portion of the sample arm light to a sample. A detection system is configured to receive from the sample at least a portion of reflected sample light, to generate a sample detector output, and to use a lock-in technique with the pulsed output beam.

Methods, systems and apparatus are disclosed for delivery of pulsed treatment radiation by employing a pump radiation source generating picosecond pulses at a first wavelength, and a frequency-shifting resonator having a losing medium and resonant cavity configured to receive the picosecond pulses from the pump source at the first wavelength and to emit radiation at a second wavelength in response thereto, wherein the resonant cavity of the frequency-shifting resonator has a round trip time shorter than the duration of the picosecond pulses generated by the pump radiation source. Methods, systems and apparatus are also disclosed for providing beam uniformity and a sub-harmonic resonator.

The invention relates to an apparatus for generating laser pulses. It is an object of the invention to provide a method for generating synchronized laser pulse trains at variable wavelengths (e.g., for coherent Raman spectroscopy/microscopy), wherein the switching time for switching between different wavelengths should be in the sub-s range. For this purpose the apparatus according to the invention comprises a pump laser (1), which emits pulsed laser radiation at a specified wavelength, an FDML laser (3), which emits continuous wave laser radiation at a cyclically variable wavelength, and a nonlinear conversion medium (4), in which the pulsed laser radiation of the pump laser (1) and the continuous wave laser radiation of the FDML laser (3) are superposed. In the nonlinear conversion medium (4) the pulsed laser radiation of the pump laser (1) and the continuous wave laser radiation of the FDML laser (3) are converted in an optical parametric process into pulsed laser radiation at a signal wavelength and an idler wavelength that differs therefrom. Furthermore the invention relates to a method for generating laser pulses.

It is difficult to flatten the gain profile of an optical amplifier without increasing the power consumption, the cost, and the size of the optical amplifier; therefore, a monitoring apparatus for optical amplifier according to an exemplary aspect of the invention includes an optical filtering means for receiving a monitor light beam of the optical amplifier and transmitting a filtered monitor light beam with a set range of wavelength band; a photoelectric conversion means for converting the filtered monitor light beam into a monitoring signal; and a spectrum information generating means for generating spectrum information based on the monitoring signal, the spectrum information including information on a spectrum profile of output of the optical amplifier.

The present disclosure relates to an optical waveguide system. The system has a first waveguide having a core-guide and a cladding material portion surrounding and encasing the core-guide to form a substantially D-shaped cross sectional profile with an exposed flat section running along a length thereof. The core-guide enables a core-guide mode for an optical pulse signal having a first characteristic, travelling through the core-guide. A material layer of non-linear material is used which forms a second waveguide. The material layer is disposed on the exposed flat section of the cladding material portion. The material layer forms a plasmonic device to achieve a desired coupling with the core-guide to couple optical energy travelling through the core-guide into the material layer to modify the optical energy travelling through the core-guide such that the optical energy travelling through the core-guide has a second characteristic different from the first characteristic.