A photonic lantern couples light from several fibers or fiber cores into one or more fibers or fiber cores. Photonic lanterns are often used to combine several lower-power beams into a single higher-power beam. They can also be used to couple light from multi-core fibers into single-mode, multi-mode, or other multi-core fibers. By modulating the phases of the input beams, the light can be switched from output to output—for example, between output cores of a multi-core output fiber. If desired, the beams can also be amplified using an active fiber in or coupled to the photonic lantern. A first photonic lantern couples signal light and pump light into the core and cladding, respectively, of an active multi-mode or multi-core fiber. And the active multi-mode or multi-core fiber couples amplified signal light into output fiber(s) via a second photonic lantern.

A frequency modulated, continuous wave (FMCW) laser using a microchip gain medium, an optical coupling element, and a tuning element is described. The laser may be part of a coherent laser ranging system.

A laser oscillator includes a first structure disposed with an optical section, a second structure disposed with a power source section, and an electric cable that electrically connects the optical section and the power source section. The first structure is removably coupled to the second structure, the electric cable is removably connected to at least one of the power source section and the optical section, and the optical section is allowed to be replaced.

A laser oscillator includes a first structure disposed with an optical section, a second structure disposed with a power source section, and an electric cable that electrically connects the optical section and the power source section. The first structure is removably coupled to the second structure, the electric cable is removably connected to at least one of the power source section and the optical section, and the optical section is allowed to be replaced.

An apparatus is provided, the apparatus comprising: (i) a diode-pumped solid-state laser oscillator configured to generate a pulsed laser beam having predefined beam characteristics corresponding to a current setting selection of a controller; and (ii) an amplifier configured to amplify an energy and modify a beam profile of the pulse laser beam. A beam detector is coupled to the generated beam to monitor a combination of: (i) a beam pulse width; (ii) a beam diameter; and (iii) an energy level, and generates an error signal to be sent back as a feedback signal to the controller. The controller configures the current source to output a correction current to tune the DPSSL oscillator, the wave plate, and the first polarizer to rotate a correction polarization angle and adjust the energy amplification or temporal profile to within a defined performance tolerance.

An apparatus is provided, the apparatus comprising: (i) a diode-pumped solid-state laser oscillator configured to generate a pulsed laser beam having predefined beam characteristics corresponding to a current setting selection of a controller; and (ii) an amplifier configured to amplify an energy and modify a beam profile of the pulse laser beam. A beam detector is coupled to the generated beam to monitor a combination of: (i) a beam pulse width; (ii) a beam diameter; and (iii) an energy level, and generates an error signal to be sent back as a feedback signal to the controller. The controller configures the current source to output a correction current to tune the DPSSL oscillator, the wave plate, and the first polarizer to rotate a correction polarization angle and adjust the energy amplification or temporal profile to within a defined performance tolerance.

A fixed input current is provided to a pump laser of an optical pumping block. Further, a first tuning temperature is provided to the pump laser while providing the fixed input current. The first tuning temperature is based on a target band of a pumping beam and causes the pump laser to generate a light beam having a first frequency band that is dictated by the first tuning temperature and the fixed input current. Further, a second tuning temperature is provided to a temperature dependent optical reflector configured to receive the light beam. The second tuning temperature is based on the target band of the pumping beam and causes the optical reflector to reflect light of the light beam that is within a second frequency band that corresponds to the target frequency band. The reflected light beam is emitted into a transmission optical medium configured to carry an optical signal.

The present invention benefits from the determination that pre-selected spectral bandwidths that avoid the spectrum of an electronic transition of a metal/alloy vapor allow for welds substantially free from detritus that may discolor the weld. Accordingly, the present invention provides analytical methods, welding methods and fiber lasers configured to provide high quality metal/alloy welds.

The present invention benefits from the determination that pre-selected spectral bandwidths that avoid the spectrum of an electronic transition of a metal/alloy vapor allow for welds substantially free from detritus that may discolor the weld. Accordingly, the present invention provides analytical methods, welding methods and fiber lasers configured to provide high quality metal/alloy welds.

The invention discloses a Raman laser apparatus including a linear cavity having a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, the linear cavity including along the first direction: a first optical component, a gain medium, a Raman medium, a lithium triborate (LBO) crystal and a second optical component. The first optical component receives an incident pumping light in the first direction. The gain medium receives the pumping light from the first optical component, and generates a first infrared base laser having a first wavelength. The Raman medium receives the first infrared base laser, and generates a second infrared base laser having a second wavelength. The LBO crystal receives the first and the second infrared base lasers, and generates a visible laser light having a third wavelength. The second optical component is configured to allow the visible laser light to be transmitted out along the first direction.