Systems and methods are provided for optimizing the energy output of a laser system, such as a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system, by allowing the laser system to be tuned while the laser is in operation. For example, in an embodiment, a sensor, such as a photoresistor, is used to perform a scan to determine whether turning the crystal will result in increased energy. Crystal turners, such as servo motors, can be used to turn the crystal until the energy stops increasing.

An infrared detection system comprises the following elements. A laser source provides radiation for illuminating a target (5). This radiation is tuned to at least one wavelength in the fingerprint region of the infrared spectrum. A detector (32) detects radiation backscattered from the target (5). An analyser determines from at least the presence or absence of detected signal in said at least one wavelength whether a predetermined volatile compound is present. An associated detection method is also provided. In embodiments, the laser source is tunable over a plurality of wavelengths, and the detector comprises a hyperspectral imaging system. The laser source may be an optical parametric device has a laser gain medium for generating a pump beam in a pump laser cavity, a pump laser source and a nonlinear medium comprising a ZnGeP.sub.2 (ZGP) crystal. On stimulation by the pump beam, the ZnGeP.sub.2 (ZGP) crystal is adapted to generate a signal beam having a wavelength in a fingerprint region of the spectrum and an idler beam having a wavelength in the mid-infrared region of the spectrum. The laser gain medium and the ZnGeP.sub.2 (ZGP) crystal are located in the pump wave cavity.

A light source providing tunable light of macroscopic power, particularly by utilizing a broadband pump source, an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) and at least one additional nonlinear process. The light source is capable of producing a tunable broadband emission of macroscopic power, particularly at wavelengths less than 1.1 m.

An apparatus and a corresponding method for generating at least one random number are disclosed. The apparatus includes an optical parametric oscillator being pumped by a pump signal with a predetermined pump power and a predetermined pump frequency. The optical parametric oscillator is configured to operate in a period multiplication state for providing an oscillator output signal of alternating light pulses, the oscillator output signal having a period that is N-times the period of the pump signal, where N is an integer and N>1. The apparatus also includes a comparing unit being configured to compare the output signal with a reference signal, wherein the reference signal has a frequency that is 1/N of the predetermined pump frequency, and an evaluation unit being configured to generate the at least one random number based on the comparison of the output signal with the reference signal.

Devices and techniques that use nonlinear optical effects in optical fiber to generate optical pulses via nonlinear optical wave mixing for various applications such as coherent Raman microscopic measurements and optical parametric oscillators. In some implementations, a tunable optical delay path is provided to cause an adjustable delay for synchronizing two optical beams of optical pulses.

Fiber optic amplification includes a photonic crystal fiber coupled to a pump laser through a first coupler. The pump laser emits a first electromagnetic radiation wave into the photonic crystal fiber at a first oscillation frequency and a second electromagnetic radiation wave into the photonic crystal fiber at a second oscillation frequency equaling the first oscillation frequency. The first and second electromagnetic radiation waves interact to generate a signal comprising an electromagnetic radiation wave at a third oscillation frequency and an idler comprising a fourth electromagnetic radiation wave at a fourth oscillation frequency to be generated and amplified through parametric amplification. Parametric amplification is achieved by four wave mixing. The photonic crystal fiber emits a parametric output signal based on the four wave mixing. A nonlinear crystal frequency doubles the parametric output signal through second-harmonic generation.

Systems and methods are provided for optimizing the energy output of a laser system, such as a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system, by allowing the laser system to be tuned while the laser is in operation. For example, in an embodiment, a sensor, such as a photoresistor, is used to perform a scan to determine whether turning the crystal will result in increased energy. Crystal turners, such as servo motors, can be used to turn the crystal until the energy stops increasing.

A frequency electromagnetic radiation generation system including: a non linear crystal producing THz frequency electromagnetic radiation; a fundamental beam that interacts with the non linear crystal thereby emitting a THz frequency electromagnetic radiation emission; a silicon intermediary coupled to the non linear crystal for output channeling the THz frequency electromagnetic radiation emission to an output environment; the system utilising a fundamental beam which has a photon energy below the bandgap energy of silicon.

An optical parametric oscillator (OPO) system comprises an optical waveguide including a hollow core containing a fluid, wherein the optical waveguide is configured to receive pump light and to convert the pump light into signal light and idler light via a third order non-linear optical effect. The OPO system further comprises an optical feedback arrangement for recycling at least a portion of the signal light and/or for recycling at least a portion of the idler light in an optical cavity that includes the optical waveguide. The OPO system may be used, in particular though not exclusively, in metrology, gas and solid-state spectroscopy, laser-assisted manufacturing, semiconductor technology, biomedicine, healthcare, and scientific laboratory use.

A method and a system for pulsed excitation of a nonlinear medium for photon pair generation, he method comprising exciting a single narrow resonance of a nonlinear resonant element with a pulsed laser field, comprising embedding a nonlinear resonant element directly into an external laser cavity and locking the cavity modes.