The present invention relates to a device and a method for performing overall frequency stabilization of a femtosecond laser optical comb by using optical modes directly extracted from the optical comb, and more particularly, to a device and a method for performing overall frequency stabilization of a femtosecond laser optical comb by using optical modes directly extracted from the optical comb capable of stabilizing an overall range of frequencies of the femtosecond laser optical comb by using optical modes directly extracted from the optical comb and generating a cw laser and pulse having an excellent frequency stability and linewidth from the stabilized optical comb.

The invention relates to scanning pulsed laser systems for optical imaging. Coherent dual scanning laser systems (CDSL) are disclosed and some applications thereof. Various alternatives for implementation are illustrated, including highly integrated configurations. In at least one embodiment a coherent dual scanning laser system (CDSL) includes two passively modelocked fiber oscillators. The oscillators are configured to operate at slightly different repetition rates, such that a difference f.sub.r in repetition rates is small compared to the values f.sub.r1 and f.sub.r2 of the repetition rates of the oscillators. The CDSL system also includes a non-linear frequency conversion section optically connected to each oscillator. The section includes a non-linear optical element generating a frequency converted spectral output having a spectral bandwidth and a frequency comb comprising harmonics of the oscillator repetition rates. A CDSL may be arranged in an imaging system for one or more of optical imaging, microscopy, micro-spectroscopy and/or THz imaging.

A diode laser system employing a vapor cell in an external cavity and related techniques are disclosed. The system may be configured to provide high-power, multi-mode output within one or more narrow ranges of wavelengths. A beam emitted from the laser along an initial optical axis passes through a vapor cell, where the effective ground-state occupation density of the vapor is reduced, causing spatial gradients of the vapor's effective index of refraction. Refraction of rays passing through these gradients produces angular deflections, most significantly for rays where the gradients are strongest and for wavelengths whose index of refraction departs furthest from unity near these atomic transitions. An at least partially reflective surface which is not aligned with the initial optical axis but rather is aligned perpendicular to some of these deflected rays provides feedback within an angular range, thereby contributing to the gain of the laser source for these wavelengths.

An optical device includes: a base including a first face facing in a first direction; an optical component having a second face that faces the first face and that is adhered to the first face with an adhesive; and an inhibitor that inhibits part of laser light an optical axis of which is out of alignment with the optical component from reaching the adhesive.

A diode laser system employing a vapor cell in an external cavity and related techniques are disclosed. The system may be configured to provide high-power, multi-mode output within one or more narrow ranges of wavelengths. A beam emitted from the laser along an initial optical axis passes through a vapor cell, where the effective ground-state occupation density of the vapor is reduced, causing spatial gradients of the vapor's effective index of refraction. Refraction of rays passing through these gradients produces angular deflections, most significantly for rays where the gradients are strongest and for wavelengths whose index of refraction departs furthest from unity near these atomic transitions. An at least partially reflective surface which is not aligned with the initial optical axis but rather is aligned perpendicular to some of these deflected rays provides feedback within an angular range, thereby contributing to the gain of the laser source for these wavelengths.

In some embodiments, a system includes a laser that generates an optical signal and a resonator that receives the optical signal. The resonator includes an optical resonator cavity comprising a first and second end, wherein the optical signal propagates at a resonant frequency; a first optical anti-resonator terminating the first end and having a first stopband; and a second optical anti-resonator terminating the second end and having a second stopband. The system includes a detector that generates an electrical signal from a modified resonator output of the resonator; and Pound-Drever-Hall servo circuitry configured to generate control signals for controlling a frequency of the optical signal generated by the laser or phase modulation devices attached to the optical resonator cavity or the first or second optical anti-resonator, wherein each phase modulation changes a length of at least one of the optical resonator cavity or the first or second optical anti-resonator.

A method for the servo control of an optical device includes a cavity exhibiting resonance around a center frequency .sub.c, a laser and a phase modulator, the method being designed to servo-control the cavity to the laser or vice versa and to compensate for an amplitude modulation introduced by the phase modulator, the method comprising, inter alia, the following steps: A. varying a difference between the optical frequency of the laser radiation and the center frequency, such that the optical frequency scans the resonance, the difference being controlled by a parameter of an element of the device, and for each difference .sub.i i. modulating, at a modulation frequency .sub.mod, a phase of the laser radiation, through a modulation phase .sub.mod, with the phase modulator, ii. injecting the phase-modulated radiation into the cavity, iii. using a photodiode to detect radiation reflected or transmitted by the cavity and generating an electrical signal (St, Sr) representative of the intensity of the detected radiation, iv. demodulating the electrical signal at the modulation frequency .sub.mod by synchronously generating a first demodulated signal and a second demodulated signal representative of the demodulated electrical signal, respectively at a first demodulation phase .sub.dem,1 and at a second modulation phase .sub.dem,2.sub.dem,2.sub.dem,1k, where k[0; 2] is different from the first phase, and by filtering the first and the second signal so as to retain only a DC component of the first demodulated signal V.sub.1, called error signal 1, and of the second demodulated signal V.sub.2, called error signal 2.