A device for combining several light beams, the device including several hollow input waveguides, at least one per light beam, as well as a hollow output waveguide which is the same for the different light beams, each input waveguide having an input opening to let the corresponding light beam enter, and, at the opposite, an output opening through which it emerges in the output waveguide, the output waveguide, as well as each input waveguide being laterally delimited by one or more metallic reflecting surfaces, and wherein at least a section of the output waveguide is divergent and widens in the direction of an output opening of the output waveguide.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include optical transmitters and transceivers with improved reliability. In some embodiments, the optical transmitters are used in network devices, such as in conjunction with a network switch. In one embodiment, lasers are operated at low power to improve reliability and power consumption. The output of the laser may be modulated by a non-direct modulator and received by integrated optical components, such as a modulator and/or multiplexer. The output of the optical components may be amplified by a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA). Various advantageous configurations of lasers, optical components, and SOAs are disclosed. In some embodiments, SOAs are configured as part of a pluggable optical communication module, for example.

A reusable laser probe with single-use optic fiber may include a reusable handle, an optic fiber fixture, and a single-use optic fiber. The single-use optic fiber may include an optic fiber having an optic fiber distal end and an optic fiber proximal end. The optic fiber may be disposed in a first transitory connector having a first transitory connector distal end and a first transitory connector proximal end wherein the optic fiber distal end extends a fixed distance from the transitory connector distal end. The optic fiber may be disposed in a second transitory connector having a second transitory connector distal end and a second transitory connector proximal end wherein the optic fiber proximal end extends a fixed distance from the second transitory connector distal end. The first transitory connector may be inserted in the reusable handle and the second transitory connector may be inserted in the optic fiber fixture.

The invention relates to a transparent auxiliary ring for the adjustment, for the long-term stable operation and for protection of fiber-coupled laser arrangements.

A system includes a master oscillator configured to generate a low-power optical beam. The system also includes a planar waveguide (PWG) amplifier configured to receive the low-power optical beam and generate a high-power optical beam having a power of at least about ten kilowatts. The PWG amplifier includes a single laser gain medium configured to generate the high-power optical beam. The single laser gain medium can reside within a single amplifier beamline of the system. The master oscillator and the PWG amplifier can be coupled to an optical bench assembly, and the optical bench assembly can include optics configured to route the low-power optical beam to the PWG amplifier and to route the high-power optical beam from the PWG amplifier. The PWG amplifier could include a cartridge that contains the single laser gain medium and a pumphead housing that retains the cartridge.

A method of making a microstructured optical fiber including loading the core and cladding materials of the fiber with hydrogen and deuterium at a loading temperature; annealing the fiber at a selected temperature T.sub.anneal; pumping the fiber with radiation; and reducing the temperature of the fiber and storing the fiber at the reduced temperature before the step of pumping the fiber; and wherein the method allows the hydrogen and the deuterium to become bound to the core material and the cladding material.

This optical coupling device couples a plurality of beams to a single fiber. A plurality of light sources is arranged at predetermined intervals and emits the plurality of beams. A plurality of collimating lens is arranged to face the plurality of light sources and collimates the plurality of beams emitted from the plurality of light sources. A reduction optical system reduces the beam diameter of the plurality of beams collimated by the plurality of collimating lens. A focusing lens focuses the plurality of beams reduced by the reduction optical system on a fiber. A first distance between the light source and the collimating lens arranged so as to correspond to a beam passing through the center of the reduction optical system is different from a second distance between the light source and the collimating lens arranged so as to correspond to a beam passing through the end portion of the reduction optical system.

A method of forming a build in a powder bed includes providing a first diode laser fiber array and a second diode laser fiber array, emitting a plurality of laser beams from selected fibers of the second diode laser fiber array onto the powder bed, corresponding to a pattern of a layer of the build, simultaneously melting powder in the powder bed corresponding to the pattern of the layer of the build, scanning a first diode laser fiber array along an outer boundary of the powder bed and emitting a plurality of laser beams from selected fibers of the first diode laser fiber array and simultaneously melting powder in the powder bed corresponding to the outer boundary of the layer of the build to contour the layer of the build. An apparatus for forming a build in a powder bed including a first diode laser fiber array and a second diode laser fiber array is also disclosed. The first diode laser fiber array configured to contour the layer of the build.

A method of marking an optical fiber that includes directing a laser beam onto a first colored layer of an optical fiber. The optical fiber includes a core and a cladding surrounding the core, the first colored layer surrounds the cladding, and the laser beam modifies the first colored layer to form one or more laser-modified regions along an outer surface of the first colored layer.

A laser processing head for a laser beam uses actuators engaged with a delivery fiber end to deflect the fiber end relative to an optical axis. The laser beam from the fiber end is collimated by a collimator and is then focused by a focusing component disposed in the head beyond the collimator to a focal point. The focal point of the laser beam is deflected from the optical axis in relation to the deflection of the fiber end. The fiber end and the actuators are housed in a sealed module. Deflection of the laser beam can be sensed by reflecting portion of the laser beam to a sensing element so a control system can monitor and control the fiber end's movement. A mode-stripper in the sealed module removes light from cladding of the delivery fiber, and an actively cooled absorber in the module around the fiber absorbs the energy.