Disclosed are dielectric cavity arrays with cavities formed by pairs of dielectric tips, wherein the cavities have low mode volume (e.g., 7*10.sup.−5λ.sup.3, where X is the resonance wavelength of the cavity array), and large quality factor Q (e.g., 10.sup.6 or more). Applications for such dielectric cavity arrays include, but are not limited to, Raman spectroscopy, second harmonic generation, optical signal detection, microwave-to-optical transduction, and as light emitting devices.

Methods and apparatus for a controlling a stimulus source to direct photons to a pixel in a pixel array contained in a detector system, analyzing a response of the pixel in the pixel array; and generating an alert based on the response of the pixel in the pixel array. Example stimulus sources include a conductive trace, a PN junction, and a current source.

A semiconductor laser diode is disclosed. In an embodiment a semiconductor laser diode includes a first resonator and a second resonator, the first and second resonators having parallel resonator directions along a longitudinal direction and being monolithically integrated into the semiconductor laser diode, wherein the first resonator includes at least a part of a semiconductor layer sequence having an active layer and an active region configured to be electrically pumped to generate a first light, wherein the longitudinal direction is parallel to a main extension plane of the active layer, and wherein the second resonator has an active region with a laser-active material configured to be optically pumped by at least a part of the first light to produce a second light which is partially emitted outwards from the second resonator.

A semiconductor laser diode is disclosed. In an embodiment a semiconductor laser diode includes a first resonator and a second resonator, the first and second resonators having parallel resonator directions along a longitudinal direction and being monolithically integrated into the semiconductor laser diode, wherein the first resonator includes at least a part of a semiconductor layer sequence having an active layer and an active region configured to be electrically pumped to generate a first light, wherein the longitudinal direction is parallel to a main extension plane of the active layer, and wherein the second resonator has an active region with a laser-active material configured to be optically pumped by at least a part of the first light to produce a second light which is partially emitted outwards from the second resonator.

An apparatus may include a diode-pumped solid-state laser oscillator configured to output a pulsed laser beam, a modulator configured to modify an energy and a temporal profile of the pulsed laser beam, and an amplifier configured to amplify an energy of the pulse laser beam. A modified and amplified beam to laser peen a target part may have an energy of about 5J to about 10 J, an average power (defined as energy (J) x frequency (Hz)) of from about 25 W to about 200 W, with a flattop beam uniformity of less than about 0.2. The diode-pumped solid-state oscillator may be configured to output a beam having both a single longitudinal mode and a single transverse mode, and to produce and output beams at a frequency of about 20 Hz.

A laser medium unit 10 in a laser beam amplification device includes a plurality of laser media 14. A cooling medium flow path F1 is provided around the laser medium unit 10 to cool the laser medium unit 10 from outside. A sealed space between the laser media 14 is filled with gas or liquid, and a laser beam for passing through the sealed space is not interfered by a cooling medium flowing outside. Therefore, a fluctuation of an amplified laser beam is prevented, and a quality such as stability and focusing characteristics of the laser beam is improved.

A laser medium unit 10 in a laser beam amplification device includes a plurality of laser media 14. A cooling medium flow path F1 is provided around the laser medium unit 10 to cool the laser medium unit 10 from outside. A sealed space between the laser media 14 is filled with gas or liquid, and a laser beam for passing through the sealed space is not interfered by a cooling medium flowing outside. Therefore, a fluctuation of an amplified laser beam is prevented, and a quality such as stability and focusing characteristics of the laser beam is improved.

A highly efficient laser ignition device is provided. The highly efficient laser ignition device fundamentally includes: a pumping light source adopting a multi-chip single emitter-packaged optical fiber output laser diode; a laser medium to which ytterbium is added; and a saturated absorber as a passive Q-switch medium, wherein a pulse of 100-999 ps as the passive Q-switch laser output can be obtained. According to the disclosed, the problems of high cost/low efficiency/low reliance/non-uniformity, which are disadvantages for replacing an ignition device using an electric spark with a laser ignition device, can be solved.

A highly efficient laser ignition device is provided. The highly efficient laser ignition device fundamentally includes: a pumping light source adopting a multi-chip single emitter-packaged optical fiber output laser diode; a laser medium to which ytterbium is added; and a saturated absorber as a passive Q-switch medium, wherein a pulse of 100-999 ps as the passive Q-switch laser output can be obtained. According to the disclosed, the problems of high cost/low efficiency/low reliance/non-uniformity, which are disadvantages for replacing an ignition device using an electric spark with a laser ignition device, can be solved.

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.