Hoya Corporation

Coherent, Inc.

Quantel International, Inc.

Hoya Photonics, Inc.

Jean-Marc Heritier

Andrea L Caprara

Edward C Rea, Jr

Mateusz Plewicki

Francois Moya

Optical apparatus for amplifying pulses in a pulsed laser-beam includes a pulse-stretcher having a single transmission-grating in a multi-pass configuration at a non-normal incidence angle. A regenerative amplifier amplifies stretched pulses in the laser-beam. A pulse-compressor including two spaced-apart reflection-gratings in a multi-pass configuration compresses the amplified pulses. Pulse-parameters of the compressed amplified pulses are optimized by iteratively adjusting the incidence angle of the pulsed laser-beam on the transmission-grating of the pulse-stretcher and the spacing between the reflection-gratings of the pulse-compressor.

Method and apparatus for adjusting pulse parameters in a solid-state chirped-pulse amplifier system

In a laser system which produces radiation which is highly absorbed by water, the pump voltage supplied to the laser rod is slowly increased between the lasing threshold voltage and the full operational voltage of the pump. As a result, the output energy and circulating energy of the system slowly increase, such that any water on the intracavity coatings is vaporized slowly, rather than explosively. The laser system and method of using same thus reduce or prevent damage to the intracavity coatings used within the laser cavity.

Laser system providing power ramp-up and method of operating same

The use of rectangular cross-section gain material with two or more cylindrical lenses placed in close proximity or attached to opposite sides of the gain material allows for an efficient pumping of the gain material in an optical gain component. The optical gain component can be used in a laser device. Laser diode bars are arranged so as to pump the gain material through the lenses. A cooling apparatus can cool a rectangular cross-section gain material through two opposite flat sides so that no thermal birefringence is created. An optical gain component with two gain materials can orient these two gain materials such that the small-signal gain is almost circular and gaussian in profile with a large center peak tapering off to a much lower gain at the edges.

Side pumping arrangement

The use of feedback circuit in a laser device with a frequency selective element such as an etalon allows for the production of a substantially single longitudinal mode output indefinitely. The feedback circuitry is adapted to adjust the length of the laser cavity so that a longitudinal mode of the laser device is near transmission peak of the frequency selective element.

Single longitudinal mode laser without seeding

A Q-switched pulsed laser resonant cavity having an output coupling mirror with a radially variable reflectivity function across its surface and a magnification level that combine to provide a very high discrimination against transverse modes of oscillation higher than a desired fundamental mode. This resonant cavity is especially adapted for use with injection seeding to limit the longitudinal modes of oscillation to one mode. The cavity arrangement develops a high powered light pulsed beam at its output that also has a uniform intensity profile.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Jean-Marc Heritier