Chromaplex, Inc.

Lumella, Inc.

Newport Corporation

John Hoose

Robert David Frankel

Evgeny Popov

Michel Nevière

Three-dimensional grating device includes two (crossed) diffraction gratings, exhibits diffraction efficiency substantially independent of the incident polarization inside an optical communication spectral window from 1.5-1.6 &#x3bc;m. The gratings are characterized by different periods in two directions, chosen to support only one dispersive diffraction order in addition to the zero-(specular) order. Gratings may be orthogonal. Exemplary grating profiles include but are not limited to sinusoidal and truncated pyramidal (trapezoidal) profiles. A method for diffracting polarization independent light with 90% or higher efficiency. Applications include various wavelength control devices particularly useful in telecommunications.

Three-dimensional diffractive structure, method for making, and applications thereof

A reflection grating device with a continuous non-reflecting dielectric adjusting layer disposed between a grating structure and one or more continuous reflecting layers is disclosed that operates in an order of interest, such as the 1order or 3order of diffraction, with high efficiency and near-exclusion of unwanted orders. Such devices can be employed, for example, in telecommunication and laser applications.

Grating device with adjusting layer

An excimer laser cavity is disclosed which includes at least one grating-prism (grism) and a wavelength-selective diffraction grating arranged in sequence. The grism grating surface faces the gain medium and produces an expanded beam which is diffracted on the same side of the prism grating surface normal as the incident beam. The expanded diffracted beam is transmitted through a second surface of the grism either to another grating surface of an additional grism or to a wavelength-selective diffraction grating operating in Littrow configuration. The laser produces a laser output beam with a narrow spectral linewidth which is suitable, in particular, for lithography applications.

Linewidth-narrowed excimer laser cavity

A grating structure with a dielectric coating is disclosed that operates efficiently away from the blaze angle in low order with a high diffraction efficiency and high wavelength dispersion. Such grating structure can be employed in Littrow configuration to provide, for example, cavity feedback in excimer lasers.

Grating device with high diffraction efficiency

A lamellar volume grating operating in reflection and transmission and providing a substantially wavelength- and polarization-independent diffraction efficiency is disclosed. The lamellar grating has an approximately rectangular grating profile with a height-to-width ratio of the grooves or &ldquo;teeth&rdquo; advantageously greater than 2. The grating operates preferably in first order and can be implemented as an immersion grating. In particular, the lamellar volume grating described herein can be employed in an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer arrangement with small overall dimensions.

Lamellar grating structure with polarization-independent diffraction efficiency

A multi-wavelength external cavity laser system is disclosed, wherein an array of individual laser elements is placed in a shared laser cavity for all wavelengths that is defined by a free space grating, an optional reflector, and a single relay lens. Laser radiation from the cavity can be externally modulated at each wavelength and outputted as an overlapping beam having substantially all the wavelengths produced by the laser elements through a single fiber or as an array of wavelength-separated beams. A modular design facilitates the addition and/or repair of individual or several channels.

Modulatable multi-wavelength semiconductor external cavity laser

A multi-wavelength external cavity fiber laser system is disclosed. Laser radiation from the cavity can be externally modulated at each wavelength and outputted as an overlapping beam having substantially all the wavelengths produced by the laser elements through a single fiber or as an array of wavelength-separated beams. The fiber laser can include an intra-cavity etalon that allows all wavelength to be tuned simultaneously.

Modulatable multi-wavelength fiber laser source

A grating structure useful for WDM multiplexer/demultiplexer applications is described. The grating structure has a substantially polarization-independent diffraction efficiency of a predetermined useful wavelength range, for example, between 1.4 and 1.6 &mgr;m. Each grating period includes a triangular section and a flat-topped section, with the width of the flat-topped section between 20 and 50% of the grating period. The disclosed grating structure can be formed in any material that is substantially transparent over the useful wavelength range and used in either a Littrow and a Littman-Metcalf configuration.

Diffractive structure for high-dispersion WDM applications

A grating device with a substantially polarization-independent diffraction efficiency is disclosed. The grating device is preferably a surface grating that can be produced by ruling or holographically, and includes at least two different grating elements with the same grating period, but different modulation depths or blaze angles. The blaze angles and the illuminated areas of the respective grating elements can be selected to produce a substantially polarization-independent and optionally also wavelength-independent response of the grating device.

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Fairport, NY, United States of America

John Hoose