Hughes Aircraft Company

Amoco Corporation

Ravinder K Jain

Anthony L Moretti

John D Ralston

Concetto R Giuliano

Knut Stenersen

Synthetic layered structures, which may be semiconductor structures, are modified, both laterally and vertically, to provide novel electronic, optoelectronic, and optical properties. This is accomplished by selective intermixing of such layered structures through selective irradiation with laser beam or electron beam energy sources to effect interaction between neighboring regions, to a degree dependent on the energy density, while avoiding physical damage to the layered structures.

Selective intermixing of layered structures composed of thin solid films

Method and apparatus for the tunable generation of new wavelengths of optical radiation from input sources of predetermined wavelength. Optical radiation from a source (20), or sources, is launched into both the fast and slow axis of a birefringent optical waveguide (12) as pump waves. The pump waves generate new Stokes and anti-Stokes waves through enhanced four photon mixing processes. The Stokes wave is wavelength or frequency shifted from the pump wave by a small amount and exits the end of the optical waveguide (12) where it can be interfaced to various apparatus for utilization. The apparatus preferably employs polarization control means for controlling the polarization of optical radiation launched into the birefringent optical waveguide. The waveguide can also be an optical fiber or planar waveguide structure. The wavelength or radiation generated and output can be tuned by altering the birefringence of the waveguide.

Apparatus for generating and amplifying new wavelengths of optical

A multilayer structure formed of two or more separate layers of different materials can be selectively intermixed so as to become compositionally transmuted, such that the distinction between the different original materials is lost, at least partially. This intermixing is accomplished by employing irradiation with a pulsed or rapidly scanned laser or electron beam. In addition,the intermixing can be accomplised by multiple pulses from the laser or electron beam so as to increase the degree of intermixing, thereby obtaining a more complete mixing.

Method for selective intermixing of layered structures composed of thin

Laser apparatus is disclosed which employs the principles of phase conjugation to provide for short-pulse operation. A phase-conjugate reflector, lasing medium, and output coupling device are arranged to form a laser resonator. The lasing medium may be pumped by a conventional pump source to produce population inversion in the lasing medium. The phase-conjugate reflector is pulsed by means of a pulsed pump source which applies a periodic train of short laser pulses having high peak power and low average power thereto. The short-duration pulses create high reflective efficiencies in the phase-conjugate reflector, while minimizing the overall energy demands on the system. Additionally, the pump source which pumps the lasing medium may also provide pulsed energy thereto which is synchronous with the pulsed energy provided by the pulsed pump source to the phase-conjugate reflector. Accordingly, the system provides for a series of short pulsewidth laser pulses at its output.

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Warrenville, IL, United States of America

Ravinder K Jain