Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080260338 | Optical fiber having wave-guiding rings - A waveguide includes a cladding region that has a refractive index that is substantially uniform and surrounds a wave-guiding region that has an average index that is close to the index of the cladding. The wave-guiding region also contains a thin ring or series of rings that have an index or indices that differ significantly from the index of the cladding. The ring or rings enable the structure to guide light. | 10-23-2008 |
20080279228 | Optically Pumped Alkali Laser and Amplifier Using Helium-3 Buffer Gas - In one embodiment, a laser oscillator is provided comprising an optical cavity, the optical cavity including a gain medium including an alkali vapor and a buffer gas, the buffer gas including | 11-13-2008 |
20090296747 | PHASED LASER ARRAY WITH TAILORED SPECTRAL AND COHERENCE PROPERTIES - Architectures for coherently combining an array of fiber-based lasers are provided. By matching their lengths to within a few integer multiples of a wavelength, the spatial and temporal properties of a single large laser are replicated, while extending the average or peak pulsed power limit. | 12-03-2009 |
20100276547 | SYSTEMS FOR SOLAR POWER BEAMING FROM SPACE - A low earth orbit system for beaming energy to earth includes a solar reflector that collects and focuses solar light onto a solar panel, transforming it into electricity to drive a diode pumped laser, which then produces a high-power laser beam that is directed to a receiver on the surface of the Earth via a diffractive lens. A steering system of optics and automated hardware controls the beam direction. | 11-04-2010 |
20110243164 | PHASED LASER ARRAY WITH TAILORED SPECTRAL AND COHERENCE PROPERTIES - Architectures for coherently combining an array of fiber-based lasers are provided. By matching their lengths to within a few integer multiples of a wavelength, the spatial and temporal properties of a single large laser are replicated, while extending the average or peak pulsed power limit. | 10-06-2011 |
20110274134 | SOLAR PUMPED LASER MICROTHRUSTER - A micro-thruster for controlling the positioning of a satellite includes a solar concentrator for collecting solar energy and producing concentrated solar energy. A solar panel is positioned to receive the concentrated solar energy and thereby produces electrical energy which in turn energizes a diode-pumped fiber optic laser. The energized laser thus produces laser light which is transmitted to ejector material affixed to a satellite. | 11-10-2011 |
20120202031 | ALKALI RESISTANT OPTICAL COATINGS FOR ALKALI LASERS AND METHODS OF PRODUCTION THEREOF - In one embodiment, a multilayer dielectric coating for use in an alkali laser includes two or more alternating layers of high and low refractive index materials, wherein an innermost layer includes a thicker, >500 nm, and dense, >97% of theoretical, layer of at least one of: alumina, zirconia, and hafnia for protecting subsequent layers of the two or more alternating layers of high and low index dielectric materials from alkali attack. In another embodiment, a method for forming an alkali resistant coating includes forming a first oxide material above a substrate and forming a second oxide material above the first oxide material to form a multilayer dielectric coating, wherein the second oxide material is on a side of the multilayer dielectric coating for contacting an alkali. | 08-09-2012 |
20120287951 | HYBRID FIBER-ROD LASER - Single, or near single transverse mode waveguide definition is produced using a single homogeneous medium to transport both the pump excitation light and generated laser light. By properly configuring the pump deposition and resulting thermal power generation in the waveguide device, a thermal focusing power is established that supports perturbation-stable guided wave propagation of an appropriately configured single or near single transverse mode laser beam and/or laser pulse. | 11-15-2012 |
20140307305 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CRYOCOOLED LASER AMPLIFIER - A laser amplifier system includes a gain medium having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of sides substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The laser amplifier system also includes a waveguide having a plurality of inner surfaces. Each of the inner surfaces is optically coupled to one of the plurality of sides of the gain medium. The waveguide also includes a plurality of outer surfaces. The laser amplifier system further includes a cladding optically coupled to the outer surfaces of the waveguide. | 10-16-2014 |
20140318685 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LIGHT ASSISTED FRICTION STIR PROCESSING AND WELDING OF METALLIC AND NON-METALLIC MATERIALS - An apparatus for use in a friction stir operation, such as friction stir welding (FSW) or friction stir processing (FSP). The apparatus may have a rotating tool adapted to be plunged into a material, where the material is susceptible to being softened by heating. The rotating tool may further be adapted to be advanced along a surface of the material. An optical energy generating subsystem may be used to heat a portion of the material using optical energy as the tool is advanced along the material. | 10-30-2014 |
20150047970 | ALKALI RESISTANT OPTICAL COATINGS FOR ALKALI LASERS AND METHODS OF PRODUCTION THEREOF - In one embodiment, a method for forming an alkali resistant coating includes forming a first oxide material above a substrate and forming a second oxide material above the first oxide material to form a multilayer dielectric coating, wherein the second oxide material is on a side of the multilayer dielectric coating for contacting an alkali. In another embodiment, a method for forming an alkali resistant coating includes forming two or more alternating layers of high and low refractive index oxide materials above a substrate, wherein an innermost layer of the two or more alternating layers is on an alkali-contacting side of the alkali resistant coating, and wherein the innermost layer of the two or more alternating layers comprises at least one of: alumina, zirconia, and hafnia. | 02-19-2015 |