Fiber laser with free-space components

A laser system comprising:

• a seed laser diode configured to produce a free-space seed-laser beam;
• a pump laser diode configured to produce a free-space pump-laser beam;
• an optical-beam combiner configured to combine the seed-laser and pump-laser beams into a combined free-space beam;
• a focusing lens configured to focus the combined beam;
• an optical gain fiber comprising an input end configured to receive the focused beam;
• a mounting platform, wherein one or more of the optical-beam combiner, the focusing lens, and the input end of the optical gain fiber are mechanically attached to the mounting platform, wherein the seed laser diode is located remotely from the platform, and wherein light from the seed laser diode is delivered to the platform by an optical fiber, and an end of the optical fiber is mechanically attached to the platform;
• and
• a seed-laser lens configured to collect the seed-laser light from the end of the optical fiber and produce the free-space seed-laser beam.

A laser system comprising:

• a seed laser diode configured to produce a free-space seed-laser beam;
• a pump laser diode configured to produce a free-space pump-laser beam;
• an optical-beam combiner configured to combine the seed-laser and pump-laser beams into a combined free-space beam;
• a focusing lens configured to focus the combined beam;
• an optical gain fiber comprising an input end configured to receive the focused beam;
• a mounting platform, wherein one or more of the optical-beam combiner, the focusing lens, and the input end of the optical gain fiber are mechanically attached to the mounting platform, wherein the pump laser diode is located remotely from the platform, and wherein light from the pump laser diode is delivered to the platform by an optical fiber, and an end of the optical fiber is mechanically attached to the platform;
• and
• a pump-laser lens configured to collect the pump-laser light from the end of the optical fiber and produce the free-space pump-laser beam.

A laser system comprising:

• a first seed laser diode configured to produce light at a first seed-laser wavelength;
• a second seed laser diode configured to produce light at a second seed-laser wavelength different from the first seed-laser wavelength;
• a seed-laser optical-beam combiner configured to combine the light from the first seed laser diode and the light from the second seed laser diode to form a free-space seed-laser beam;
• a pump laser diode configured to produce a free-space pump-laser beam;
• an optical-beam combiner configured to combine the seed-laser and pump-laser beams into a combined free-space beam;
• a focusing lens configured to focus the combined beam;
• an optical gain fiber comprising an input end configured to receive the focused beam;
• and
• a mounting platform, wherein one or more of the optical-beam combiner, the focusing lens, and the input end of the optical gain fiber are mechanically attached to the mounting platform.

A laser system comprising:

• a seed laser diode configured to produce a free-space seed-laser beam;
• a pump laser diode configured to produce a free-space pump-laser beam;
• an optical-beam combiner configured to combine the seed-laser and pump-laser beams into a combined free-space beam;
• an optical filter located between the seed laser diode and the optical-beam combiner, wherein the optical filter is configured to transmit light at one or more wavelengths of the free-space seed-laser beam and reflect or attenuate light at one or more other wavelengths;
• a focusing lens configured to focus the combined beam;
• an optical gain fiber comprising an input end configured to receive the focused beam;
• and
• a mounting platform, wherein one or more of the optical-beam combiner, the focusing lens, and the input end of the optical gain fiber are mechanically attached to the mounting platform.

A laser system comprising:

• a seed laser diode configured to produce a free-space seed-laser beam;
• a pump laser diode configured to produce a free-space pump-laser beam;
• a pump-laser detector configured to receive light emitted from a back facet of the pump laser diode;
• a pump-laser driver configured to:
• supply an amount of electrical current to the pump laser diode;
• and
• in response to detecting a decrease in a signal produced by the pump-laser detector, increase the amount of electrical current supplied to the pump laser diode;
• an optical-beam combiner configured to combine the seed-laser and pump-laser beams into a combined free-space beam;
• a focusing lens configured to focus the combined beam;
• an optical gain fiber comprising an input end configured to receive the focused beam;
• and
• a mounting platform, wherein one or more of the optical-beam combiner, the focusing lens, and the input end of the optical gain fiber are mechanically attached to the mounting platform.