The present invention is a Raman laser and methods related thereto. In the preferred
embodiments, the Raman laser comprises a laser pump signal in a fiber waveguide
which is optically coupled to a micro-resonator through a fiber taper. The micro-resonator
is constructed from a material that has a high Q when it is formed into a micro-resonator
and is phase matched to the waveguide. The lasing frequency can be determined based
upon the pump input or the micro-resonator material. In the preferred embodiments,
the micro-resonator is constructed from a fused silica material. The present invention
provides a compact laser with improved emissions and coupling efficiencies and
the ability to use stimulated Raman scattering effects to create lasers having
frequencies that are otherwise difficult to obtain. Alternative configurations
include multiple micro-resonators on a single fiber waveguide and/or utilizing
multiple waveguides attached to one or more micro-resonators. The Raman laser can
be made to operate in a continuous-wave as opposed to self-pulsing mode.
