Photonics/​Optics

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Closed-Loop Microsphere Laser for Optoelectronic Oscillator

A prototype ring laser in which a transparent microsphere serves as an electromagnetic-mode selector has been constructed in a continuing effort to develop optoelectronic...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Photonic Switching Devices Using Light Bullets

A class of proposed photonic switching devices would utilize interactions among light bullets that have been studied theoretically. Because they function at speeds much greater than those of...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Miniature Optoelectronic Oscillators Based on Microspheres

The figure depicts an example of a proposed type of optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) based on some of the same principles as those described in the preceding article. In the proposed...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Low-Power Shutter Mechanism for a Cryogenic Infrared Camera

An assembly that includes electromechanical rotary actuators has been developed specifically for use as the shutter mechanism of a cryogenic infrared camera that will be part of an...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Optoelectronic Oscillators Based on Fiber-Optic Resonators

Optoelectronic oscillators (OEOs) of a proposed type would be based partly on the use of fiber-optic linear or ring resonators in place of the long fiber-optic delay lines that have...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Apparatus for Time- and Wavelength-Resolved Spectroscopy

An apparatus that includes a pulsed electron gun and a high-resolution ultraviolet spectrometer has been developed for use in (1) pulsed electron-impact excitation of transitions...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Infrared Sensors for Detecting Icing on Helicopter Blades

Infrared-sensor systems for real-time detection of accretion of ice on helicopter rotor blades are undergoing development. By providing early warnings of icing conditions, these...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Back-Illuminated CCDs With Integral Ultraviolet-Pass Filters

Efforts are under way to develop back-surface-illuminated, thinned silicon charge-coupled devices (CCDs) with delta doping and integral optical filters to be used as image...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Common-Path Heterodyne Interferometers

Common-path heterodyne interferometers (COPHIs) have been proposed for measuring small variations in the heights of surfaces. A COPHI could be used, for example, to measure the deviation of the surface...

Briefs: Physical Sciences

Shared-Aperture Multiplexed Holographic Scanning Telescopes

Shared-aperture multiplexed holographic scanning telescopes have been proposed for use in lidar transceivers and other laser transmitters and receivers in remote sensing...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Polarization Recycling for Lighting LCD's More Efficiently

Two polarization-recycling techniques have been proposed to increase the efficiency of illumination of liquid-crystal display (LCD) panels. The motivation for this proposal lies in...

Briefs: Physical Sciences

Hot Dielectrics as Light Sources for TPV Devices and Lasers

Experiments have demonstrated the feasibility of using flame-heated refractory dielectric solid bodies as wavelength-selective sources of light for special applications; in...

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

Adaptive Focal-Plane Detector Arrays for Optical Communications

Arrays of photon-counting detectors and associated digital signal processors have been proposed for receivers in optical communication systems in which the optical signals...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Two-Axis Scanning Mirror in a Small Package

A compact two-axis scanning-mirror assembly (see figure) has been developed for use as part of a laser rangefinder on a robotic vehicle. The assembly is designed to enable scanning of the laser...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Noise-Reducing Slots in Quantum-Well Infrared Photodetectors

Quantum-well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs) that include two-dimensional surface grating light couplers would be modified, according to a proposal to incorporate crossed slots....

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

High-Performance Micromachined Linear Arrays of Thermopiles

Linear arrays of thermopile infrared detectors made of high-performance thermoelectric materials have been fabricated on silicon substrates by micromachining processes. Such...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Dual-Target, Single-Laser Metrological System

A single-laser-based, heterodyne optoelectronic system that measures the displacements of two targets along the same lines of sight has been developed. Heretofore, it would have been necessary...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Spatially Modulated Prism Interferometer

A spatially modulated prism interferometer (SMPI) has been developed that overcomes the complexities of traditional interferometers and the inherent limitations of diffraction gratings, dispersion...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Optics for Compact, High-Performance Imaging Spectrometers

Several high-fidelity imaging spectrometers have been designed with convex diffraction gratings for wavelengths ranging from the ultraviolet to the thermal infrared. All the designs...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Determining Particle Sizes From Scattered-Photon Statistics

A method of determining sizes of particles suspended in liquids and engaging in Brownian motion involves statistical analysis of counts of photons of laser light scattered by the...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Snapshot SEM Imaging of Moving MEMS Structures

A stroboscopic scanning electron microscope (SEM) has been proposed as a means of generating still or slow-motion pictures of moving structures in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Such...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Imaging Lidar System Would Map Surface Heights

A proposed optoelectronic system based on imaging-lidar and differential-altimetry techniques would generate data equivalent to a height map of a surface area. Originally conceived for use in...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Leakage-Preventing Design of Snapshot Photodiode CMOS Imager

A new design for a complementary metal oxide/semiconductor (CMOS) snapshot imaging device of the photodiode-based, active-pixel-sensor (APS) type calls for features to prevent...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Microsphere and Microcavity Optical-Absorption Sensors

Miniature high-resolution optical-absorption sensors for detecting trace amounts of chemical species of interest in gas and liquid samples are undergoing development. The transducer in...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Confocal Single-Mode-Fiber-Optic Raman Microspectrometer

A proposed optoelectronic apparatus would perform the combined functions of a confocal microscope and a Raman spectrometer. It would be used to acquire Raman-spectral-image and/or...