Abstract: A micromachined interferometer is achieved using a half plane beam splitter. The beam splitter is optically coupled to receive an incident beam and operates to split the incident beam into two interfering beams, each propagating in a different medium. A fixed mirror embedded in one of the mediums reflects one of the interfering beams back towards the half plane beam splitter through such medium, while a moveable mirror, which is controlled by an actuator, reflects the other interfering beam back towards said half plane beam splitter through the other medium. A detection plane detects an interference pattern produced as a result of interference between the reflected interfering beams.

Abstract: An imaging system. Implementations of imaging systems may include a laser light source, at least one imaging detector coupled to the laser light source, a shearing interferometer coupled to at least one imaging detector, and a timing system coupled to the at least one imaging detector and the laser light source. A ranging detector may be coupled to the laser light source and the timing system, and at least on sensitivity modulator may be coupled with the at least one imaging detector and with the timing system.

Abstract: A method of measuring a volume in a fluid flow micromechanical device includes: a) providing and positioning an optical apparatus for measuring the profile of a surface; b) providing a device for acquiring and processing the images coming from the optical apparatus for measuring a profile; c) placing the moving member in a first position and then in a second position, and activating the optical apparatus for measuring the profile of the surface to direct a light beam on the reference face, and activating the image acquisition and processor device to obtain a first image in the first position of the moving member and a second image in the second position; and d) comparing the second image with the first image of the reference face to determine the variation in the volume of the cavity generated by the deformation of the moving member.

Abstract: A fundus oculi observation device acts as an optical image measurement device capable of measuring an OCT image such as a tomographic image of a fundus oculi, or the like, and is configured so as to calculate the signal level of the formed OCT image, determine whether the signal level exceeds a threshold value, and change the position of a reference mirror so that the signal level is determined to exceed the threshold value.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an evaluating unit and a peak detection unit. The peak detection unit is configured to determine at least one peak parameter of a peak in a Fourier transformed reflection spectrum of infrared radiation reflected off a sample that may comprise trench structures. The evaluation unit is configured to determine from the at least one peak parameter and from a correction value containing information about an effective refractive index of the sample, a trench parameter of the trench structures.

Abstract: A swept frequency laser ranging system having sub-micron accuracy that employs multiple common-path heterodyne interferometers, one coupled to a calibrated delay-line for use as an absolute reference for the ranging system. An exemplary embodiment uses two laser heterodyne interferometers to create two laser beams at two different frequencies to measure distance and motions of target(s). Heterodyne fringes generated from reflections off a reference fiducial XR and measurement (or target) fiducial XM are reflected back and are then detected by photodiodes. The measured phase changes ??R and ??m resulting from the laser frequency swept gives target position. The reference delay-line is the only absolute reference needed in the metrology system and this provides an ultra-stable reference and simple/economical system.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for determining the location of the bottom of a fluid chamber in a surgical cassette to calibrate the surgical system. According to one embodiment, the surgical cassette is shaped to allow light from a light source to pass unobstructed to a linear sensor array in an area that is a known distance from the bottom of a fluid chamber. Light rays intersected by solid cassette material, on the other hand, will insufficiently illuminate the linear sensor array. Because the slot is a known distance from the bottom of the chamber, the location of the bottom of the chamber can be determined by determining the transition between illuminated and insufficiently illuminated portions of the linear sensor array.

Abstract: A spectral-domain magnetomotive optical coherence tomography apparatus, includes (a) a spectral-domain optical coherence tomography device, and (b) a magnet. The magnet is coupled with the optical coherence tomography device so that changes in the magnetic field are coordinated with collection of data by the optical coherence tomography device. This device may be used to examine a sample by spectral-domain magnetomotive optical coherence tomography, which includes examining the sample with a spectral-domain optical coherence tomography device, to collect optical coherence tomography data. The sample contains magnetic particles, and the magnetic particles are subjected to a changing magnetic field during the examining.

Abstract: An apparatus characterizes at least one fiber Bragg grating. The apparatus includes a laser pulse source, an optical spectrum analyzer, and multiple optical paths. A first optical path includes a pulse stretcher and an attenuator. A second optical path optically coupled to the first optical path includes a mirror. A third optical path optically coupled to the first optical path includes a first fiber Bragg grating. A fourth optical path is optically coupled to the second optical path, the third optical path, and the optical spectrum analyzer. A fifth optical path optically coupled to the laser pulse source and the optical spectrum analyzer includes a delay line.

Abstract: A new high-performance, compact microgyroscope is implemented using a microlaser such as a microsphere laser or a microdisc laser that can be easily reduced in size. The microgyroscope includes a pumping unit for inputting pumping light for optical pumping, at least one microsphere or microdisc for oscillating a laser beam by performing optical pumping using light received from the pumping unit, an output coupler for receiving the oscillated laser beam from the microsphere or microdisc, and a photodetector for calculating a beat frequency due to interference between beams output from the output coupler to measure rotation. The pumping unit and the output coupler are constructed using a tapered optical fiber.

Abstract: A displacement sensor comprising at least one pair of co-planar photonic crystal waveguide (PCWG) sections aligned along or parallel to a common axis and separated by a gap, one PCWG section of a pair operative to perform a displacement relative to the other section of the pair. In some embodiments, the sensor is linear, comprising two PCWG sections separated by a gap that forms a cross PCWG, the displacement sensing performed preferrably differentially between two edges of the cross PCWG. In other embodiments, the sensor includes Mach Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) configurations with gaps between fixed and moving PCWG sections. Displacement induced changes in the gap widths are reflected in changes in an output parameter of the MZI.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photoacoustic detector, comprising at least a first chamber (V0) suppliable with a gas to be analyzed, a window for letting modulated and/or pulsed infrared radiation and/or light in the first chamber (V0), and means for detecting pressure variations created in the first chamber by absorbed infrared radiation and/or light. The means for detecting pressure variations created in the first chamber by absorbed infrared radiation and/or light comprise at least an aperture provided in the wall of the first chamber (V0), in communication with which is provided a door arranged to be movable in response to the movement of a gas, and means for a contactless measurement of the door movement. The invention relates also to a sensor for a photoacoustic detector and to a method in the optimization of a door used as a sensor for a photoacoustic detector.

Abstract: In a wavefront sensor, an optical wavefront to be measured is split into a first optical path and a second optical path. A wavefront W1 in the first optical path is transmitted through a first compensation member 7, and a wavefront W2 in the second optical path is transmitted through a second compensation member 8. Wavefronts W1 and W2 are mixed together by a semi-transparent mirror 6 with the wavefronts being displaced from each other by a shearing quantity S to form an interference fringe. An optical path difference that occurs between two wavefronts W1? and W2? which reach the interference measurement plane M in a state where the wavefronts are inclined due to the arrival direction of the optical wavefront to be measured is compensated when the wavefronts W1? and W2? are transmitted through the first and second optical path difference compensation members 7 and 8, respectively.

Abstract: The disclosure describes obtaining a first reference wavefront generated from a object plane mask slit, obtaining a second reference wavefront generated from a first image plane mask slit, measuring a wavefront of a target optical system including a reference wavefront error, and subtracting the first and the second reference wavefronts from the target optical system include the reference wavefront error.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for generating parameters for software dispersion compensation in optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems are provided. Raw spectral interferogram data is acquired for a given lateral position on a sample and a given reference reflection. A trial spectral phase corresponding to each wavenumber sample of the acquired spectral interferogram data is postulated. The acquired raw spectral data and the postulated trial spectral phase data are assembled into trial complex spectrum data. Trial A-scan data is computed by performing an inverse Fourier transform on the trial complex spectrum data and determining the magnitude of a result.

Abstract: The field of the invention is that of solid-state laser gyros used in inertial control units. However, there are certain technical difficulties in producing laser gyros of this type that are due partly to the fact that the counterpropagating waves interfere with each other in the amplifying medium. A laser gyro according to the invention comprises at least one solid-state amplifying medium and an optical ring cavity comprising first optical means for imposing a first linear polarization state common to the two counterpropagating optical waves at the entrance and exit of the zone containing the amplifying medium and second optical means for imposing, within the amplifying medium, a second linear polarization state on the first optical wave and a third linear polarization state on the second optical wave, these polarization states being perpendicular. Thus, all the drawbacks associated with interference are eliminated.

Abstract: A dual cantilevered beam structure is attached to a silicon frame. An optical fiber extends from a borosilicate wafer bonded to the bottom of the frame. A second borosilicate wafer is bonded to the top of the frame. The bottom borosilicate wafer is bonded to the optical fiber with a bonding agent having an index of refraction between the refractive index of the fused silica optical fiber and the refractive index of the borosilicate wafer. In an embodiment, the bonding agent has a refractive index substantially similar to optical cement. Light is reflected into the optical fiber from the beam structure for measuring seismic changes.

Abstract: Methods for detecting and classifying an unknown substance in a sample include the steps of (a) providing a spectrum for each of a predetermined number of reference substances; (b) detecting an area of interest that contains the unknown substance; (c) targeting the area of interest; (d) determining a spectrum of the unknown substance from the area of interest; (e) comparing the determined spectrum of the unknown substance with the spectrum of one or more of the reference substances; and (f) classifying the unknown substance based on the comparison of spectra.

Abstract: An optical sensing method transmits radiation from a source onto an optical link, the radiation being passed through an unbalanced interferometer connected between the source and the link. The radiation which is reflected back and has travelled through a portion of the link which is subject to an external disturbance is received and passed through the same unbalanced interferometer. A detector is used to detect the radiation that has returned through the unbalanced interferometer. To improve sensitivity, the unbalanced interferometer includes a coupler for coupling radiation to the detector, the coupler being an N ×N coupler where N is an integer greater or equal to 3.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a material in a resonator and containing systems, each of the systems having five energy states, a unit generating first and second pulse that resonate in a second transition and a third transition, respectively, a unit controlling the first and second pulse to make the first and second pulse temporally overlap each other to obtain third light, a unit emitting the third light to each system, a unit generating observation light to be coupled to the resonator mode, a unit introducing the observation light to the resonator from an outside thereof, a unit reading one of quantum bits by measuring an intensity of one of reflected light and transmitted light of the observation light, a unit controlling the first and second pulse to make the first and second pulse temporally overlap each other to obtain fourth light, and a unit emitting the fourth light to each system.