Abstract: A measurement system may include a diffusive cavity including a reflective internal surface and one or more ports, a sample chamber located within the diffusive cavity, and a light source to direct measurement light into the diffusive cavity through one of the one or more ports of the diffusive cavity. The diffusive cavity may uniform illumination of the sample through diffusive reflection of at least one of the measurement light from the light source or scattered measurement light from the sample. The system may further include two or more detectors to capture light exiting at least one of the one or more ports. The system may further include a controller to receive detection signals from the two or more detectors indicative of the scattering of the measurement light by the sample and determine one or more time-varying properties of the sample based on the detection signals.

Abstract: A polarimeter may include a non-polarizing beamsplitter to split an input beam into a first beam and a second beam, a corner-cube retroreflector to retroreflect the first beam as a polarization-split beam, and a mirror to retroreflect the second beam as a retroreflected second beam. A beam profile of the polarization-split beam includes six regions with different states of polarization associated with a different order of reflections in the corner-cube retroreflector. The non-polarizing beamsplitter may combine the polarization-split beam and the retroreflected second beam as an intensity-split beam having six intensity regions associated with interference of the polarization-split beam with the retroreflected second beam. The polarimeter may further include a detector to measure an intensity of at least some of the six intensity regions and a controller to determine a polarization of the input beam based on the intensities of the at least some of the six intensity regions.

Abstract: A structured granular optical component for use within an optical apparatus includes a primary optically active component comprising a first optical material and a secondary optically active component contained within the first optically active component and comprising a second optical material different than the first optical material. The first optical material and the second optical material are selected to influence scattering. When incorporated into a macroscopic optical apparatus the structured granular optical component provides enhanced performance.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an object are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system and method pertain to irradiating the object with polarized electromagnetic radiation for a duration of time sufficient to effect a physical change with the object.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an object are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system and method pertain to irradiating the object with polarized electromagnetic radiation for a duration of time sufficient to effect a physical change with the object.

Abstract: Methods and systems for Airy waves and Airy wavepackets or Airy beam generation from an input beam or pulse. Airy wavefronts and Airy wavepackets can be generated using Airy beam generation through Fourier synthesis using phase masks or filters in the spatial domain; Airy beam generation using amplitude and phase filters in the spatial domain; and Airy pulse generation through Fourier synthesis using phase and/or amplitude filters in the temporal frequency domain. The Airy waves are highly asymmetric and as a result their energy is more tightly confined in one quadrant thus increasing the energy density in the main lobes. These wavepackets can be one, two, and three-dimensional waves. In addition they tend to self-heal themselves which is important in adverse environments.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an object are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system and method pertain to irradiating the object with polarized electromagnetic radiation for a duration of time sufficient to effect a physical change with the object.

Abstract: An optical coagulation monitor and the method of monitoring blood coagulation status are disclosed. The method includes positioning a sample probe containing an optical fiber within a circulating blood; transmitting a low-coherence light through the optical fiber into the blood; detecting dynamic light scatter signals generated by the blood within a coherence volume and received through the optical fiber; analyzing the dynamic light scatter signals in comparison to a predetermined coagulation criterion; and reporting the coagulation status of the blood. The method can be used for monitoring blood coagulation status in vivo or in vitro in real time. Further disclosed is a method of determining blood clotting time in vitro using the optical coagulation monitor.

Abstract: A light scattering sensing system and method. In one embodiment, the system includes a sample branch configured to collect light signals backscattered from scattering centers contained in a coherence volume of a medium under evaluation, the sample branch including a multi-mode optical waveguide. In one embodiment, the method includes radiating low-coherence light into a scattering medium using a multi-mode optical waveguide, and collecting light signals backscattered by the scattering centers and light reflected by an end surface of the multi-mode optical waveguide using the multi-mode optical waveguide.

Abstract: An optical coagulation monitor and the method of monitoring blood coagulation status are disclosed. The method includes positioning a sample probe containing an optical fiber within a circulating blood; transmitting a low-coherence light through the optical fiber into the blood; detecting dynamic light scatter signals generated by the blood within a coherence volume and received through the optical fiber; analyzing the dynamic light scatter signals in comparison to a predetermined coagulation criterion; and reporting the coagulation status of the blood. The method can be used for monitoring blood coagulation status in vivo or in vitro in real time. Further disclosed is a method of determining blood clotting time in vitro using the optical coagulation monitor.

Abstract: Tuning of the resonant state of a structure that scatters optical fields is achieved by varying the effective optical properties of the environment of a small conductive structure. The frequency tunable resonant scatterer includes a medium, a conductive structure within that medium and a second structure in the vicinity of said conductive structure, wherein the plasmon resonance of said conductive structure is tuned by way of the proximity of said second structure to said conductive structure. The second structure is gradually moved away from and closer to the nanoparticle to change the effective dielectric constant for tuning a resonance frequency of the conductive structure to plural excitation wavelengths.

Abstract: The apparatus, system and method of the present invention provide a three-dimensional polarimeter probe having a coupler for coupling three components of an electromagnetic field that fluctuates in three-dimensions and an emitter for re-emitting a radiation corresponding to said three components. The radiation includes a polarized and an unpolarized component of said electromagnetic field and is used to determine the elements of a field-field correlation martix. In an embodiment, the system includes a detector located a distance from said probe for sensing said re-emitted radiation from said probe and a processor for determining a polarized and an unpolarized component of said electromagnetic field evaluating the polarized component to produce said polarimetry of said three-dimensional optical field.

Abstract: An integrated optical sensor, using low coherence interferometry, is capable of determining analyte concentration in a material sample based on absorption, scattering and polarization. The sensor includes one or more light collectors, with each collector having a separation distance from the region where the sample is illuminated by the source. The light backscattered from the sample is combined with reference arm light at the same optical path length for each light collector. The intensity of interference may be correlated with the concentration of an analyte in the material, for example the glucose concentration in a turbid medium like skin. The sensor operation can be based on fiber optics technology, integrated optics, or a combination of these. The operation is such that the spectrally resolved scattering and absorption coefficients can be measured simultaneously. In addition, the operation of the sensor can be synchronized with other sensors, for example temperature, pressure, or heartrate.

Abstract: A light scattering sensing system and method. In one embodiment, the system includes a sample branch configured to collect light signals backscattered from scattering centers contained in a coherence volume of a medium under evaluation, the sample branch including a multi-mode optical waveguide. In one embodiment, the method includes radiating low-coherence light into a scattering medium using a multi-mode optical waveguide, and collecting light signals backscattered by the scattering centers and light reflected by an end surface of the multi-mode optical waveguide using the multi-mode optical waveguide.

Abstract: Methods and systems for using dynamic light scattering, for investigating local rheological responses of complex fluids over a frequency range larger than that provided by standard instrumentation. A low-coherence radiation source is used with fiber optics to allow measurements of small volume spacing of up to approximately 1/10 of a picoliter. The methods and systems are based on dynamic light scattering, for investigating the local rheological response of a complex fluid over a frequency range larger than that provided by standard mechanical instrumentation. The low-coherence radiation used in a fiber optics configuration allows the measurements to be confined to a small volume around a tenth of a picoliter. The ability of the method to accurately measure both loss and storage moduli has been tested using both simple Newtonian liquids and viscoelastic, complex fluids. Monitoring liquid-gel transitions in polymer solutions has also been demonstrated.

Abstract: An integrated optical sensor, using low coherence interferometry, is capable of determining analyte concentration in a material sample based on absorption, scattering and polarization. The sensor includes one or more light collectors, with each collector having a separation distance from the region where the sample is illuminated by the source. The light backscattered from the sample is combined with reference arm light at the same optical path length for each light collector. The intensity of interference may be correlated with the concentration of an analyte in the material, for example the glucose concentration in a turbid medium like skin. The sensor operation can be based on fiber optics technology, integrated optics, or a combination of these. The operation is such that the spectrally resolved scattering and absorption coefficients can be measured simultaneously. In addition, the operation of the sensor can be synchronized with other sensors, for example temperature, pressure, or heartrate.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a laser communication system for transmitting intelligence by means of partially coherent optical energy. The system provides improved transmission of intelligence from a transmitter site through non-confined free space and receiving said intelligence at a receiver site remote from and physically separate from said transmitter by non-confined free space. The system has a optical source at the transmitter site for producing a beam of spatially-coherent monochromatic, aperture limited electromagnetic optical energy as well as a modulator for modulating said beam with intelligence-bearing information to develop wavefronts of mutually-aligned orientation which beam is thereafter modified to partial coherence and a receiver site for both detecting said information in said partially coherent beam and deriving said demodulated information. The partially coherent beam has an a of preferably from 0.05 to 0.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a laser communication system for transmitting intelligence by means of partially coherent optical energy. The system provides improved transmission of intelligence from a transmitter site through non-confined free space and receiving said intelligence at a receiver site remote from and physically separate from said transmitter by non-confined free space. The system has a optical source at the transmitter site for producing a beam of spatially-coherent monochromatic, aperture limited electromagnetic optical energy as well as a modulator for modulating said beam with intelligence-bearing information to develop wavefronts of mutually-aligned orientation which beam is thereafter modified to partial coherence and a receiver site for both detecting said information in said partially coherent beam and deriving said demodulated information. The partially coherent beam has an a of preferably from 0.05 to 0.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to measuring devices that are particularly suited for the purpose of in-situ characterization of particles present in fluid substances or in air using a low-coherence interferometer. Specifically, the characterization includes average size, size distribution, volumetric density, and composition. The low-coherence interferometer utilizes a split band of radiation to illuminate a sample probe and a reference probe then combines the reflected radiation from both probes to determine the photon pathlength distribution of the tested particulate or colloidal containing stream and from this information determine the size characteristics of said stream. The methodology is relevant to possible spatially distributed control of chemical processes such as emulsion polymerization to produce paints, coatings, synthetic rubbers, or crystallization processes in pharmaceuticals, food, and bulk chemicals industries.

Abstract: An interferometric system includes first, second and third optical fibers with first and second couplers. The first coupler is configured to receive radiation through the first fiber, provide a first radiation portion through the second fiber and provide a second radiation portion through the third fiber to the second coupler. The system also includes fourth and fifth optical fibers each configured to receive radiation from the second coupler and transmit radiation for receipt by the other.