Abstract: Systems and methods for trapping and holding airborne particles using an orienting hollow beam are disclosed. In the various embodiments, an optical trap comprises: a light source for generating a beam of light; optics and/or mechanics for forming and shaping the beam of light into an orienting hollow beam having unequal axisymmetry with a substantially hollow ring geometry cross-section and no angular momentum; an optical focusing element for focusing the orienting hollow beam; and a trapping region where an airborne particle can be present to be trapped and held at or near a focal point of the focused optical focusing element. In this arrangement, the particle is trapped at or near the focal point of the focused orienting hollow beam. In this arrangement, the particle is trapped at or near the focal point of the focused orienting hollow beam. The orienting hollow beam may be made rotatable in some embodiments.

Abstract: Object/facial recognition systems, methods, architectures, mechanisms and/or apparatus for 3D face or object recognition using a 3D surface reconstructed from polarimetric thermal facial/object imager to form a 2D or 3D image which is rotated to conform with a pose of a reference image to allow comparison thereto.

Abstract: The invention describes a method of monitoring of increased risk of lightning on the basis of information about the increase of electric charge of water droplets, which are obtained by measuring the characteristics of scattered EM radiation. The change of these characteristics is related to the electric charge, which the droplets acquire. In order to normalize the optical characteristics as well as the concentration of droplets it is necessary that the measurements are carried out at two suitably selected wavelengths. The wavelengths can be combined, allowing the use of two or more wavelengths.

Abstract: Object/facial recognition systems, methods, architectures, mechanisms and/or apparatus for 3D face or object recognition using a 3D surface reconstructed from polarimetric thermal facial/object imager to form a 2D or 3D image which is rotated to conform with a pose of a reference image to allow comparison thereto.

Abstract: A novel methodology for detecting cloud particles is disclosed herein. This methodology exploits the optical glory phenomenon. According to one embodiment, a method for detecting clouds includes receiving data from a sensor which is configured to measure polarization of scattered light in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of incident light, and identifying, from the received sensor data, a cloud based on the polarization of the scattered light.

Abstract: The invention describes a method of monitoring of increased risk of lightning on the basis of information about the increase of electric charge of water droplets, which are obtained by measuring the characteristics of scattered EM radiation. The change of these characteristics is related to the electric charge, which the droplets acquire. In order to normalize the optical characteristics as well as the concentration of droplets it is necessary that the measurements are carried out at two suitably selected wavelengths. The wavelengths can be combined, allowing the use of two or more wavelengths.

Abstract: Systems and methods for calculating the Lyapunov exponent of a chaotic system are described. In one particular embodiment, a Lyapunov exponent calculating method includes obtaining a value indicative of a condition of a chaotic system and assigning the value to first and second precision levels, the second precision level having a higher level of precision than the first precision level. The method also includes iterating the chaotic system over time and comparing the value at the first precision level with the value at the second precision level. From the comparison of values at the first and second precision levels, the method calculates the Lyapunov exponent for the chaotic system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses provide holographic contact-free imaging of aerosol particles in an efficient manner. One apparatus for holographic imaging of an aerosol particle may include: a delivery device configured to deliver the particle into a region; a light source for outputting a first beam of light and a second beam of light, wherein the first beam travels into the region producing a first light wave which is un-scattered by the particle and a second light wave that is scattered by the particle, and the second beam does not travel into the region; a beam splitter for combining the second beam with the scattered light of the first beam into combined interference light; an image sensor for sensing an interference pattern created by the combined interference light; and an image processor configured to generate an image of the aerosol particle based on the sensed interference pattern.

Abstract: Systems and methods for predicting the outcome of chaotic systems are described. An example of a prediction system disclosed herein includes, in general, functional elements to vary the initial conditions of a chaotic system and calculate a plurality of possible trajectories for the chaotic system. The prediction system also includes calculating a Lyapunov exponent for each of the plurality of possible trajectories and selecting the trajectory with the smallest Lyapunov exponent as the most likely trajectory to occur.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses provide holographic contact-free imaging of aerosol particles in an efficient manner. One apparatus for holographic imaging of an aerosol particle may include: a delivery device configured to deliver the particle into a region; a light source for outputting a first beam of light and a second beam of light, wherein the first beam travels into the region producing a first light wave which is un-scattered by the particle and a second light wave that is scattered by the particle, and the second beam does not travel into the region; a beam splitter for combining the second beam with the scattered light of the first beam into combined interference light; an image sensor for sensing an interference pattern created by the combined interference light; and an image processor configured to generate an image of the aerosol particle based on the sensed interference pattern.

Abstract: Systems and methods for predicting the outcome of chaotic systems are described. An example of a prediction system disclosed herein includes, in general, functional elements to vary the initial conditions of a chaotic system and calculate a plurality of possible trajectories for the chaotic system. The prediction system also includes calculating a Lyapunov exponent for each of the plurality of possible trajectories and selecting the trajectory with the smallest Lyapunov exponent as the most likely trajectory to occur.

Abstract: Systems and methods for calculating the Lyapunov exponent of a chaotic system are described. In one particular embodiment, a Lyapunov exponent calculating method includes obtaining a value indicative of a condition of a chaotic system and assigning the value to first and second precision levels, the second precision level having a higher level of precision than the first precision level. The method also includes iterating the chaotic system over time and comparing the value at the first precision level with the value at the second precision level. From the comparison of values at the first and second precision levels, the method calculates the Lyapunov exponent for the chaotic system.

Abstract: An optical beamsplitter comprises an optically-transparent material and a partially-reflective layer therein. The optically-transparent material has a cylindrically shaped exterior surface which provides advantages.

Abstract: A rotatable optical beamsplitter comprises an optically-transparent material and a partially-reflective layer. The optically-transparent material has a unitary spherical exterior surface. The partially-reflective layer is located at least partially within the optically transparent material. The spherically shaped optical beamsplitter demonstrates reduced optical distortion.

Abstract: An optical beamsplitter comprises an optically-transparent material and a partially-reflective layer therein. The optically-transparent material has a cylindrically shaped exterior surface which provides advantages.

Abstract: A rotatable optical beamsplitter comprises an optically-transparent material and a partially-reflective layer. The optically-transparent material has a unitary spherical exterior surface. The partially-reflective layer is located at least partially within the optically transparent material. The spherically shaped optical beamsplitter demonstrates reduced optical distortion.

Abstract: Systems for analyzing polarized light back-scattered from a sample are provided. An exemplary system comprises an optical beamsplitter, a polarization separator and an array of light detectors. The optical beamsplitter is operative to receive an incident ray of light, to direct at least a portion of the incident ray to a sample, to receive a back-scattered ray from the sample, and to reflect at least a portion of the back-scattered ray as a reflected back-scattered ray. The polarization separator is located to receive the reflected back-scattered ray and is operative to divide the reflected back-scattered ray into a transverse-electric (TE) component and a transverse-magnetic (TM) component. The array of light detectors is located to receive the TE component and the TM component and is operative to acquire information corresponding to the respective intensities of the TE component and the TM component simultaneously. Methods and other systems also are provided.

Abstract: A system and method and for analyzing dew in a system of interest are provided. A representative method comprises receiving infrared information corresponding to a degree of polarization of dew in a particular environment, and using the degree of polarization to determine dew presence in the environment. Changes in the degree of polarization can be attributed to changes in the density, size or shadowing of the dew drops. Infrared emissions information can be detected and accumulated over a range of emission angles and over a period of time. The system compares the accumulated data for the particular environment to detect the presence of dew, the rate of growth of the dew and the change in characteristics of dew over a period of time starting from a first time interval. The system also compares the accumulated data with other previous accumulated data from the environment to detect if changes should be made to the environment.

Abstract: Methods for analyzing particle systems using polarized scattered light are provided. An exemplary method comprises the steps of: providing models of multiple arbitrary particle systems; performing ray-trace analysis with respect to the models over a range of scatter angles, the ray-trace analysis involving only use of second-order rays; receiving information corresponding to a particle system of interest; and predicting at least one characteristic of the particle system of interest using information generated during the ray-trace analysis. Systems and other methods are provided.

Abstract: Methods for analyzing particle systems of surface facets using polarized scattered light are provided. An exemplary method comprises the steps of: providing models of multiple arbitrary particle systems, the particle system comprising surface facets; performing ray-trace analysis with respect to the models over a range of back-scatter angles, the ray-trace analysis involving only use of second-order rays; receiving information corresponding to a particle system of interest; and predicting at least one characteristic of the particle system of interest using information generated during the ray-trace analysis. Systems and other methods are provided.