Abstract: An optical system has a beam-steering device, a light source, and a controller that controls the light source to actively control wavelength of the incoming light to control the output angle of the outgoing light output from the BS device. The BS device may have incoupler, waveguide, and/or outcoupler electrodes, and the system may have corresponding controllable voltage supplies actively controlled by the controller to selectively modify electric fields applied to the BS device to control corresponding operating characteristics of the BS device (e.g., in-plane and/or out-of-plane output angles of the outgoing light and/or device incoupling angle). An alternative optical system has a BS device, a detector array that generates detector signals corresponding to outgoing light received from the BS device, and a controller that processes the detector signals to determine one or more wavelengths of the outgoing light.

Abstract: A device for the generation of supercontinuum in infrared fiber with a compact light source comprising a microchip laser is launched directly into an infrared fiber without a nonlinear element. Light from the laser is beyond the two-photon absorption of the infrared fiber. The broadband output has a bandwidth greater than the input laser bandwidth by at least 100% and an emission wavelength range from 2 to 14 micrometers.

Abstract: The invention relates to rare-earth-doped ternary sulfides. The rare-earth-doped ternary sulfides may be used as an active material for mid-wave infrared and long-wave infrared lasers and amplifiers. Methods for producing laser materials including rare-earth-doped ternary sulfides, as well as lasers and amplifiers incorporating the laser materials, are also provided.

Abstract: A method of making an optical fiber with multiple openings comprising the steps of fabricating an extrusion die using additive manufacturing such that the extrusion die has a plurality of channels that combine inside the die into another set of channels, extruding a glass, forming a fiber optic preform having a plurality of longitudinal openings that run the entire length, attaching a barrier layer for pressure application, and stretching the preform into an optical fiber with multiple openings. An extrusion die comprising an additive manufactured material, having a proximal side having openings and having a distal side having openings, wherein the openings of the proximal side are of feed channels, wherein the openings of the distal side are of forming channels, and wherein in side the body of the die, two of the feed channels combine the forming channels.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for mechanically encapsulating an infrared transmitting optical fiber, removing any power coupled to the cladding of the infrared optical fiber, and bridging the thermal properties between the optical fiber and the mechanical ferrule used. Embodiments of the present disclosure have several advantages over prior systems. For example, in an embodiment, the transmitting ferrule does not require epoxy to mount the fiber to the ferrule, isolates the front face of the fiber, and allows for high power to be incident on the connector without damage by reducing the thermal induced stress and managing any stray light coupled to the core.

Abstract: A composite and a coating having engineered reflective properties are described. The composite comprises a matrix and flakes of a multilayer polymer film including one or more bilayers including at least a layer of a first polymer and a layer of a second polymer having a different refractive index than the first polymer. The coating described includes the composite as applied to a surface and has a reflectance of at least 10% for a selected wavelength range and a transmittance of at least 50% at wavelengths outside of the selected wavelength range. Also described are methods for forming the composite and the coating.

Abstract: A method for forming a high purity, copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) bulk material is disclosed. The method includes sealing precursor materials for forming the bulk material in a reaction vessel. The precursor materials include copper, at least one chalcogen selected from selenium, sulfur, and tellurium, and at least one element from group IIIA of the periodic table, which may be selected from gallium, indium, and aluminum. The sealed reaction vessel is heated to a temperature at which the precursor materials react to form the bulk material. The bulk material is cooled in the vessel to a temperature below the solidification temperature of the bulk material and opened to release the formed bulk material. A sputtering target formed by the method can have an oxygen content of 10 ppm by weight, or less.

Abstract: An optical system has a beam-steering device having a planar waveguide region between a tapered incoupler and a tapered outcoupler that respectively define opposing incoupler and outcoupler facets of the BS device. Each region has a substrate, a subcladding layer over the substrate, a core layer over the subcladding, and a top cladding layer over the core. Within the incoupler, at least one of the subcladding and the top cladding has a material having a refractive index that varies with an applied field (e.g., an electric field) applied at the incoupler. The optical system also has a field-applying device that applies the applied field at the incoupler, an output detector that generates a feedback signal based on detected outgoing light output from the outcoupler, and a controller that controls the field-applying device based on the feedback signal to alter the light output from the outcoupler.

Abstract: A beam-steering device, such as a steerable electro-evanescent optical refractor, has a planar waveguide region between an incoupler and an outcoupler. Each region has a substrate and a plurality of thin-film layers, such as a subcladding layer over the substrate and a core layer over the subcladding. For at least one coupler, at least two of the thin-film layers have spatially varying optical thicknesses due to, for example, the subcladding and the core being tapered with decreasing thicknesses from the waveguide region to the corresponding facet of the BS device. Alternatively, spatially varying optical thickness can be achieved by spatially varying a layer's refractive index. The coupler has a FWHM bandwidth and a FWHM coupling angle tolerance that greatly exceed those achievable using conventional Ulrich couplers.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for splicing crystal fibers to silica glass fibers. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide mechanically stable bonds with negligible optical transmission loss by splicing fibers through a thermally enhanced reaction bonding process at lower temperatures than the melting point of the crystal. In an embodiment, mixing of the materials at elevated temperatures forms a stable intermediary material which enhances strength and reduces the transmission losses.

Abstract: A method for making high optical quality multicomponent chalcogenide glasses without refractive index perturbations due to striae, phase separation or crystal formation using a sealed ampoule with chemical components enclosed inside, a two-zone furnace, a convection heating/mixing step, and multiple fining steps. Initially, the sealed ampoule is oriented vertically within the two-zone furnace and heated to melt the chemical components contained within, and a temperature gradient is created between the top zone and the bottom zone such that the bottom zone has a higher temperature. This temperature gradient causes convection currents within the viscous liquid until it is sufficiently mixed due to the convective flow. Then the temperature gradient is reversed such that the top zone now has a higher temperature and the convective flow ceases. The furnace temperatures are then reduced over a period of time, with holds at multiple temperatures for fining and cooling to form a solid glass.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical detector device, including: a metal absorber layer; and a dielectric cover layer coupled to the metal absorber layer, wherein the dielectric cover layer includes one or more antireflective structured surfaces. The optical detector device further includes one or more of a passive substrate layer and an active thermoelectric element layer coupled to the metal absorber layer opposite the dielectric cover layer. The one or more antireflective structured surfaces each utilize a random pattern.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a random anti-reflective surface structure on an optical fiber including a holder configured to hold the optical fiber comprising a groove and a fiber connector, an adhesive material to hold the optical fiber in the holder and fill any gap between the optical fiber and the holder, a glass to cover the adhesive material and the optical fiber, and a reactive ion etch device. The reactive ion etch device comprises a plasma and is configured to expose an end face of the optical fiber to the plasma. The plasma is configured to etch a random anti-reflective surface structure on the end face of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A device for the generation of supercontinuum in infrared fiber with a compact light source comprising a microchip laser is launched directly into an infrared fiber without a nonlinear element. Light from the laser is beyond the two-photon absorption of the infrared fiber. The broadband output has a bandwidth greater than the input laser bandwidth by at least 100% and an emission wavelength range from 2 to 14 micrometers.

Abstract: The present invention provides for synthesizing high optical quality multicomponent chalcogenide glasses without refractive index perturbations due to striae, phase separation or crystal formation using a two-zone furnace and multiple fining steps. The top and bottom zones are initially heated to the same temperature, and then a temperature gradient is created between the top zone and the bottom zone. The fining and cooling phase is divided into multiple steps with multiple temperature holds.

Abstract: A spinel-based optical element made by a method for reducing transmission losses in the spinel-based optical element by building a structure on the surface of the optical element without the use of a previously prepared master. The structure can be built through reactive ion etching (RIE) of a pattern obtained through photolithography and liftoff, through RIE of a pattern through e-beam writing and liftoff, through RIE of a pattern using a self organized metal mask, or by direct hot-pressing the structure during fabrication of the optical element.

Abstract: A method for achieving alignment and optical switching of a liquid crystal (LC) layer that is deposited on chalcogenide glass (ChG). Direct brushing of ChG produces an effective LC alignment layer. Also disclosed is the related waveguide assembly for achieving alignment and optical switching of a liquid crystal (LC) layer deposited on chalcogenide glass (ChG).

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for mechanically encapsulating an infrared transmitting optical fiber, removing any power coupled to the cladding of the infrared optical fiber, and bridging the thermal properties between the optical fiber and the mechanical ferrule used. Embodiments of the present disclosure have several advantages over prior systems. For example, in an embodiment, the transmitting ferrule does not require epoxy to mount the fiber to the ferrule, isolates the front face of the fiber, and allows for high power to be incident on the connector without damage by reducing the thermal induced stress and managing any stray light coupled to the core.

Abstract: A method for making a gradient index infrared transmitting optic by thermally treating a preform, where the preform comprises two or more infrared transmitting glasses having different compositions and optical properties, where there is an interface between adjacent glasses, where during the thermal treatment one or more chemical elements from the glasses diffuses through one or more interface resulting in a diffused gradient index optical element comprising a gradient in the chemical element concentration, and where the optical element has a gradient in refractive index and dispersion. Also disclosed is the related infrared transmitting optical element made by this method.

Abstract: An optical system having two or more different optical elements with a corresponding interface between the optical elements. At least one of the optical elements has an anti-reflective structure that is transferred to the interface between two optical elements, typically by embossing. Also disclosed is the related method for making the optical system.