Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes an optical source to emit a corresponding plurality of optical beams with synchronized chirp rates and synchronized chirp durations. The plurality of optical beams are each tuned to produce regions of constructive and destructive interference into a combined optical beam. A first optical component forms a phase-locked loop to correct nonlinearities detected in the plurality of optical beams. A second optical component transmits a combined optical beam toward a target environment and receives a target return signal. A third optical component downconverts the target return signal to a plurality of fixed frequency downconverted target return signals, each including a target range component and a target velocity component.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus is provided that includes an optical source to emit an optical beam towards a target. The LIDAR apparatus further includes a mode field expander operatively coupled to the optical source to expand a mode area of the optical beam.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system according to the present disclosure comprises an optical circulator and one or more photodetectors (PDs). The optical circulator is to transmit the target return signal to the one or more PDs, where the one or more PDs are to mix the target return signal with a local oscillator (LO) signal to generate a signal to extract information of the target.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system uses optical sources to emit a continuous-wave (CW) optical beam and a frequency-modulated (FMCW) optical beam. A first set off optical components is coupled with the optical sources to generate a CW local oscillator (LO) signal from the CW optical beam, to generate an FMCW LO signal from the FMCW optical beam, and to combine the CW optical beam and the FMCW optical beam into a combined optical beam. A second set of optical components is coupled with the first set of optical components, to transmit the combined optical beam toward a target environment and to receive a target return signal from the target environment. A third set of optical components is coupled with the second set of optical components, to generate and detect a target velocity component of the target return signal and a target range component of the target return signal.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes an optical source to emit an optical beam, where a local oscillator (LO) signal is generated from a partial reflection of the optical beam from a partially-reflecting surface proximate to the first focal plane, and where a transmitted portion of the optical beam is directed toward a scanned target environment. LIDAR system to focus the LO signal and a target return signal at a second focal plane comprising a conjugate focal plane to the first focal plane. The system may also include a photodetector with a photosensitive surface proximate to the conjugate focal plane to mix the LO signal with the target return signal to generate target information.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus includes an optical source to emit an optical beam, and free-space optics coupled with the optical source. The free space optics include a photodetector and other optical components to direct a propagated portion of the optical beam or a reflected portion of the optical beam toward the photodetector as a local oscillator signal, and to transmit the optical beam toward a target environment.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes optical sources to emit optical beams with synchronized chirp rates and chirp durations. The optical beams provide a comb of coherent optical beams with a fixed frequency separation between frequency adjacent optical beams. A first set of first optical components amplifies and combines the optical beams into a combined optical beam. A second set of optical components transmits the combined optical beam toward a target environment and receives a target return signal. A third set of optical components downconverts the target return signal to downconverted target return signals corresponding to the optical beams, and coherently combines the downconverted target return signals.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus includes an optical source to emit an optical beam, and free-space optics coupled with the optical source. The free space optics include a photodetector and other optical components to direct a leaked portion of the optical beam or a reflected portion of the optical beam toward the photodetector as a local oscillator signal, and to transmit the optical beam toward a target environment. The local oscillator signal co-propagates with a like-polarized target return signal and mixes with the target return signal to generate target information.

Abstract: An enhanced single particle interferometric reflectance imaging system includes an illumination source configured to produce illumination light along an illumination path toward a target substrate. The target substrate can be configured to reflect the illuminating light along one or more collection paths toward one or more imaging sensors. The target substrate includes a base substrate having a first reflecting surface and a transparent spacer layer having a first surface in contact with the first reflecting surface and a second reflecting surface on a side opposite to the first surface. The transparent spacer layer has a predefined thickness that is determined as a function of a wavelength of the illuminating light and produces a predefined radiation pattern of optical scattering when nanoparticles are positioned on or near the second reflective surface. In addition, one or more of the collection paths can also include an amplitude mask selected to match the radiation pattern.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system according to the present disclosure comprises an optical circulator and one or more photodetectors (PDs). The optical circulator is to receive an optical beam and transmit the optical beam to a target, to receive a target return signal from the target and to transmit the target return signal to the one or more PDs, where the one or more PDs are to mix the target return signal with an LO signal to generate a heterodyne signal to extract range and velocity information of the target.

Abstract: A method of operating a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system is provided that includes generating a beam of polarized light; and transforming a polarization state of the beam of polarized light at a rate faster than a rate of data collection at a plurality of detectors configured to detect light reflected from a target for the purpose of speckle-reduction.

Abstract: A method of operating a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system is provided that includes generating a beam of co-propagating, cross-polarized light using a first polarizing beam splitter; and determining a material characteristic or orientation of a target using the co-propagating, cross-polarized light.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes optical sources to emit optical beams with synchronized chirp rates and chirp durations. The optical beams provide a comb of coherent optical beams with a fixed frequency separation between frequency adjacent optical beams. A first set of first optical components amplifies and combines the optical beams into a combined optical beam. A second set of optical components transmits the combined optical beam toward a target environment and receives a target return signal. A third set of optical components downconverts the target return signal to downconverted target return signals corresponding to the optical beams, and coherently combines the downconverted target return signals.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system according to the present disclosure comprises an optical source to emit an optical beam, and an optical circulator to receive the optical beam and transmit the optical beam to a target, to receive a target return signal from the target and to transmit the target return signal to one or more photodetectors (PDs). The optical circulator is configured to collect all polarization states in the target return signal. The LiDAR system further comprises an optical element to generate a local oscillator (LO) signal, and the one or more PDs to mix the target return signal with the LO signal to generate a heterodyne signal to extract range and velocity information of the target.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes an optical source to emit an optical beam, and free-space optics coupled with the optical source to focus the optical beam at a first focal plane, where a local oscillator (LO) signal is generated from a partial reflection of the optical beam from a partially-reflecting surface proximate to the first focal plane, and where a transmitted portion of the optical beam is directed toward a scanned target environment. The free-space optics configured to focus the LO signal and a target return signal at a second focal plane comprising a conjugate focal plane to the first focal plane. The system also includes a photodetector with a photosensitive surface proximate to the conjugate focal plane to mix the LO signal with the target return signal to generate target information.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus is provided that includes an optical source to emit a first optical beam having a first frequency and a second optical beam having a second frequency and a dispersive element to deflect the first optical beam having the first frequency at a first angle and the second optical beam having the second frequency at a second angle.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus is provided that includes an optical source configured to emit an optical beam. The LIDAR apparatus further includes free space optics configured to receive a first portion of the optical beam as a target signal and a second portion of the optical beam as a local oscillator signal, and combine the target signal and the local oscillator signal. The LIDAR apparatus includes a multi-mode (MM) waveguide configured to receive the combined signal.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus is provided that includes an optical source to emit an optical beam towards a target. The LIDAR apparatus further includes a mode field expander operatively coupled to the optical source to expand a mode area of the optical beam.

Abstract: A system for analyzing one or more liquid samples includes a microwell plate including a plurality of rows of wells configured to store liquid samples, a sensor array that is moveable relative to the microwell plate along a first axis between a first position and a second position to allow a portion of the sensor array to be disposed within a first one of the plurality of rows of wells when the sensor array is in the second position, an objective, and one or more linear translation stages configured to move the microwell plate relative to the objective (i) along a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis, (ii) along a third axis that is orthogonal to the first axis and the second axis, or (iii) both (i) and (ii).

Abstract: A system for analyzing one or more liquid samples includes a microwell plate including a plurality of rows of wells configured to store liquid samples, a sensor array that is moveable relative to the microwell plate along a first axis between a first position and a second position to allow a portion of the sensor array to be disposed within a first one of the plurality of rows of wells when the sensor array is in the second position, an objective, and one or more linear translation stages configured to move the microwell plate relative to the objective (i) along a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis, (ii) along a third axis that is orthogonal to the first axis and the second axis, or (iii) both (i) and (ii).