Abstract: Described is a free space optical (FSO) node capable of communicating with a remote FSO node. The FSO node includes a Tx/Rx subassembly that is capable of simultaneously receiving and transmitting light carrying data, detecting the position/orientation of the received light signals, and aligning the Tx/Rx subassembly to account for misalignments with remote node. The Tx/Rx subassembly includes a central fiber for transmitting and receiving the optical signals so that the signal data can be processed. The Tx/Rx subassembly also includes a bundle of fibers that circumscribe the central fiber and receive a portion of received light signals to detect the position/orientation of the received light signals and align the FSO node with a remote FSO node.

Abstract: A monitoring system for an aircraft which includes a laser secured to a fuselage of the aircraft and a laser beam target device secured to a wing of the aircraft, wherein the laser is positioned to emit a laser beam onto the laser beam target device for ascertaining a deflection of the wing. A method is also provided for sensing the deflection of a portion of a wing of an aircraft which includes the steps of emitting a laser beam from a laser secured to the fuselage of an aircraft and receiving the laser beam at a laser beam target device secured to a wing of the aircraft. The method further includes the step of transmitting location information of the position of the laser beam at the laser beam target device to a controller of a gimbal wherein the gimbal secures the laser to the fuselage of the aircraft.

Abstract: A laser beam projection system builds on a coherent imaging to project a tightly focused laser beam onto a remote object. Coherent flood illumination and local oscillator (LO) illumination are based on one master oscillator. The coherent flood illumination is directed toward a remote object, with a second laser beam directed onto an aimpoint on the same object. A Doppler sensor provides Doppler shift data used to produce Doppler-shifted LO illumination received by a focal plane array, together with the return flood illumination. Interference between the Doppler-shifted LO illumination and the return flood illumination facilitates imaging the object despite the velocity. The wavefront error of the flood illumined remote object image is computed and compared to the desired wavefront of the second laser beam at the aimpoint, with the difference applied to a deformable mirror to shape the second laser beam wavefront for obtaining a desired aimpoint intensity profile.

Abstract: A device for radiometrically gauging the surface of a measurement object (O) includes: at least one measurement array featuring an illumination array and a pick-up array; and a processor (P) for controlling the illumination array and the pick-up array and for processing measurement signals produced by the pick-up array and for providing processed image data. The illumination array exposes a region of the measurement object (O) to illumination light at an illumination angle (?i) and an illumination aperture angle (?i), and the pick-up array captures measurement light, reflected by the measurement object (O), at a pick-up angle (?v) and a pick-up aperture angle (?v) and guides it onto an image sensor exhibiting a pixel structure. The measurement object (O) is gauged multispectrally in multiple wavelength ranges, wherein the image sensor produces multispectral image data. Angular and spatial conditions are indicated which optimize the measurement device (MD) with regard to characterizing sparkles.

Abstract: An optical wavefront testing system includes a light source, an image capturing unit and a processing unit. The image capturing unit includes a lens array and a sensor module that is configured to detect light rays passing through an optical element and the lens array. The processing unit controls the sensor module to detect the light rays under a plurality exposure conditions for generating a plurality of images each including a plurality of light spots, obtains a plurality of light spot datasets corresponding to the light spots and each including a plurality of pixel coordinate sets and a plurality of pixel values, and obtains wavefront information associated with the light spots based on the light spot datasets of at least two of the images.

Abstract: When the optical system is illuminated with an illumination light flux emitted from one extant input image point, an interference image generated by superimposing an extant output light flux output from the optical system and a reference light flux coherent with the extant output light flux is imaged to acquire interference image data, and thus to acquire measured phase distribution, and this acquisition operation is applied to each extant input image point. Thus, each measured phase distribution is expanded by expanding functions ?n(u, v) having coordinates (u, v) on a phase defining plane as a variable to be represented as a sum with coefficients ?n{Ajn·?n(u, v)}. When the optical system is illuminated with a virtual illumination light flux, a phase ?(u, v) of a virtual output light flux is determined by performing interpolation calculation based on coordinates of a virtual light emitting point.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for real-time predictive laser beam propagation through various atmospheric conditions and over predetermined distances. The invention includes loading input parameters into an embedded control scheme of a laser system. A prediction of one or more laser beam parameters is generated and a computational error is quantified for the generated laser beam parameters. One or more parameters for the laser system are then chosen based on the prediction and based on the quantified computational error. The chosen parameters are within a predetermined tolerance. A laser system is then built or adjusted using the one or more chosen parameters.

Abstract: A device for measuring an aberration has an image sensor, projection optics for optically projecting onto the image sensor, an optical unit for influencing the optical projection onto the image sensor so that the result on the image sensor is a multiple image of a plurality of sub-images, wherein the optical unit has at least one region per sub-image, wherein the regions influence different lateral portions of a wavefront incident on the projection optics in different ways, and an evaluator configured to determine information relating to the aberration based on the multiple image.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for identifying a suitable surgical location and/or trajectory for proceeding with a surgical procedure based on local polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography imaging (PS-OCT). PS-OCT images are obtained of a tissue region and are processed to provide a spatial map of anisotropic structure within the tissue region. The anisotropic structure is processed to determine one or more suitable surgical locations and/or trajectories for avoiding or reducing damage to local anisotropic tissue structure identified within the tissue region. The spatial map of the anisotropic structure is registered with pre-operative volumetric image data identifying anisotropic tissue structure within a second tissue region that is larger than the tissue region imaged by PS-OCT.

Abstract: System and method for monitoring of performance of a mirror array of a digital scanner with a use of a lateral shearing interferometer (operated in either static or a phase-shifting condition) to either simply identify problematic pixels for further troubleshooting or measure the exact magnitude of the mirror's deformation.

Abstract: In an improved wavelength-division multiplexed system, transmitters modulate carrier signals that are phase or frequency correlated with each other. Receivers retrieve transmission data from the modulated carrier signals by demodulating and equalizing the modulated carrier signals using oscillating signals that are also phase or frequency correlated with each other. Each oscillating signal has a wavelength that matches a wavelength of a corresponding one of the carrier signals. At least one of the receivers generates process information during the demodulating and equalizing. The process information is sent to at least one other receiver, which uses the process information to retrieve at least a portion of the transmission data.

Abstract: The circuit size of a signal processing circuit increases in a free space optical receiver, which increases in cost, because the signal processing becomes complex attempting to improve the coupling efficiency between received light and a fiber; therefore, a free space optical receiver according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes a light collecting means for collecting laser light having propagated through a free space transmission path; a multi-mode transmission medium for receiving input of the laser light and outputting multi-mode light; a multi-mode signal processing means for outputting a plurality of received electrical signals based on part of the multi-mode light; a monitor means for monitoring signal information based on the multi-mode light; a control means for controlling an operation of the multi-mode signal processing means based on the signal information; and a signal processing means for performing signal processing on the plurality of received electrical signals and output

Abstract: Apparatus for determining geometrical parameters of a laser beam includes an optical system, a device for output coupling radiation, a beam diagnostic device, and a reflector element. The optical system focuses the laser beam into a processing region. The device for output coupling radiation couples out radiation that runs through the optical system in a direction opposite to a direction of the laser beam. The reflector element has a first surface which is partially reflecting and curved, where the curvature is equal to a mean curvature of a wave front of the laser beam in a positioning region of the reflector element.

Abstract: A laser vehicle headlight system for detecting an incident laser light and outputting a headlight includes a headlight body, an optical unit and a light leakage detecting unit. The optical unit is disposed on the headlight body and receives the incident laser light. The optical unit includes a fluorescent member which is disposed on an initial light path of the incident laser light and is illuminated by the incident laser light to induce a stable light traveling along a stable light path. The light leakage detecting unit is disposed on the headlight body. The light leakage detecting unit includes a first elliptical reflecting surface and a light detector. The first elliptical reflecting surface has a first elliptical reflecting focal point and is corresponding to the fluorescent member. The light detector is disposed at the first elliptical reflecting focal point of the first elliptical reflecting surface.

Abstract: A laser transmitter is provided that includes a seed signal generator, an amplitude modulator and a power amplifier. The seed signal generator is configured to generate a seed signal that has a continuous waveform. The amplitude modulator is configured to generate a flat-top pulse signal based on the seed signal. The power amplifier is configured to generate a laser output signal based on the flat-top pulse signal.

Abstract: A method may include steps of binding an analyte to a ligand, exposing the analyte to light of differing wavelengths, and observing a difference in spectral response of the analyte at the differing wavelengths. Further steps may include comparing the observed difference with a known difference in spectral response of a reference substance at the differing wavelengths, and determining whether the observed difference meets a predetermined threshold of identity with the known difference. The method may be performed with reference to a surface having a reflective area with a known size a non-reflective area adjacent to the reflective area. The method may thus include the steps of providing a ligand in alignment with the non-reflective area of the surface, and binding an analyte to the ligand in a position reaching across the reflective area.

Abstract: A thermal detection system for detecting a thermal profile of an optical window may be used in an airborne body that contains a sensor system. The system may include a thermal imager arranged within the airborne body for imaging a portion of the optical window and the portion may coincide with an optical path of the sensor system. The system may further include a processor in communication with the thermal imager for receiving images of the portion and determining a thermal gradient of the portion. The processor may be configured to apply corrections to active optical elements of the sensor system to accommodate for adverse thermal effects on the optical sensor that interferes with the sensor system performance.

Abstract: It is impossible to prevent the deterioration of the coupling efficiency between received light and a single mode fiber, and difficult to achieve a higher transmission rate, with respect to a free space optical communication receiver; therefore, a free space optical receiver according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes light collecting means for collecting laser light having propagated through a free space transmission path; mode controlling means for separating the laser light collected by the light collecting means into a plurality of propagation mode beams depending on a wave-front fluctuation of the laser light and outputting the propagation mode beams; a plurality of single mode transmission media for guiding the plurality of propagation mode beams, respectively; and a plurality of light receiving means for receiving the plurality of propagation mode beams respectively through the plurality of single mode transmission media.

Abstract: The disclosed invention describes a new apparatus performing a new data acquisition for quantitative refractive index tomography. It is based on a linear scanning of the specimen, opposed to the classical approaches based on rotations of either the sample or the illumination beam, which are based on the illumination with plane waves, which orientation is successively modified in order to acquire angular information. On the contrary, the inventive apparatus and method rely on a specially shaped illumination, which provides straightforwardly an angular distribution in the illumination of the specimen. The specimen can thus be linearly scanned in the object plane in order to acquire the data set enabling tomographic reconstruction, where the different positions directly possess the information on various angles for the incoming wave vectors.

Abstract: A system which includes a first light beam locating sensor associated with a first position to be located on a wing of an aircraft. The first light beam locating sensor senses a first light beam at an identifiable position on the first light beam locating sensor. A processor is configured to receive a first signal from the first light beam locating sensor wherein the first signal includes a first identifiable position on the first light beam locating sensor. The processor is configured to determine a location of the first position on the wing and perform a first comparison of the location of the first position on the wing to a predetermined analyzed location of the first position on the wing.

Abstract: There is disclosed a novel system and method for achieving ultra-resolution, ultra-wide field-of-view multispectral and hyperspectral holographic microscopy and quantitative phase contrast microscopy. In an embodiment, the method comprises: providing a stationary illumination source; acquiring a plurality of low-resolution holograms of an image subject from different locations utilizing a subpixel sensor-scanning synthetic aperture mechanism whereby a detector scanning translationally, radially and/or rotationally; processing the acquired holograms utilizing a processing algorithm corresponding to the scanning motion of the detector used to acquire the holograms; and reconstructing a subpixel ultra-resolution image of the image subject based on the processed holograms; whereby, a desired synthetic aperture is achieved without loss of resolution. The multispectral and hyperspectral aspect is achieved in the novel system and method by use of different combination of illumination sources (i.e.

Abstract: Embodiments for providing reference signal generation redundancy in distributed antenna systems (DASs) are disclosed. To avoid a single point of failure in reference signal generation that could cause components relying on the reference signal to not operate properly, the reference signal generation circuits disclosed herein include a plurality of reference signal generation modules. One reference signal generation module is configured as the master reference signal generation module to generate a master reference signal distributed in the DAS. The other reference signal generation modules are configured as slave reference signal generation modules. If a failure is detected in the generation of the master reference signal in the master reference signal generation module, another slave reference signal generation module is reconfigured to be the new master reference signal generation module to generate the master reference signal.

Abstract: A complex amplitude information measurement apparatus (10) according to the present invention includes pixel sensor groups for generating a difference from one pixel sensor group to another in the optical distance of object light traveling from a measurement object (100); a camera (15) provided with an image sensor for recording, with a single-shot exposure, the object light that has passed through or been reflected from the pixel sensor groups to obtain intensity information of the measurement object; and a computer (16) for computing, on the basis of the intensity information, phase information of the measurement object (100).

Abstract: An optical element is disclosed. The optical element comprises: a first phase shift mask formed on a first optical material and constituted to generate a positive phase shift, and a second phase shift mask formed on a second optical material and constituted to generate a negative phase shift, wherein the phase shift masks are arranged serially on an optical axis, and wherein a refractive index of at least one of the first and second optical materials varies with the temperature at a rate of at least 50×10?6 per degree Kelvin.

Abstract: A frequency modulated (coherent) laser detection and ranging system includes a read-out integrated circuit formed with a two-dimensional array of detector elements each including a photosensitive region receiving both return light reflected from a target and light from a local oscillator, and local processing circuitry sampling the output of the photosensitive region four times during each sample period clock cycle to obtain quadrature components. A data bus coupled to one or more outputs of each of the detector elements receives the quadrature components from each of the detector elements for each sample period and serializes the received quadrature components. A processor coupled to the data bus receives the serialized quadrature components and determines an amplitude and a phase for at least one interfering frequency corresponding to interference between the return light and the local oscillator light using the quadrature components.

Abstract: A system that performs heterodyne optical imaging across multiple platforms gathers an optical signal from an optical sensor at each of the multiple platforms. At the same time, an optical frequency comb local oscillator (LO) at each of the platforms generates a reference comb signal comprising a set of optical frequency comb lines at different frequencies, wherein each optical frequency comb LO is locked to a local atomic clock at each of the platforms. Next, a mixer, at each of the platforms, is used to mix the optical signal gathered from the optical sensor with the reference comb signal generated by the optical frequency comb LO to generate a mixed signal. The system then communicates the mixed signals generated at each of the platforms to a central location. Finally, the system correlates the mixed signals received from each of the platforms and generates a reconstructed optical image.

Abstract: A pico projector with visible light communication has three different modes for various applications.

Abstract: Sensors, devices, apparatus, systems and methods for replacing microlens arrays with one or more switchable diffractive waveplate microlens arrays for providing measurements of wavefronts and intensity distribution in light beams with high spatial resolution with a single optical radiation sensor. The device acts like a conventional Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor when the microlens array elements are in focusing state, and the device performs light beam intensity profile characterization acting as a beam profiler when the optical power of lens array elements is switched off.

Abstract: An adaptive optics system includes a spatial light modulator configured to spatially modulate a phase of an optical image incident on a modulation surface including N two-dimensionally arranged regions and a wavefront sensor including a lens array having N two-dimensionally arranged lenses corresponding to the N regions and an optical detection element for detecting a light intensity distribution including K converging spots formed by the lens array and configured to receive the optical image after the modulation from the spatial light modulator, wherein a correspondence relation between the region of the spatial light modulator and the converging spot formed in the wavefront sensor is specified.

Abstract: Methods and systems are presented to reduce the illumination spot size projected onto a measurement target and associated spillover onto area surrounding a measurement target. In one aspect, a spatial light modulator (SLM) is located in the illumination path between the illumination light source and the measurement sample. The SLM is configured to modulate amplitude, phase, or both, across the path of the illumination light to reduce wavefront errors. In some embodiments, the desired state of the SLM is based on wavefront measurements performed in an optical path of the metrology system. In another aspect, an illumination aperture having an image plane tilted at an oblique angle with respect to a beam of illumination light is employed to overcome defocusing effects in metrology systems that employ oblique illumination of the measurement sample. In some embodiments, the illumination aperture, objective lens, and specimen are aligned to satisfy the Scheimpflug condition.

Abstract: An OPO with very fast and accurate tuning. The angle of the crystals in the OPO is controlled by converting the linear motion of a voice coil into rotational motion. In preferred embodiments one or two OPO crystals are mounted as a crystal unit that can rotate around an axis such that the angle of the crystals with respect to the beams' direction can be varied to generate the desired wavelengths. The crystal unit has a lever that is connected to the shaft of the voice coil such that as the shaft extend or retracts the level is pulled or pushed and the linear motion of the shaft is converted to an angular motion of the crystal unit. The position of the voice-coil shaft is controlled in a close-loop based on a built-in encoder. The relation between the reading of the encoder and the crystals' angle is recorded and provides the calibration of the unit. Preferably calibration is done by measuring the output wavelength of the OPO as a function of the encoder position.

Abstract: A laser beam directing system including a first deflection mirror which is connected with an elevation axis of the laser beam directing system; a primary laser which is coupleable into telescope optics by the first deflection mirror; a first auxiliary laser that is oriented in parallel to an azimuth rotation axis of the laser beam directing system; a second auxiliary laser that is oriented parallel to an elevation rotation axis of the laser beam directing system; and a first detector, wherein the first auxiliary laser, the second auxiliary laser and the first detector are arranged and oriented in the laser beam directing system so that the first deflection mirror is alignable by comparing beams of the first auxiliary laser and the second auxiliary laser impacting the first detector so that a beam from the primary laser is coupleable into the telescope optics parallel to the elevation rotation axis.

Abstract: There is provided an imaging system for producing an image of a scene, the image having at least one distorted zone, the imaging system comprising image producing means for producing an image of the scene; optical means for orienting light from the scene towards the image producing means, the optical means having a base optical power, the optical means being configurable to form at least one modified portion, each one of the at least one modified portion having a modified optical power different from the base optical power to thereby create at least one distorted zone on the image; and control means operatively connected to the optical means for changing the configuration of the optical means for forming the at least one modified portion. The imaging system may be reversible and provided instead as a scanning system.

Abstract: Method for compensating aberrations of an active optical system by a deformable mirror, comprising: (a) formation of a matrix N, binding the optical system aberrations with the displacements of the surface of a deformable mirror, presented as a superposition of natural frequency modes of a mirror simulator having the same geometric shape and the same elasticity characteristics as the deformable mirror but having zero density except for concentrated masses attached at points corresponding to the places of action of the force actuators onto the deformable mirror; (b) formation of the matrix M, binding the coefficients of the natural frequency modes of the mirror simulator with the forces or displacements of the force actuators that deform the mirror; (c) generation of the matrix of forces or displacements for loading the deformable mirror on the basis of the aberration measurement, using the matrices N and M.

Abstract: With a microspectroscopy device provided with an objective lens with a high numerical aperture, a defocus arises from thermal drift, etc., necessitating auto-focusing. Conventional auto-focus based on through-focus image acquisition takes time, and thus, it cannot be applied to continuous measurement over a long time wherein high-speed sampling is carried out. The present invention addresses this problem by having a defocus-sensing beam that has either defocus or astigmatism fall incident on the objective lens. Since how the image of the spot of the beam for defocus sensing blurs differs depending on the orientation of the defocus, real-time detection of the amount and orientation of defocus becomes possible, and high-speed realtime auto-focus becomes possible.

Abstract: The invention relates to mass spectrometers with an ion source, comprising a UV laser system for mass spectrometric analyses with ionization of analyte molecules in a sample by matrix-assisted laser desorption, which, with very low energy losses, can produce a spatially distributed spot pattern with several intensity peaks of equal height, thus making it possible to achieve an optimum degree of ionization of analyte ions for any task. Such a spot pattern can be generated from the UV beam with high transverse coherence, using a combination of a lens array and a lens, provided that the lens array satisfies a mathematical condition for separation of the micro-lenses from each other (pitch) and their focal length. For example, a lens array with square or round lenses produces a pattern of nine and five spots, respectively. The lens arrays are inexpensive and do not require any lateral adjustment in this arrangement.

Abstract: A spectrometry apparatus includes a wavelength variable interference filter emitting light of various predetermined wavelengths; a roll shutter imaging element having pixels accumulating electric charges when exposed to light, and forming one frame by photodetection for each pixel block including pixels with a predetermined time delay for each pixel block, in which the imaging element accumulates electric charges in a photodetection period, and outputs a detection signal in response to the accumulated electric charges in a non-photodetection period; and a spectroscopic controller controlling the wavelength change driving of the emitted light of the wavelength variable interference filter. For the one frame, the spectroscopic controller starts the wavelength change driving at an end timing of the photodetection period of a final pixel block for which the photodetection process is performed at the end.

Abstract: A method and system are described for illuminating a target with a laser source with a wide-area illuminating beam. A conjugator can receive a reflected, imprinted wavefront from the target that is imprinted with effects from beam distortions and obstructions between the laser source and the target. The conjugator can then generate a hologram. A directed laser beam can then be generated to the target by reading the generated hologram with a second reference beam creating a time-reversed wavefront that can be generated with high gain. The time-reversed wavefront can retrace the path that originated from the laser source to the target, and can reverse the effects of beam distortions and obstructions. Finally, an enhanced return can be received from the target with a receiver, and a time-gating switch can be utilized that selectively selects a particular range of return wavefronts that include wavefronts that reached the target.

Abstract: The invention describes a method and a microscopy system for imaging and analyzing stochastically and independently blinking point-like emitters. A multiple-order cumulants analysis in conjunction with an established blinking model enables the extraction of super-resolved environment-related parameter maps, such as molecular state lifetimes, concentration and brightness distributions of the emitter. In addition, such parameter maps can be used to compensate for the non-linear brightness and blinking response of higher-order cumulant images—used for example in Super-resolution Optical Fluctuation Imaging (SOFI)—to generate a balanced image contrast. Structures that otherwise would be masked by brighter regions in the conventional cumulant image become samples using spectral cross-cumulants.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes: laser; objective that irradiates a sample with laser light; phase-modulation spatial light modulator that is located at a pupil conjugate position of the objective and modulates a phase of the laser light; scan unit that scans the sample with the laser light; detector that detects observation light from the sample; image generating unit that generates a sample image according to a signal from the detector and control information of the scan unit; and controlling unit that sets for the modulator a modulation amount of the phase of laser light in accordance with a pattern to be formed on the sample using the laser light. According to the pattern to be formed on the sample and a pattern of irradiation with the laser light obtained from the image generated by the image generating unit, the controlling unit corrects the modulation amount that is set for the modulator.

Abstract: A display apparatus for controlling a field of view is provided. When a mode it set to a photograph mode, the display apparatus may control the field of view when photographing, by sensing an input light emitted from an object and transmitted through a first panel on which a field of view control pattern is formed, and a second panel on which an imaging pattern is formed.

Abstract: An adaptive optics system includes a spatial light modulator configured to spatially modulate a phase of an optical image incident on a modulation surface and a wavefront sensor including a lens array having a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged lenses and an optical detection element for detecting a light intensity distribution including converging spots formed by the lens array and configured to receive the optical image after the modulation from the spatial light modulator, and compensates for wavefront distribution by controlling a phase pattern displayed in the spatial light modulator based on a wavefront shape of the optical image obtained from the light intensity distribution, wherein a correspondence relation between the modulation surface and the wavefront sensor is adjusted.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the invention relates to a device (20, 50) for controlling the phase of an incident optical wavefront of wavelength comprised in a spectral band of given use, comprising a substrate (21) that is at least partially transparent in said spectral band and a set of strips (22i, 23i, 24i) arranged substantially perpendicularly to the surface of the substrate, characterized in that: said set of strips comprises an alternation of juxtaposed strips respectively made of a metal (22i), of a first dielectric (23i) and of at least one second dielectric (24i) different from the first dielectric, such as to form juxtaposed metal/multi dielectric/metal (MmultiDM) structures (Si) of subwavelength widths (wi), each structure forming a cavity having one or more propagation modes—the respective thicknesses of the strips made of the first dielectric and of the second dielectric(s) are adjusted in each of said MmultiDM structures to induce a local shift (??i) in the phase of the wavefront, the local phase

Abstract: A wavefront measurement method includes the steps of causing object light to be incident on a Shack-Hartmann sensor, capturing a first spot image under image pickup conditions, calculating data of first spot positions that correspond to the first spot image, calculating second spot positions by simulating a second spot image on the basis of the image pickup condition and information of a travelling direction of diffracted light generated when the object light passes through the microlenses, and reducing detection errors of the spot positions by correcting the data of the first spot positions on the basis of data of the second spot positions including data of a detection error due to the diffracted light.

Abstract: An automated adaptive optics and laser projection system is described. The automated adaptive optics and laser projection system includes an adaptive optics system and a compact laser projection system with related laser guidance programming used to correct atmospheric distortion induced on light received by a telescope. Control of the automated adaptive optics and laser projection system is designed in a modular manner in order to facilitate replication of the system to be used with a variety of different telescopes. Related methods are also described.

Abstract: An optical system (120) for detecting optical aberrations of light from an object (101), the optical system comprising: a reference light-source (102) providing collimated reference light; an optical element (212) configured to focus at least one collimated light beam incident on the optical element (212) to a plurality of focal points in a conjugate object plane (214), the optical element (212) being arranged in an optical path between the reference light-source (102) and the object (101) for transmitting a plurality of reference light beams towards the object (101); and a wavefront sensor (112) configured to detect a property indicative of an optical aberration of light incident on the wavefront sensor; wherein the optical element (212) is further arranged to transmit a plurality of reflected guide star light beams resulting from reflection of the reference light beams at the object (101) towards the wavefront sensor (112).

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and apparatus for inspecting tendons and cable stays in bridges and structures using multi-frequency excitation of an ECVT sensor.

Abstract: A System and Method for Low Signal Knife Edge Wavefront Sensing in an Adaptive Optical System to provide measurement and compensation of aberrations induced by propagation through an optical system and through a turbulent medium to a target. The wavefront sensing method requires a minimum signal level for effective operation by taking advantage of the implicit gain afforded by the knife edge principle and incorporating a means for on-line calibration of the knife edge gain. This particular advantage reduces requirements on the laser utilized to generate a beacon signal for wavefront sensing and reduces requirements on the detectors utilized for wavefront sensing, ultimately reducing cost of the method relative to alternative adaptive optical systems using conventional wavefront sensing methods. The method is suitable for use with a broad range of laser sources, including continuous wave and pulsed laser sources, cooperative and non-cooperative targets.

Abstract: The invention pertains to an apparatus and a method for tuning and then locking a nonlinear crystal to the angle at which phase-matching occurs. It is particularly advantageous to conduct tuning automatically and in the field.

Abstract: An adaptive optics system includes a spatial light modulator configured to spatially modulate a phase of an optical image incident on a modulation surface and a wavefront sensor including a lens array having a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged lenses and an optical detection element for detecting a light intensity distribution including converging spots formed by the lens array and configured to receive the optical image after the modulation from the spatial light modulator, and compensates for wavefront distribution by controlling a phase pattern displayed in the spatial light modulator based on a wavefront shape of the optical image obtained from the light intensity distribution, wherein an amount of angular displacement between the modulation surface and the wavefront sensor is calculated.