Abstract: A LIDAR device includes an array of lasers and an array of corresponding receivers. The spatial distribution of the lasers corresponds to that of the receivers. The array of lasers creates an array of beamlets and correlated receiver fields of view for dense three-dimensional point cloud mapping with precise angular spacing defined by lithographically grown transmitter and receiver arrays. A transmitter lens may be provided that maximizes optical throughput in a coaxial LIDAR by crossing the transmitter beamlets at the focus of the transmitter lens, where a transmit and receive combiner is also located. A single transmitter lens may be used to both collimate and steer the transmitter beamlets to generate a desired spot pattern in angle space. Control circuitry for the lasers may include a drive transistor with a power source coupled to a source terminal and an isolated gate driver coupled to a gate terminal.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) to measure an optical wavelength of a light source. The PIC includes an optical splitter, a plurality of tunable interferometers and one or more detectors. The optical splitter is coupled to the light source, and the interferometers are coupled to the optical splitter. Each interferometer receives a portion of an optical signal of the light source. One or more detectors are coupled to each interferometer, and the interferometers have different free spectral ranges (FSRs). A largest FSR value of the different FSRs is greater than an entire intended wavelength measurement range of the PIC.

Abstract: An electro-optical crystal-mounted apparatus includes a compactly configured mounting sub-assembly, and a compactly configured position adjustment sub-assembly onto which the mounting sub-assembly is mounted. The mounting sub-assembly includes a mount including a thermally conductive and electrically insulating material, an electro-optical crystal housed within a cavity of the mount, and a layer of electrically conductive material disposed on at least a portion of the mount. The mounting sub-assembly further includes a crystal sub-assembly oven mounted to, and at least partially enclosing the mount, and a heater thermally coupled to the crystal sub-assembly oven. An electrical wire electrically is coupled to the layer of electrically conductive material.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a source configured to generate a beam of electromagnetic radiation propagating in a first direction and a spatial filter. The spatial filter is configured to restrict the beam of electromagnetic radiation in one or more dimensions and includes at least one set of rods including a first rod and a second rod. The first rod is a first cylindrical structure with a first axis in a first plane and the second rod is a second cylindrical structure with a second axis in a second plane parallel to the first plane. The first axis and the second axis are longitudinal axes, and the first and the second rods have shaped surfaces in portions of their respective surfaces facing one another.

Abstract: An imaging system includes an imaging platform that has a first aperture and a second aperture that are separated by a separation distance in a predefined direction. The imaging system includes a transmitter device coupled to the first aperture that transmits an optical signal via the first aperture in a first direction perpendicular to the predefined direction. A first receiver of the imaging system receives, via the first aperture, a first reflected signal in the first direction from a target object at a range distance. A second receiver of the imaging system receives, via the second aperture, a second reflected signal in the first direction from the target object. A processor unit of the imaging system determines a phase difference between the first and second reflected signals. The processor unit also determines an estimate of a height of the target object based on the phase difference and the range distance.

Abstract: A micro-optics assembly and a method for assembling the micro-optics assembly are provided. The micro-optics assembly may include an optical bench having an opening, a cylindrical body disposed in the opening and having a solder well, a heating element thermally coupled to the solder well, and an optical element. The optical element may include a frame having a post and a micro-optic mounted in the frame. The post may be secured in a solid solder material disposed within the solder well in the cylindrical body. The solder may be reflowable such that the micro-optics assembly is reconfigurable without the need for optical realignment components permanently mounted to the optical bench.

Abstract: A laser device includes a gain medium configured to receive an excitation light and emit a fluorescence signal based on an amount of stored excitation light accumulated in the gain medium. The laser device includes a pump source configured to pump the excitation light to the gain medium using a supply voltage. The laser device includes one or more photodetectors configured to detect the fluorescence signal. The laser device also includes a comparator configured to generate an alert signal indicating an intensity of the detected fluorescence signal is greater than a threshold. The alert signal can trigger certain actions to occur for disrupting a destructive lasing action including one or more of ceasing output of the supply voltage to the pump source, spoiling an optical cavity to obstruct lasing action through the gain medium, or inserting a seed light to extract gain from the gain medium in a non-destructive manner.

Abstract: A reconfigurable photonic integrated circuit focal plane array (RPIC-FPA) includes detectors and photonic integrated circuit coupled to the detectors that are configured to mix a return signal beam with local oscillator (LO) beams to produce a combined beam and direct the combined beam to the detectors. The LO beams have reconfigurable optical properties enabled by the RTIC-FPA. The LO beams are individually addressed to switch the detectors between a direct detection mode and various coherent detection modes based on adjustments to the optical properties of the LO beams. In the coherent detection mode, the controller is configured to mix the return signal beam with the LO beam having adjusted optical properties to produce the combined beam, and, in the direct detection mode, the controller is configured to disable the LO beams based on adjustments to the optical properties and to direct the return signal beam to the detectors without mixing.

Abstract: A compact LIDAR pointing assembly can comprise a body, first and second ferrules, and a clip component that can be used to maintain an engagement between the first and second ferrules and an alignment of light emanating from the first and second ferrules relative to received light propagating along an optical axis of the assembly. The ferrules can be pivoted to adjust the orientation of the light emanating from the ferrules.

Abstract: A holography imaging system includes a first laser, a second laser, a transmitter optical system, a receiver optical system, and a detector array. The first laser has a constant frequency, and the second laser has a non-constant frequency. The transmitter optical system can illuminate a target simultaneously using portions of the first and second laser signals. The receiver optical system can focus a returned light onto the detector array. A first and second illumination point sources can direct portions of the first and second laser signals onto the detector array. The first and second illumination point sources are located in-plane with a pupil of the receiver optical system. The system can detect simultaneously holograms formed on the detector array based on the returned light and the portions of the first and second laser signals directed by the first and second illumination point sources.

Abstract: A reconfigurable photonic integrated circuit focal plane array (RPIC-FPA) includes detectors and photonic integrated circuit coupled to the detectors that are configured to mix a return signal beam with local oscillator (LO) beams to produce a combined beam and direct the combined beam to the detectors. The LO beams have reconfigurable optical properties enabled by the RPIC-FPA. The LO beams are individually addressed to switch the detectors between a direct detection mode and various coherent detection modes based on adjustments to the optical properties of the LO beams. In the coherent detection mode, the controller is configured to mix the return signal beam with the LO beam having adjusted optical properties to produce the combined beam, and, in the direct detection mode, the controller is configured to disable the LO beams based on adjustments to the optical properties and to direct the return signal beam to the detectors without mixing.

Abstract: A compact LIDAR pointing assembly can comprise a body, first and second ferrules, and a clip component that can be used to maintain an engagement between the first and second ferrules and an alignment of light emanating from the first and second ferrules relative to received light propagating along an optical axis of the assembly. The ferrules can be pivoted to adjust the orientation of the light emanating from the ferrules.

Abstract: Various aspects of the disclosure provide a target system that is small and low power. In one embodiment, the target system transmits an intensity modulated light beam to a target (which may be tagged with a fluorescent taggant), collects the resulting return light from the target, and separates out elastic light scatter and fluorescent light in the collected light. The intensities of the elastic light scatter and the fluorescent light are then separately detected by first and second photodetectors, respectively. The first photodetector generates an elastic scatter detection signal based on the detected elastic light scatter and the second photodetector generates a fluorescent detection signal based on the detected fluorescent light. The elastic scatter detection signal and/or the fluorescent detection signal are used to provide one or more of the following functions: 1) target detection, 2) range determination, 3) taggant detection, and 4) taggant discrimination/confirmation.

Abstract: A combined active and passive imaging system comprises a radiation sources configured to output radiation beams towards a detector and an object in a scene. The system further comprises the detector configured to record superposition of instances of intensity patterns of interferences between at least a portion of the radiation beams and at least a portion of return radiations from the object. The detector may further be configured to record ambient light reflected from the scene. The detector may output a first signal with the recorded ambient light reflected from the scene and a second signal with the recorded superposition. The system further comprises a processor communicatively coupled to the detector and the radiation source unit. The processor may receive the first signal and the second signal and select the object in the scene.

Abstract: A combined active and passive imaging system comprises a radiation source unit configured to output a radiation beam towards a detector and an object in a scene. The system further comprises the detector configured to record a first instance of an intensity pattern of an interference between at least a portion of the radiation beam and at least a portion of a return radiation from the object. The detector may further be configured to record ambient light reflected from the scene. The detector may output a first signal with the recorded ambient light reflected from the scene and a second signal with the recorded intensity pattern. The system further comprises a processor communicatively coupled to the detector and the radiation source unit. The processor may receive the first signal and the second signal and select the object in the scene.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a switchable dual-mode detection system that can be electronically or optically switched between direct and coherent detection. The dual-mode detection system comprises a photo detector and one or more switching elements used in conjunction with the photo detector to electronically or optically switch the detection system between direct and coherent detection. The switching elements may include a switchable detector driver that selectively biases the photo detector into a low gain mode for coherent detection and a high gain mode for direct detection, and/or a switchable optical subsystem that selectively mixes a local oscillator beam with the input signal beam for coherent detection and not for direct detection, and/or an amplifier switch that selectively directs the output photo current of the photo detector to one of two amplifiers, where one of the amplifiers is optimized for direct detection and the other for coherent detection.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods capable of detecting and discriminating and/or classifying hazardous biological agents or other hazardous agents. In one aspect, a system measures electromagnetic energy scattered by a material at the different polarizations states and wavelengths. The system then combines the measured electromagnetic wavelengths at the different polarization states and wavelengths into different combinations to produce input parameters for a classifier. The input parameters include both depolarization and wavelength-dependent elastic backscatter measurements of the material illuminated by transmitted electromagnetic energy. The combination of wavelength dependent depolarization measurements and wavelength dependent backscatter measurements provides a unique capability to classify (or discriminate) based on size, shape, and refractive index.

Abstract: A method for frequency modulated continuous wave LADAR imaging is provided. The method comprises the steps of generating a chirped laser signal and a constant-frequency laser signal, forming a target laser signal from the chirped laser signal and the constant-frequency laser signal and forming a local oscillator laser signal from the chirped laser signal and the constant-frequency laser signal. The method further comprises delaying or frequency shifting the local oscillator laser signal and directing the target laser signal to a target. The method further comprises combining a returned signal received from the target with the delayed or frequency shifted local oscillator laser signal to form a combined received signal, and capturing the combined received signal with a plurality of image sensors.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods capable of detecting and discriminating and/or classifying hazardous biological agents or other hazardous agents. In one aspect, a system measures electromagnetic energy scattered by a material at the different polarizations states and wavelengths. The system then combines the measured electromagnetic wavelengths at the different polarization states and wavelengths into different combinations to produce input parameters for a classifier. The input parameters include both depolarization and wavelength-dependent back scattering measurements of the material illuminated by transmitted electromagnetic energy. The depolarization measurement provides information on the shape and absorption features of the material and the wavelength-dependent information provides information on the shape and index of refraction of the material.

Abstract: A controller, such as a programmable logic controller, may manipulate a phase and/or polarization module to alter and/or control the phase and polarization of input beams. Utilizing active phase and polarization control can enable the combination of any arbitrary number of input beams into a single, combined beam. Utilizing active phase and polarization control can also enable the combination of input beams having arbitrary power levels.