Abstract: A Moiré deflectometer includes at least three non-mechanical, transparent, spatial light modulators for demonstrating two sets of patterns on two parallel planes on two of the modulators thereby creating a Moiré fringe pattern and a method for using the same. More particularly, each of the spatial light modulators may be a liquid crystal display, an electrochromic device, a micromirror array, a microlouvre array, an electro-optic device, or a holographic device.

Abstract: A periscopic optical training system for displaying simulation and real images includes a microprocessor for generating at least one simulation image, at least one display for displaying the simulation image, at least one periscopic device each with a viewing window for receiving the simulation and real images, and a controller for controlling the simulation and real images to be received by the periscopic device interchangeably or simultaneously.

Abstract: A wireless atmospheric site-to-site full-duplex (i.e., simultaneous transmit and receive) laser communication system, typically for wideband (high-speed) data, voice, and/or video transmission. The system includes at least one laser communication transceiver each having an electro-optical transmitter that includes a laser source for generating laser light to be transmitted site-to-site and at high speed, an electro-optical receiver that includes a baffle assembly for receiving light directly onto a detector, without an intermediate field stop and re-imaging relay optics to reject off-axis light sources. Wideband data are transmitted and received through the atmosphere by the electro-optical transmitter and the electro-optical receiver. The data to be transmitted through each laser communication transceiver is inputted through a fiber-optic receiver and outputted by a fiber-optic transmitter.

Abstract: A Moiré deflectometer includes at least three non-mechanical, transparent, spatial light modulators for demonstrating two sets of patterns on two parallel planes on two of the modulators thereby creating a moiré fringe pattern and a method for using the same. More particularly, each of the spatial light modulators may be a liquid crystal display, an electrochromic device, a micromirror array, a microlouvre array, an electro-optic device, or a holographic device.

Abstract: An in situ training system for displaying simulation and/or real images includes a microprocessor for generating at least one simulation image, at least one display for displaying said simulation image, at least one periscopic device each with a viewing window for receiving the simulation and/or real images, and a controller for controlling the simulation and real images to be received by said periscopic device interchangeably or simultaneously.

Abstract: A laser communication system for full duplex wideband data transmission includes first and second terminals having dichroic wavelength-multiplexed optical systems wherein transmitted and received light are multiplexed along a path through the same aperture. The optical systems each preferably comprise a cassegrain receiver having primary and secondary mirrors for directing both transmitted and received laser light. Modulated laser light is generated by a high-power laser diode which is actively cooled by a thermoelectric cooler. A window in the housing, through which the modulated laser light travels, includes a transparent resistive coating to which electrical current is applied to control the temperature of the window. The aspheric primary mirror has a highly reflective surface, preferably a single-point diamond-turned mirror surface, formed on an aluminum substrate as a single piece.

Abstract: A polarizing beamsplitter cube, such as for midwave infrared spectral applications, comprises two ZnSe 45° prisms, an adhesion layer and a thin-film polarization coating layer that are deposited onto the hypotenuse of the first prism, a refractive index liquid layer that provides an interface between the prisms that defeats total internal reflection when the prisms are joined together, and a urethane adhesive that permanently seals and encapsulates the liquid. The adhesion layer consists of 100 Å thorium fluoride and 50 Å chromium layers. The polarization coating (PC) comprises alternating layers of zinc sulfide (ZnS) and germanium (Ge) which are deposited by vapor deposition.

Abstract: An optical interface of a holographic memory system electrically selects one of several optical pathways to store or retrieve an image from a holographic memory by activating liquid crystal polarization rotators and novel liquid crystal gratings. In a preferred embodiment a spatial light modulator, a pixelized readout device (i.e., focal-plane array), a series of polarizing optical components, liquid-crystal polarization rotators, liquid-crystal beam-steering devices, and interconnecting and imaging optics are provided. The parallel interconnection accepts a laser-beam input, divides the beam among multiple paths, imparts a data-bearing spatial signature on a signal beam by means of a spatial light modulator, steers a reference beam by means of liquid-crystal beam-steering devices, and directs the appropriate beams into the recording medium.