Abstract: A light polarizing material has contrast greater than 10,000 for wavelengths in the visible and near-infrared spectral band (400 nm to 3,000 nm) includes prolate spheroid metal particles uniformly distributed and aligned on the surface of an optical material. The particles are evaporatively coated on a smooth glass surface. The wavelength of peak absorption is chosen by selecting the aspect ratio of the metal particles and the refractive index of the material surrounding the metal particles. The wavelength of peak absorption can be selected to fall at a desired wavelength in the range from 400 nm to 3,000 nm by control of the deposition process.

Abstract: A radiation source (12) for optical magnetometers (10) which use helium isotopes as the resonance element (30) includes an electronically pumped semiconductor laser (12) which produces a single narrow line of radiation which is frequency stabilized to the center frequency of the helium resonance line to be optically pumped. The frequency stabilization is accomplished using electronic feedback (34, 40, 42, 44) to control a current sources (20) thus eliminating the need for mechanical frequency tuning.