Abstract: A method for monitoring diffraction while recording a hologram includes: generating a source beam; generating a data beam by projecting a first component of the source beam through a data source, the data beam having a first polarization; generating a reference beam by adjusting a polarization of a second component of the source beam to provide a second polarization; recording a hologram in a holographic medium from an interference between the data beam and the reference beam; and measuring an offset component in an output arm of the data beam.

Abstract: A circulator includes a polarization beam splitter, a first reflector, a first non-reciprocal device, a second non-reciprocal device, and a second reflector. The first reflector is coupled with the polarization beam splitter. The first non-reciprocal device is coupled to the first reflector. The second non-reciprocal device is coupled to the polarization beam splitter. The second reflector is coupled with the polarization beam splitter.

Abstract: A lightweight active mirror. A first layer has a front side and a backside. A second layer has a front side and a backside. The backside of the second layer faces the front side of the first layer. A reflective surface is on the front side of the second layer. The reflective surface is operable to reflect desired wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation. A plurality of electroactive actuator strips arranged between the first layer and the second layer are operable to alter a curvature of the mirror. Electrical connectors are operable to cause the electroactive strips to alter the curvature of the mirror. A plurality of stiffening elements interconnected with at least one of the first layer and the second layer are operable to stiffen the mirror. A plurality of shape retaining elements attached to at least one of the first layer and the second layer are operable to deploy the mirror and to bias the mirror in a desired position.

Abstract: Optical isolators and methods of manufacturing optical isolators are disclosed. The optical isolators are manufactured by directly bonding the parts of the isolators without the use of adhesive or mechanical devices to hold the individual parts together.

Abstract: The disclosure is a radiation collecting/emitting device to/from different spatial directions, the apparatus in the preferred design is manufactured in a single piece and the work surface is modified to obtain a reflective surface for the radiations of interest. In an alternate design, the device is covered by an envelope or bell to increase the effectiveness of the device and protect it from the surrounding environment. The device can be used in a wide variety of applications, such as solar energy collection for industrial or commercial purposes, diverse electromagnetic radiations antennae or radar, since its area of action is 360° related to the horizontal and 180° related to the vertical.

Abstract: A process for forming a silver coating on a surface of a vitreous substrate is described. The process comprises an activating step in which said surface is contacted with an activating solution, a sensitising step in which said surface is contacted with a sensitising solution, and a subsequent silvering step in which said surface is contacted with a silvering solution comprising a source of silver to form the silver coating. The process is characterised in that said activating solution comprises ions of at least one of bismuth (III), chromium (II), gold (III), indium (III), nickel (II), palladium (II), platinum (II), rhodium (III), ruthenium (III), titanium (III), vanadium (III) and zinc (II).

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a polarization controller includes a first polarization beam splitter operable to receive an input optical signal having an input state of polarization and to separate the signal into a first and a second principal mode of polarization. The polarization controller further includes at least three stages of phase shifters each operable to introduce a phase shift between the first and second principal modes, at least one phase shifter comprising a beam splitter that is shared with at least one other of the phase shifters. The at least three stages of phase shifters include a first stage coupled to the first polarization beam splitter and a last stage coupled to a second polarization beam splitter. The second polarization beam splitter is operable to receive phase shifted copies of the first and second principal modes, and to align the phase shifted copies of the principal modes to an output state of polarization.

Abstract: A device serves the purpose of changing the stress-induced birefringence and/or the thickness (d and D, respectively) of an optical component by elastic deformation caused by means of stress. The optical component is gripped on a circumference, arranged at least approximately perpendicular to the optical axis, at least approximately entirely by at least one clamping element. The at least one clamping element can be actuated by at least one actuator. In the case of a method for this purpose, compressive stress is applied to the optical component, the elastic deformation being varied via a variation in the compressive stress.

Abstract: A multi-band direct prism comprising at least first and second prismatic elements of disparate refractive indices facilitates the contemporaneous analysis of dispersed emergent light energy within at least two distinct and predetermined sets of energy wavelengths wherein one wavelength within each of the at least two wavelength sets emerges from the direct vision prism with no net angular deviation.

Abstract: A beam folder increases optical length with polarizing beam splitters and reflectors that repolarize a beam by retarding it. An incident beam encounters the beam splitters multiple times, and are both passed and rejected by the same splitters. The splitters and repolarizing reflectors can be shaped to perform optical functions in a smaller volume. Valves and controls can varyl the beam intensity and combine multiple beams. Applications include projection, imaging, collimating, mixing, and balancing.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for generating and displaying computational holographic stereograms having a hologram surface and a spatially distinct image surface. A three-dimensional object or scene is captured or synthesized as a stack of views. The holographic stereogram is computed by obtaining a diffractive fringe vector e and a pixel slice v through the stack of views, and generating the holopixel representation f=ev. The holographic stereogram is displayed using one or more image surfaces that are spatially distinct from the hologram surface. the surfaces can be any two-dimensional structures defined on a three-dimensional space, including, but not limited to planar, cylindrical, spherical, or other surfaces. The holographic stereograms are adjustable through variations in an image surface depth, an image surface resolution, a number of image surfaces, and a scene parallax resolution.

Abstract: An integrator and a display apparatus using the same simplify the structure of an optical system and minimize optical loss. The integrator homogenizes, polarizes and recaptures incident lights. The optical loss can be reduced by using a color drum and a color wheel engaged with the integrator. In order to minimize the optical loss, a polarization conversion device where a color bar filter or color switch is directly adhered to an integrator is used. The polarization conversion device can be applied to a projector for embodying small images into large ones.

Abstract: A protective optical filter assembly for thin film filters having two transparent substrates facing one another and separated by a resilient element, a sealed region is formed between the transparent substrates by applying a compressive force that compresses the resilient element. The thin film filter may be contained within a carrier. The compressive force may be generated by one or more interference-fit aperture rings or threaded apertures ring, a given aperture ring may be opposed by another such aperture ring or a fixed stop. Alternatively a snap fit carrier may be used to generate the compressive force. The sealed region may have a gas having a positive pressure or a liquid.

Abstract: An angle detection unit is provided with a pair of arms (temporary fixing mechanism) for temporarily fixing the angle detection unit to a power unit. The arms are fit to a cylinder portion (engagement portion) of the power unit in a manner of holding the cylinder portion. Thus, a mirror drive unit can be easily combined to a mirror housing without increasing the number of parts.

Abstract: A method of producing a modulated light source including the steps of providing a modulator, fiberlessly coupling a laser diode light source to the modulator and enclosing the modulator and the laser diode light source within a housing together with output optics operative to direct modulated light from the modulator into an optical fiber extending outwardly from the housing.

Abstract: A polarization scrambler, and associated method for polarization scrambling, is provided wherein light is passed through a time-variant retarder. At least after upstream connection or downstream connection of a time-invariant retarder, this time-variant retarder may be represented as a retarder with eigen modes which are uniformly distributed on the Poincaré sphere and with a delay of 5?/6. An exemplary embodiment contains only two electro-optical wave plates, which are actuated by alternating signals containing harmonics. The polarization scrambler which is produced is independent of the input polarization of the light and can be used in devices for detection of polarization mode dispersion.

Abstract: A mirror assembly for a vehicle is securable to a tubular member that defines a central axis and is secured to the vehicle. The mirror assembly comprises a clamping assembly including a concave surface that is engagable with the tubular member. A housing is coupled to the clamping assembly and supports a mirror. A latching assembly engages the clamping assembly and the housing and is movable between a latched position and an unlatched position. In the latched position, the housing is held substantially fixed with respect to the tubular member. In the unlatched position, the clamping assembly is movable in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis and is pivotable about the central axis, and the housing is pivotable with respect to the clamping assembly about a pin axis that is substantially perpendicular to the central axis.

Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an optical apparatus includes a glass monolithic structure including a plurality of optical filter elements, and the glass monolithic structure is not an optical fiber. In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an optical apparatus includes a glass monolithic structure which includes a plurality of optical filter elements. The optical apparatus further includes a device which selectively aligns an optical input and an optical output to one of said plurality of optical filter elements. In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method of adding/dropping a particular frequency from an optical signal includes providing a glass monolithic structure which further includes a plurality of optical filter elements. The method further includes providing a device which selectively aligns an optical input and an optical output to one of the plurality of optical filters.

Abstract: A light-diffractive binary grating structure has a microscopic mesa structure (2) whose plateaux (5) are separated by valleys (4) of substantially rectangular cross-section, wherein the arrangement of the valleys (4) is periodically repeated. Within a period (T) of the mesa structure (2) at least N valleys (4) separate the plateaux (5), N being an integer and greater than 2. The mesa structure (2) is an additive superimposition of N phase-shifted rectangular structures which have the same period (T) of the mesa structure (2). Each of the rectangular structures has a phase shift such that the plateaux (5) of the one rectangular structure fall into the valleys (4) of the N?1 other rectangular structures. In addition the resulting mesa structure (2) has only a single valley between two plateaux (5), which is of a width greater than a seventh of the period (T).

Abstract: An adaptive optic mirror has a cyanate faceplate supported by a backplate which permits a plurality of actuators to be connected directly to the faceplate. Each actuator is connected via a low impedance circuit to a master control which sets each actuator independently of the others to produce a contoured mirror surface.