Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for achieving a calibration-free primary atomic clock standard operating at the 0-0 transition free-atom frequency, thus creating a primary frequency standard, with attributes that include scalable to chip-scale dimensions and power consumption.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for achieving a calibration-free primary atomic clock standard operating at the 0-0 transition free-atom frequency, thus creating a primary frequency standard, with attributes that include scalable to chip-scale dimensions and power consumption.

Abstract: A high power laser system including: a plurality of emitters each including a large area waveguide and a plurality of quantum well regions optically coupled to the large area waveguide, wherein each of the quantum well regions exhibits a low modal overlap with the large area waveguide; a collimator optically coupled to the emitters; a diffraction grating optically coupled through the collimator to the emitters; and, an output coupler optically coupled through the diffraction grating to the emitters.

Abstract: A clock including: a portable, at least partially evacuated housing; a cell being positioned within the housing and including an internal cavity having interior dimensions each less than about 1 millimeter, an intra-cavity pressure of at least about 760 Torr, and containing a metal atomic vapor; an electrical to optical energy converter being positioned within the housing to emit light through the metal atomic vapor; an optical energy intensity detector being positioned within the housing to receive the light emitted by the converter through the metal atomic vapor; at least one conductive winding around the cavity to stabilize the magnetic field experienced in the cavity dependently upon the detector; and, an output to provide a signal from the housing dependently upon the detector detecting the light emitted by the converter through the metal atomic vapor.

Abstract: A method of extracting residual materials from a polymeric, ophthalmic biomedical device, such as a contact lens, by using a mixture comprised of a primary solvent, such as carbon dioxide, and a polar co-solvent, such as isopropanol: By exposing the device to the co-solvent, the device expands. By pulsing or varying the concentration of the polar co-solvent in the mixture, the lens dimensions vary accordingly. When the lens is extracted while retained in a mold, the changes in lens dimensions causes the lens to be released from the mold.

Abstract: A compact signal source including: a semiconductor-based, pulsed optical energy source for providing a series of pulses at a given frequency; a selector being optical fiber coupled to the pulsed optical energy source and for down-selecting the pulses to a lower frequency; a stretcher being optical fiber coupled to the selector and for temporally stretching the selected pulses; at least one semiconductor-based optical amplifier being optical fiber coupled to the stretcher and for amplifying the selected pulses; a compressor being optical fiber coupled to the at least one semiconductor-based amplifier and for temporally compressing the amplified, stretched, selected pulses; and, a portable housing containing the pulsed optical energy source, stretcher, at least one semiconductor-based optical amplifier and compressor.

Abstract: A cell suitable for use with an atomic clock and a method for making the same, the cell including: a silicon wafer having a recess formed therein; at least one amorphous silicate member having an ion mobility and temperature expansion coefficient approximately that of silicon sealing the recess; and, an alkali metal containing component and buffer gas contained in the recess. The method includes: providing a silicon wafer; forming a cavity through the silicon wafer; introducing an alkali metal containing component and buffer gas into the cavity; and, anodically bonding at least one amorphous silicate member having an ion mobility and temperature expansion coefficient approximately that of silicon to the wafer to close the cavity.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for generating terahertz radiation. The terahertz source is a versatile terahertz device that can be configured to transmit a plurality of wavelengths, thereby facilitating the detection of multiple contaminants using a single source device. In one embodiment, the Smith-Purcell radiation effect is exploited by passing an electron beam over a modulated conducting surface, wherein the spacing of the periods of the modulated surface is varied. The variations in the modulated surface enable the source to produce light of varying wavelengths.

Abstract: The invention provides a compact, combined stretcher-compressor assembly which utilizes a single grating element. The single grating element is preferably a holographic transmission grating element. The grating element has first and second surfaces which are opposed major surfaces with a thickness between the surfaces. The grating pattern is patterned in or on the grating element. The grating element is arranged in the assembly to receive a beam for stretching laser pulses in a stretcher beam path, and in the same arrangement, to receive a beam for compressing laser beam pulses in a compressor beam path. The stretcher and compressor beam paths pass through the single grating element. Respective reflecting means are arranged to provide a desired number of passes through the grating element by the stretcher beam path, and through the grating element by the compressor beam path.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enabling the creation of multiple extended conduction paths in the atmosphere including a chirped-pulse amplification laser system having a high peak-power laser capable of transmitting through the atmosphere a high-peak power ultrashort laser pulse. The laser pulse is configured to have a rough spacial profile and is of sufficient energy to create multiple electrically conductive ionized channels in the atmosphere.