Abstract: An antenna extender and an antenna extended with a laser induced includes a laser source and an antenna feed. The laser source is capable of emitting a laser beam along an axis with sufficient power to produce a laser induced plasma in an atmosphere along the axis of the laser beam. The antenna feed extends along the axis for coupling between a radiofrequency signal and the laser induced plasma. The antenna feed extended with the laser induced plasma has an enhanced radiation efficiency for the radiofrequency signal that is greater than the antenna feed that is not extended and has a stub radiation efficiency for the radiofrequency signal when the laser source is deactivated and does not emit the laser beam.

Abstract: An antenna extender and an antenna extended with a laser induced includes a laser source and an antenna feed. The laser source is capable of emitting a laser beam along an axis with sufficient power to produce a laser induced plasma in an atmosphere along the axis of the laser beam. The antenna feed extends along the axis for coupling between a radiofrequency signal and the laser induced plasma. The antenna feed extended with the laser induced plasma has an enhanced radiation efficiency for the radiofrequency signal that is greater than the antenna feed that is not extended and has a stub radiation efficiency for the radiofrequency signal when the laser source is deactivated and does not emit the laser beam.

Abstract: A method and system for generating laser induced plasma targets for use as an electromagnetic testbed. A method comprising the steps of propagating an intense laser pulse in a media, dividing the laser pulse into a plurality of lasers, focusing each of the plurality of lasers, directing each of the plurality of lasers into a testbed and rastering a plasma-based array, wherein the array is reflective of incident frequencies. Additionally, a plasma target system comprising: a laser source, a focus lens, a steering system, a plasma-based array, and an interrogation system. The laser source generates a short laser pulse. The focus lens focuses the laser pulse. The steering system directs the laser pulse into a test bed. The plasma-based array serves as a target for the testbed. The interrogation system utilizes an incident frequency for tracking the plasma-based array.

Abstract: An apparatus for laser deposition with a reactive gas includes a source, a target, and a substrate. The source emits a plasma jet of the reactive gas. The target generates a plasma plume of a deposition material when a laser beam ablates the target. The substrate collects a film resulting from a chemical reaction between the deposition material from the plasma plume and the reactive gas from the plasma jet. Correspondingly, a method for laser deposition with a reactive gas includes steps of emitting a plasma jet of the reactive gas, ablating a target with a laser beam, and collecting a film on a substrate. The plasma jet emits from an orifice of a source. Ablating the target generates a plasma plume of a deposition material. The film results from a chemical reaction between the deposition material from the plasma plume and the reactive gas from the plasma jet.

Abstract: A method where a laser beam is configured to generate a laser-induced plasma filament (LIPF), and the LIPF acts as a decoy to detract a homing missile or other threat from a specific target.

Abstract: An antenna comprising: a radio frequency (RF) coupler; a transceiver communicatively coupled to the RF coupler; a laser configured to generate a plurality of femtosecond laser pulses so as to create, without the use of high voltage electrodes, a laser-induced plasma filament (LIPF) in atmospheric air, wherein the laser is operatively coupled to the RF coupler such that RF energy is transferred between the LIPF and the RF coupler; and wherein the laser is configured to modulate a characteristic of the laser pulses at a rate within the range of 1 Hz to 1 GHz so as to modulate a conduction efficiency of the LIPF thereby creating a variable impedance LIPF antenna.

Abstract: A gyroscope and method for navigating using the gyroscope can include a substrate that can define a cavity. The cavity can be placed under a vacuum, and a birefringent microrotor can be located in the cavity. A light source can direct light through the substrate and into the cavity to establish an optical spring effect, which act on the microrotor to establish an initial reference position, as well as to establish rotational and translational motion of said microrotor. A receiver can detect light that has passed through said cavity. Changes in light patterns that can be detected at the receiver can be indicative of a change in position of the microrotor. The change and rate of change in position of the microrotor can be used for inertial navigation.

Abstract: A gyroscope and method for navigating using the gyroscope can include a substrate that can define a cavity. The cavity can be placed under a vacuum, and a birefringent microrotor can be located in the cavity. A light source can direct light through the substrate and into the cavity to establish an optical spring effect, which act on the microrotor to establish an initial reference position, as well as to establish rotational and translational motion of said microrotor. A receiver can detect light that has passed through said cavity. Changes in light patterns that can be detected at the receiver can be indicative of a change in position of the microrotor. The change and rate of change in position of the microrotor can be used for inertial navigation.

Abstract: A pulsed laser deposition system comprising a split ablation target having a first half and a second half, wherein the target contains a film material for deposition on a substrate, and wherein the film material is comprised of a plurality of component elements, the elements varying in volatility, and wherein one half of the split ablation target contains more of the most volatile elements being deposited than the other half, and wherein the split ablation target is rotated about its center. A laser beam is rastered back and forth across the target such that the laser spends more time on one half of the split target than the other half depending on the elemental volatility. The target rotation and laser beam rastering are coordinated simultaneously to vary the elemental composition of the resulting film deposition.

Abstract: An antenna comprising: a radio frequency (RF) coupler; a transceiver communicatively coupled to the RF coupler; a laser configured to generate a plurality of femtosecond laser pulses so as to create, without the use of high voltage electrodes, a laser-induced plasma filament (LIPF) in atmospheric air, wherein the laser is operatively coupled to the RF coupler such that RF energy is transferred between the LIPF and the RF coupler; and wherein the laser is configured to modulate a characteristic of the laser pulses at a rate within the range of 1 Hz to 1 GHz so as to modulate a conduction efficiency of the LIPF thereby creating a variable impedance LIPF antenna.

Abstract: A method where a laser beam is configured to generate a laser-induced plasma filament (LIPF), and the LIPF acts as a decoy to detract a homing missile or other threat from a specific target.

Abstract: A method comprising the steps of propagating an infrared laser pulse in air, self-focusing the laser pulse until the laser reaches a critical power density, wherein molecules in the air ionize and simultaneously absorb a plurality of infrared photons resulting in a clamping effect on the intensity of the pulse, wherein the laser pulse defocuses and plasma is created, causing a dynamical competition between the self-focusing of the laser pulse and the defocusing effect due to the created plasma, the laser pulse maintaining a small beam diameter and high peak intensity over large distances, creating a plasma column, repeating the above steps to create a plurality of plasma columns, creating a parallel linear array with the plurality of plasma columns, and using the array to deflect an incident energy.

Abstract: A method comprising the steps of propagating an infrared laser pulse in air, self-focusing the laser pulse until the laser reaches a critical power density, wherein molecules in the air ionize and simultaneously absorb a plurality of infrared photons resulting in a clamping effect on the intensity of the pulse, wherein the laser pulse defocuses and plasma is created, causing a dynamical competition between the self-focusing of the laser pulse and the defocusing effect due to the created plasma, the laser pulse maintaining a small beam diameter and high peak intensity over large distances, creating a plasma column, repeating the above steps to create a plurality of plasma columns, creating a parallel linear array with the plurality of plasma columns, and using the array to deflect an incident energy.

Abstract: A method for spatial and intensity control of remote foci locations of an optical beam generated from a light source. First and second, axially-aligned, non-diffractive foci are created by passing the optical beam through a phase mask and a Fourier lens. The phase mask q(s) is designed to have an axial response according to the following equation: E ? ( u ) = ? - ? + ? ? q ? ( s ) ? exp ? ( - 2 ? ? ? ? u 0 ? s ) ? exp ? ( 2 ? ? ? ? us ) ? ds . The properties of the phase mask may be altered to independently vary location and intensity of the first and second foci.

Abstract: A pulsed laser deposition system comprising a split ablation target having a first half and a second half, wherein the target contains a film material for deposition on a substrate, and wherein the film material is comprised of a plurality of component elements, the elements varying in volatility, and wherein one half of the split ablation target contains more of the most volatile elements being deposited than the other half, and wherein the split ablation target is rotated about its center. A laser beam is rastered back and forth across the target such that the laser spends more time on one half of the split target than the other half depending on the elemental volatility. The target rotation and laser beam rastering are coordinated simultaneously to vary the elemental composition of the resulting film deposition.

Abstract: A system and method involve using a first laser to generate a laser-induced plasma filament within an optically-transparent medium, using a second laser to generate a communication signal, and using a signal combiner positioned within the path of both the first laser and the second laser to direct the communication signal through the laser-induced plasma filament to a receiver located within the optically-transparent medium.

Abstract: A method using a laser to propagate a laser beam through an optically-transparent medium, wherein the laser has a power level beyond a critical value Pcr, and wherein the laser beam interacts with the optically transparent medium to generate a laser-induced plasma filament (LIPF); and adjusting the power level to qualitatively detect chemical components within the optically-transparent medium.

Abstract: Systems and methods for wavelength optimization for underwater optical communication can include a plurality of n lasers having different wavelengths ?i for i=1 to n, a beam splitter and a corner retro-reflector. The plurality of n lasers can simultaneously illuminate the beam splitter along a coincident axis. The plurality of n lasers can be selectively blocked so that only one laser wavelength ?i at a time impinges on the beam splitter. A portion passes through the beam splitter to establish a reference signal, while the remainder is reflected off the corner retro-reflector. A portion of return illumination passes through the beam splitter to establish a return signal. The process can be repeated for each of n lasers for i=1 to n. The ?i wavelength where the normalized signal-to-noise differential between the reference signal and return signal is the minimum can be the optimum communication wavelength.

Abstract: Systems and methods for wavelength optimization for underwater optical communication can include a plurality of n lasers having different wavelengths ?i for i=1 to n, a beam splitter and a corner retro-reflector. The plurality of n lasers can simultaneously illuminate the beam splitter along a coincident axis. The plurality of n lasers can be selectively blocked so that only one laser wavelength ?i at a time impinges on the beam splitter. A portion passes through the beam splitter to establish a reference signal, while the remainder is reflected off the corner retro-reflector. A portion of return illumination passes through the beam splitter to establish a return signal. The process can be repeated for each of n lasers for i=1 to n. The ?i wavelength where the normalized signal-to-noise differential between the reference signal and return signal is the minimum can be the optimum communication wavelength.

Abstract: A method using a laser to propagate a laser beam through an optically-transparent medium, wherein the laser has a power level beyond a critical value Pcr, and wherein the laser beam interacts with the optically transparent medium to generate a laser-induced plasma filament (LIPF); and adjusting the power level to qualitatively detect chemical components within the optically-transparent medium.