Abstract: A system for detecting atmospheric contamination, the system comprising a laser operable to generate an infrared light beam comprising a longitudinal component and a transverse component, the laser remote from the atmospheric contamination, and a processor operable to process a flouresence resulting from contact between the atmospheric contamination and an ultraviolet light being generated from the longitudinal and transverse components of the infrared light of the laser, wherein the processor determines the identity of the fluorescence by comparing the fluorescence to known fluorescence.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a gas chamber comprising a gas feed nozzle, an exhaust nozzle, and a window. The apparatus also includes a first partial reflector, in the gas chamber, sharing an optical path with the exhaust nozzle, and the window. Optionally, The apparatus includes a gas source communicating with the gas feed nozzle. Optionally, the gas source includes a gas having an ionization potential higher than air and a nonlinear index of refraction lower than air.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a gas chamber comprising a gas feed nozzle, an exhaust nozzle, and a window. The apparatus also includes a first partial reflector, in the gas chamber, sharing an optical path with the exhaust nozzle, and the window. Optionally, The apparatus includes a gas source communicating with the gas feed nozzle. Optionally, the gas source includes a gas having an ionization potential higher than air and a nonlinear index of refraction lower than air.

Abstract: A method for generating an acoustic source in a liquid includes transmitting an optical pulse through the liquid so the optical pulse reaches ILIB through pulse compression and ionizes a liquid volume. The pulse compression is achieved through at least one of a) group velocity dispersion induced longitudinal compression of a frequency chirped optical pulse and b) transverse self focusing via a nonlinear optical Kerr effect. The acoustic source can be generated at a controllable remote location many meters from the optical source. The optical source can be a laser or other suitable optical device.

Abstract: The laser synchrotron source (LSS) utilizes a high peak power or high average power laser to generate within a vacuum chamber a laser beam travelling in one direction to interact with an electron beam traveling in an opposite direction in order to generate high-power x-rays. A ring resonator formed by a plurality of mirrors directs the laser beam in a closed loop to impact with the electron beam to produce x-rays. Concave mirrors in the ring resonator focus the laser beam upon the point where the laser beam interacts with the electron beam to intensify the laser energy at that point. When a radio frequency linear accelerator (rf linac) is used to produce the electron beam, x-rays having a short pulse length are generated. When a betatron is used as an electron source, x-rays having a long pulse length are generated.