Abstract: A system, method, and helmet includes a collection optic configured to collect light from a scene and create an image; a fiber optic bundle configured to receive the image from the collection optic; an opaque ballistic face shield configured adjacent to the fiber optic bundle; and a projection optic configured to receive the image from the fiber optic bundle and project the image to a viewer. The collection optic includes a field of view (FOV) of greater than 30 degrees, and preferably greater than 50 degrees. The collection optic images the collected light gathered from the scene onto an end of the fiber optic bundle. The fiber optic bundle goes through or around the opaque ballistic face shield. The opaque ballistic face shield is non-electric and includes silicon carbide and polyethylene. In one embodiment, the opaque ballistic face shield includes at least two pounds of silicon carbide and polyethylene.

Abstract: A composite and a coating having engineered reflective properties are described. The composite comprises a matrix and flakes of a multilayer polymer film including one or more bilayers including at least a layer of a first polymer and a layer of a second polymer having a different refractive index than the first polymer. The coating described includes the composite as applied to a surface and has a reflectance of at least 10% for a selected wavelength range and a transmittance of at least 50% at wavelengths outside of the selected wavelength range. Also described are methods for forming the composite and the coating.

Abstract: Fiber optic amplification in a spectrum of infrared electromagnetic radiation is achieved by creating a chalcogenide photonic crystal fiber (PCF) structure having a radially varying pitch. A chalcogenide PCF system can be tuned during fabrication of the chalcogenide PCF structure, by controlling, the size of the core, the size of the cladding, and the hole size to pitch ratio of the chalcogenide PCF structure and tuned during exercising of the chalcogenide PCF system with pump laser and signal waves, by changing the wavelength of either the pump laser wave or the signal wave, maximization of nonlinear conversion of the chalcogenide PCF, efficient parametric conversion with low peak power pulses of continuous wave laser sources, and minimization of power penalties and minimization of the need for amplification and regeneration of pulse transmissions over the length of the fiber, based on a dispersion factor.

Abstract: A method of generating ultrashort pulses with wavelengths greater than 2 ?m comprising a short pulse diode laser or fiber laser operating at a wavelength of 1 ?m or greater with a pulse width of 10 ps or greater, one or more amplification stages to increase the peak power of the pulsed source, a nonlinear fiber stage whereby the dispersion of the nonlinear fiber is anomalous at the pulsed source wavelength such that the fiber breaks up the pulse into a series of sub-ps pulse train through modulation instability which may be seeded by spontaneous noise which are then wavelength shifted in one or more stages by soliton self frequency shift in anomalous dispersion fiber or Raman in normal dispersion fiber and amplified in one or more stages to generate a high peak power ultrashort pulse (<1 ps) source at a wavelength of 2.4 ?m or greater.

Abstract: A fiber-end surface structuring chamber or system having a main body with multiple ports including a fiber-holder port, a process port that is either a stamp/shim holder port or a plasma etching enabler port, an evacuation port, a gas delivery port, and one or more observation ports, where the fiber-end surface structuring system forms structures directly into the end of the fiber to enhance transmission of light over a wide range of wavelengths and increase the laser damage threshold.

Abstract: A system, method, and helmet includes a collection optic configured to collect light from a scene and create an image; a fiber optic bundle configured to receive the image from the collection optic; an opaque ballistic face shield configured adjacent to the fiber optic bundle; and a projection optic configured to receive the image from the fiber optic bundle and project the image to a viewer. The collection optic includes a field of view (FOV) of greater than 30 degrees, and preferably greater than 50 degrees. The collection optic images the collected light gathered from the scene onto an end of the fiber optic bundle. The fiber optic bundle goes through or around the opaque ballistic face shield. The opaque ballistic face shield is non-electric and includes silicon carbide and polyethylene. In one embodiment, the opaque ballistic face shield includes at least two pounds of silicon carbide and polyethylene.

Abstract: The invention teaches devices and methods for chemically tanning human skin.

Abstract: A system for transmitting power to a remote equipment, the system including a first laser source that generates a first laser beam; a first tracking device operatively connected to the first laser source, wherein the first tracking device controls a direction of the first laser beam; and a first photovoltaic device operatively connected to the remote equipment located remotely from the first laser source and the first tracking device, wherein the first photovoltaic device includes a semiconductor material that generates an electric current in response to absorbing the first laser beam, and wherein a first wavelength of the first laser beam is within an eye-safer range.

Abstract: A method of generating a supercontinuum in chalcogenide fiber with a pump light comprising a short pulse fiber laser or diode laser operating with a wavelength of 1.0 ?m or greater that is wavelength shifted through a nonlinear fiber one or more times and amplified one or more times and launched into a chalcogenide fiber whereby the spectrum is broadened in the chalcogenide fiber through various nonlinear processes to generate a supercontinuum within the mid-IR from 1.5 to greater than 5 ?m.

Abstract: An optical fiber comprising non-silica, specialty glass that has multiple fiber cores arranged in a square registered array. The fiber cores are “registered” meaning that the array location of any fiber core is constant throughout the entire length of the fiber, including both ends. Optical fiber bundles are fabricated by combining multiple multi-core IR fibers with square-registration. Also disclosed is the related method for making the optical fiber.

Abstract: Fiber optic amplification in a spectrum of infrared electromagnetic radiation is achieved by creating a chalcogenide photonic crystal fiber (PCF) structure having a radially varying pitch. A chalcogenide PCF system can be tuned during fabrication of the chalcogenide PCF structure, by controlling, the size of the core, the size of the cladding, and the hole size to pitch ratio of the chalcogenide PCF structure and tuned during exercising of the chalcogenide PCF system with pump laser and signal waves, by changing the wavelength of either the pump laser wave or the signal wave, maximization of nonlinear conversion of the chalcogenide PCF, efficient parametric conversion with low peak power pulses of continuous wave laser sources, and minimization of power penalties and minimization of the need for amplification and regeneration of pulse transmissions over the length of the fiber, based on a dispersion factor.

Abstract: Fiber optic amplification in a spectrum of infrared electromagnetic radiation is achieved by creating a chalcogenide photonic crystal fiber (PCF) structure having a radially varying pitch. A chalcogenide PCF system can be tuned during fabrication of the chalcogenide PCF structure, by controlling, the size of the core, the size of the cladding, and the hole size to pitch ratio of the chalcogenide PCF structure and tuned during exercising of the chalcogenide PCF system with pump laser and signal waves, by changing the wavelength of either the pump laser wave or the signal wave, maximization of nonlinear conversion of the chalcogenide PCF, efficient parametric conversion with low peak power pulses of continuous wave laser sources, and minimization of power penalties and minimization of the need for amplification and regeneration of pulse transmissions over the length of the fiber, based on a dispersion factor.

Abstract: A device for the generation of supercontinuum in infrared fiber with a pump light comprising a microchip laser operating with a wavelength of 1.0 ?m or greater that can be wavelength shifted though a nonlinear element to a wavelength beyond the two-photon absorption of the infrared fiber and launched into infrared fiber whereby the spectrum is broadened in the infrared fiber through various nonlinear processes to generate a supercontinuum within the mid-IR from 2 to 14 ?m.

Abstract: An N port fiber optical switch includes a movable housing having a perimeter and N corners; a plurality N of optical fibers positioned within the housing and inside the perimeter; and a plurality N of actuators, wherein each actuator is positioned on a corresponding corner such that when selectively activated one or more of the actuators urges the movable housing and the plurality of optical fibers to a selected switch position. The switch provides short switching times and high power handling while allowing for a large number of ports and provides the capability of interfacing with and switching between a variable number of ports.

Abstract: An infrared laser source system that combines laser emitters through an optical waveguide. Each emitter is coupled to a port of the optical waveguide and the waveguided signal is combined to provide a spatially combined laser source with a single common exit aperture. The materials used for waveguiding allow the propagation of wavelengths in the infrared. The system can be used for combining multiple laser emitters to increase the total output power and/or for combination of multiple emitters with different wavelength for increased spectral coverage out of the laser system.

Abstract: A method for making a rare earth doped polycrystalline ceramic laser gain medium by hot pressing a rare earth doped polycrystalline powder where the doping concentration is greater than 2% and up to 10% and where the grain size of the final ceramic is greater than 2 ?m. The polycrystalline powder can be Lu2O3, Y2O3, or Sc2O3, and the rare earth dopant can be Yb3+, Er3+, Tm3+, or Ho3+. Also disclosed is the related rare earth doped polycrystalline ceramic laser gain medium prepared by this method.

Abstract: A laser apparatus uses a dysprosium doped chalcogenide glass fiber. The glass fiber has a laser pump operatively connected to it. The chalcogenide glass fiber is located in a laser cavity including one or more reflective elements such as a Bragg grating, a Bragg minor, a grating, and a non-doped fiber end face. The apparatus provides laser light output at a wavelength of about 4.3 ?m to about 5.0 ?m at a useful power level using laser light input at a wavelength of from about 1.7 ?m to about 1.8 ?m. Also disclosed is a method for providing laser light output at a wavelength of about 4.3 ?m to about 5.0 ?m using the apparatus of the invention.

Abstract: An infrared laser source system that combines laser emitters through an optical waveguide. Each emitter is coupled to a port of the optical waveguide and the waveguided signal is combined to provide a spatially combined laser source with a single common exit aperture. The materials used for waveguiding allow the propagation of wavelengths in the infrared. The system can be used for combining multiple laser emitters to increase the total output power and/or for combination of multiple emitters with different wavelength for increased spectral coverage out of the laser system.

Abstract: An optical fiber comprising non-silica, specialty glass that has multiple fiber cores arranged in a square registered array. The fiber cores are “registered” meaning that the array location of any fiber core is constant throughout the entire length of the fiber, including both ends. Optical fiber bundles are fabricated by combining multiple multi-core IR fibers with square-registration. Also disclosed is the related method for making the optical fiber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a substantially void-free preform for a microstructured optical fiber using a one-step process is provided. A preform is prepared from specialty glasses using a direct extrusion method. A die for use with the direct extrusion method is also provided, and a method for drawing the preform into a HC-PBG fiber for use in transmitting infra-red wavelength light is also provided. The preform comprises an outer jacket made of solid glass, a cladding having a plurality of air holes arranged in a desired pattern within the jacket, and a core which is hollow.