Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to efficiently producing multiple laser beams of a harmonic frequency from a fundamental frequency beam. One example provides a laser system comprising a laser configured to output a fundamental frequency beam, a first harmonic-generation stage, and a second harmonic-generation stage. The first harmonic-generation stage is configured to receive an input of the fundamental frequency beam from the laser, and output from the laser system a first-stage harmonic frequency beam and a first-stage residual fundamental frequency beam. The second harmonic-generation stage is configured to receive an input of the first-stage residual fundamental frequency beam, and to output from the laser system a second-stage harmonic frequency beam.

Abstract: One example provides a system for reading birefringent data. The system comprises one or more light sources, a first polarization state generator positioned to generate first polarized light from light of a first wavelength band output by the one or more light sources, a second polarization state generator positioned to generate second polarized light from light of a second wavelength band output by the one or light sources, an image sensor configured to acquire an image of the sample region via the first polarized light and the second polarized light, a polarization state analyzer disposed between the sample region and the image sensor, a first bandpass filter configured to pass light of the first wavelength band onto the image sensor, and a second bandpass filter configured to pass light of the second wavelength band onto the image sensor.

Abstract: One example provides a system for reading birefringent data. The system comprises one or more light sources, a first polarization state generator positioned to generate first polarized light from light of a first wavelength band output by the one or more light sources, a second polarization state generator positioned to generate second polarized light from light of a second wavelength band output by the one or light sources, an image sensor configured to acquire an image of the sample region via the first polarized light and the second polarized light, a polarization state analyzer disposed between the sample region and the image sensor, a first bandpass filter configured to pass light of the first wavelength band onto the image sensor, and a second bandpass filter configured to pass light of the second wavelength band onto the image sensor.

Abstract: A transparent substrate that encodes data therein having optically readable identification indicia corresponding to identifying information regarding the substrate. The optically readable identification indicia may be readable from the transparent substrate by altering the reflectivity of the transparent substrate in indicia portions that may be read by a scanner or reader (e.g., a barcode reader). The optically readable identification indicia may be provided on a common surface with a data zone in which data is encoded in the transparent substrate. Alternatively or additionally, the optically readable identification indicia may be provided on another, different surface than the surface on which the data is encoded in a data zone.

Abstract: A transparent substrate that encodes data therein having optically readable identification indicia corresponding to identifying information regarding the substrate. The optically readable identification indicia may be readable from the transparent substrate by altering the reflectivity of the transparent substrate in indicia portions that may be read by a scanner or reader (e.g., a barcode reader). The optically readable identification indicia may be provided on a common surface with a data zone in which data is encoded in the transparent substrate. Alternatively or additionally, the optically readable identification indicia may be provided on another, different surface than the surface on which the data is encoded in a data zone.

Abstract: One example provides a system for reading birefringent data. The system comprises one or more light sources, a first polarization state generator positioned to generate first polarized light from light of a first wavelength band output by the one or more light sources, a second polarization state generator positioned to generate second polarized light from light of a second wavelength band output by the one or light sources, an image sensor configured to acquire an image of the sample region via the first polarized light and the second polarized light, a polarization state analyzer disposed between the sample region and the image sensor, a first bandpass filter configured to pass light of the first wavelength band onto the image sensor, and a second bandpass filter configured to pass light of the second wavelength band onto the image sensor.

Abstract: One example provides a computer-implemented method for reading data stored as birefringence values in a storage medium. The method comprises acquiring an image of a voxel of the storage medium, applying a first low-pass filter with a first cutoff frequency to the image of the voxel to obtain a first background image, applying a second low-pass filter with a second cutoff frequency to the image of the voxel to obtain a second background image, the second cutoff frequency being different than the first cutoff frequency, determining an enhanced background image from the first background image and the second background image, determining birefringence values for the enhanced background image, determining birefringence values for the image of the voxel, and correcting the birefringence values for the image of the voxel based upon the birefringence values for the enhanced background image.

Abstract: One example provides a computer-implemented method for reading data stored as birefringence values in a storage medium. The method comprises acquiring an image of a voxel of the storage medium, applying a first low-pass filter with a first cutoff frequency to the image of the voxel to obtain a first background image, applying a second low-pass filter with a second cutoff frequency to the image of the voxel to obtain a second background image, the second cutoff frequency being different than the first cutoff frequency, determining an enhanced background image from the first background image and the second background image, determining birefringence values for the enhanced background image, determining birefringence values for the image of the voxel, and correcting the birefringence values for the image of the voxel based upon the birefringence values for the enhanced background image.

Abstract: One example provides a system for reading birefringent data. The system comprises one or more light sources, a first polarization state generator positioned to generate first polarized light from light of a first wavelength band output by the one or more light sources, a second polarization state generator positioned to generate second polarized light from light of a second wavelength band output by the one or light sources, an image sensor configured to acquire an image of the sample region via the first polarized light and the second polarized light, a polarization state analyzer disposed between the sample region and the image sensor, a first bandpass filter configured to pass light of the first wavelength band onto the image sensor, and a second bandpass filter configured to pass light of the second wavelength band onto the image sensor.

Abstract: A transparent substrate that encodes data therein having optically readable identification indicia corresponding to identifying information regarding the substrate. The optically readable identification indicia may be readable from the transparent substrate by altering the reflectivity of the transparent substrate in indicia portions that may be read by a scanner or reader (e.g., a barcode reader). The optically readable identification indicia may be provided on a common surface with a data zone in which data is encoded in the transparent substrate. Alternatively or additionally, the optically readable identification indicia may be provided on another, different surface than the surface on which the data is encoded in a data zone.

Abstract: A data-storage system comprises a head receiver configured to variably receive up to a number M of write heads. The data-storage system also includes an installed number N of write heads arranged in the head receiver, a substrate receiver configured to receive one or more data-storage substrates, and a positioner machine configured to adjust a relative placement of each of the M write heads with respect to at least one of the one or more data-storage substrates.

Abstract: A data-storage system comprises a head receiver configured to variably receive up to a number M of write heads. The data-storage system also includes an installed number N of write heads arranged in the head receiver, a substrate receiver configured to receive one or more data-storage substrates, and a positioner machine configured to adjust a relative placement of each of the M write heads with respect to at least one of the one or more data-storage substrates.

Abstract: A data-storage system comprises a head receiver configured to variably receive up to a number M of write heads. The data-storage system also includes an installed number N of write heads arranged in the head receiver, a substrate receiver configured to receive one or more data-storage substrates, and a positioner machine configured to adjust a relative placement of each of the M write heads with respect to at least one of the one or more data-storage substrates.

Abstract: A data-storage system comprises a head receiver configured to variably receive up to a number M of write heads. The data-storage system also includes an installed number N of write heads arranged in the head receiver, a substrate receiver configured to receive one or more data-storage substrates, and a positioner machine configured to adjust a relative placement of each of the M write heads with respect to at least one of the one or more data-storage substrates.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analysing the three-dimensional electromagnetic field resulting from an interaction between a focused illuminating beam and a sample to be observed, by characterising the distribution of the state of polarization of light across a measurement plane, the method comprising the steps of generating a beam of illuminating light; controlling the state of polarization at different positions across the beam width of the light beam; focussing said illuminating light beam to a focus, wherein said focus is a tight focus and said focused light has a suitable three-dimensional vectorial structure at the focus; detecting and measuring the state of polarization of the reflected light at different positions across the width of the measurement plane to retrieve information on the three-dimensional vectorial electromagnetic interaction of the illuminated focused field and the sample.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analysing the three-dimensional electromagnetic field resulting from an interaction between a focused illuminating beam and a sample to be observed, by characterising the distribution of the state of polarisation of light across a measurement plane, the method comprising the steps of generating a beam of illuminating light; controlling the state of polarisation at different positions across the beam width of the light beam; focussing said illuminating light beam to a focus, wherein said focus is a tight focus and said focused light has a suitable three-dimensional vectorial structure at the focus; detecting and measuring the state of polarisation of the reflected light at different positions across the width of the measurement plane to retrieve information on the three-dimensional vectorial electromagnetic interaction of the illuminated focused field and the sample.