Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method for balancing VPN network bandwidth. A method in accordance with an embodiment includes: obtaining weather data and social media sentiment for a plurality of geographical regions; analyzing the weather data and the social media sentiment for factors that may influence network bandwidth usage in each of the plurality of geographical regions; predicting network bandwidth requirements for each of the plurality of geographical regions based on the analysis of the weather data and the social media sentiment; and balancing the network bandwidth among the plurality of geographical regions based on the predicted network bandwidth requirements.

Abstract: Techniques and architecture are disclosed for preserving optical surfaces (e.g., windows, coatings, etc.) in a flowing gas amplifier laser system, such as a diode-pumped alkali laser (DPAL) system. In some instances, the disclosed techniques/architecture can be used, for example, to protect optical surfaces in a DPAL system from: (1) chemical attack by pump-bleached alkali vapor atoms and/or ions; and/or (2) fouling by adherence thereto of reaction products/soot produced in the DPAL. Also, in some instances, the disclosed techniques/architecture can be used to substantially match the geometry of the pumping volume with that of the lasing volume, thereby minimizing or otherwise reducing the effects of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) on DPAL output power. Furthermore, in some cases, the disclosed techniques/architecture can be used to provide a DPAL system capable of producing a beam output power in the range of about 20 kW to 10 MW, or greater.

Abstract: Techniques and architecture are disclosed for managing alkali vapor concentration in a lasing gas at non-condensing levels. In some instances, the disclosed techniques/architecture can be used to control and/or stabilize the concentration of alkali vapor in a lasing gas volume to any desired fraction of its saturation value under dynamically changing thermal loads. In some such instances, the concentration of alkali vapor in a given lasing gas volume can be maintained at a value which is sufficiently far from the saturation point to prevent or otherwise reduce condensation of the alkali vapor, for example, upon accelerating the lasing gas through a pressure drop into an optical pumping cavity of an alkali vapor laser system (e.g., such as a diode-pumped alkali laser, or DPAL, system). In some instances, the disclosed techniques/architecture can be used to establish a temperature gradient and/or an alkali vapor concentration gradient in the flowing lasing gas volume.

Abstract: Techniques and architecture are disclosed for preserving optical surfaces (e.g., windows, coatings, etc.) in a flowing gas amplifier laser system, such as a diode-pumped alkali laser (DPAL) system. In some instances, the disclosed techniques/architecture can be used, for example, to protect optical surfaces in a DPAL system from: (1) chemical attack by pump-bleached alkali vapor atoms and/or ions; and/or (2) fouling by adherence thereto of reaction products/soot produced in the DPAL. Also, in some instances, the disclosed techniques/architecture can be used to substantially match the geometry of the pumping volume with that of the lasing volume, thereby minimizing or otherwise reducing the effects of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) on DPAL output power. Furthermore, in some cases, the disclosed techniques/architecture can be used to provide a DPAL system capable of producing a beam output power in the range of about 20 kW to 10 MW, or greater.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method for balancing VPN network bandwidth. A method in accordance with an embodiment includes: obtaining weather data and social media sentiment for a plurality of geographical regions; analyzing the weather data and the social media sentiment for factors that may influence network bandwidth usage in each of the plurality of geographical regions; predicting network bandwidth requirements for each of the plurality of geographical regions based on the analysis of the weather data and the social media sentiment; and balancing the network bandwidth among the plurality of geographical regions based on the predicted network bandwidth requirements.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method for balancing VPN network bandwidth. A method in accordance with an embodiment includes: obtaining weather data and social media sentiment for a plurality of geographical regions; analyzing the weather data and the social media sentiment for factors that may influence network bandwidth usage in each of the plurality of geographical regions; predicting network bandwidth requirements for each of the plurality of geographical regions based on the analysis of the weather data and the social media sentiment; and balancing the network bandwidth among the plurality of geographical regions based on the predicted network bandwidth requirements.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method for balancing VPN network bandwidth. A method in accordance with an embodiment includes: obtaining weather data and social media sentiment for a plurality of geographical regions; analyzing the weather data and the social media sentiment for factors that may influence network bandwidth usage in each of the plurality of geographical regions; predicting network bandwidth requirements for each of the plurality of geographical regions based on the analysis of the weather data and the social media sentiment; and balancing the network bandwidth among the plurality of geographical regions based on the predicted network bandwidth requirements.

Abstract: An interferometric environmental monitoring system having an active beam and a reference beam, each following an optical path, a detector system including a detector assembly, a pair of reflecting elements, the first reflecting element receiving the active beam and reflecting it, the second reflecting element receiving the reference beam and reflecting it. The reflected active and reflected reference beams are recombined into a recombined beam, which is directed to the detector assembly. The detector assembly monitors the central fringe of an interference pattern formed by interference when combining the active and the reference beams and providing an output signal related to the movement of the central fringe. The output signal being utilized to provide a signal representative of a condition which measurably affects the active beam.