Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a method of growing one or more plants can be implemented wherein the one or more plants establish a canopy that shades an intra-canopy volume of the one or more plants from direct illumination. The method can include coupling a light source with a light distribution device; disposing the light distribution device in a position to directly illuminate the canopy region of the one or more plants and to directly illuminate the intra-canopy volume of the one or more plants.

Abstract: A light pipe for use in aqueous environments comprising an optical rod capable of total internal reflection, and disposed in the optical path of a light source such as a light emitting diode or other source. The optical rod has frosted and unfrosted portions, such that the light is propagated distally along the rod at the unfrosted portions, but a portion of the light is coupled out of the rod into the aqueous environment at each of the frosted portions. The relative sizes of the frosted portions are arranged so that substantially the same light power is coupled out of the rod at each frosted section, thus facilitating rapid and uniform growth of algae in the aqueous environment.

Abstract: A light pipe for use in aqueous environments comprising an optical rod capable of total internal reflection, and disposed in the optical path of a light source such as a light emitting diode or other source. The optical rod has frosted and unfrosted portions, such that the light is propagated distally along the rod at the unfrosted portions, but a portion of the light is coupled out of the rod into the aqueous environment at each of the frosted portions. The relative sizes of the frosted portions are arranged so that substantially the same light power is coupled out of the rod at each frosted section, thus facilitating rapid and uniform growth of algae in the aqueous environment.

Abstract: A light pipe for use in aqueous environments comprising an optical rod capable of total internal reflection, and disposed in the optical path of a light source such as a light emitting diode or other source. The optical rod has frosted and unfrosted portions, such that the light is propagated distally along the rod at the unfrosted portions, but a portion of the light is coupled out of the rod into the aqueous environment at each of the frosted portions. The relative sizes of the frosted portions are arranged so that substantially the same light power is coupled out of the rod at each frosted section, thus facilitating rapid and uniform growth of algae in the aqueous environment.

Abstract: A light pipe for use in aqueous environments comprising an optical rod capable of total internal reflection, and disposed in the optical path of a light source such as a light emitting diode or other source. The optical rod has frosted and unfrosted portions, such that the light is propagated distally along the rod at the unfrosted portions, but a portion of the light is coupled out of the rod into the aqueous environment at each of the frosted portions. The relative sizes of the frosted portions are arranged so that substantially the same light power is coupled out of the rod at each frosted section, thus facilitating rapid and uniform growth of algae in the aqueous environment.

Abstract: Maskless patterning of high-resolution microelectronics features onto large curved substrates. A computer controls individual pixel elements in a spatial light modulator array (SLM) which provides the pattern. Maintaining optical track length constant is by software control of SLM vertical positioning, surface configuration and tilt. SLMs are on/off devices, either reflective or transmissive, such as digital micromirror devices (DMD) and liquid crystal light modulator arrays (LCLM). High-resolution spatial light modulator arrays currently have no capacity for changing or control of their average surface configurations. It is proposed to segment the SLM into smaller array chips, each mounted on a vertical positioner, such as a piezo-actuator, to provide the desired configuration to the surface defined by the spatial light modulator arrays.

Abstract: Maskless patterning of high-resolution microelectronics features onto large curved substrates. A computer controls individual pixel elements in a spatial light modulator array (SLM) which provides the pattern. Maintaining optical track length constant is by software control of SLM vertical positioning, surface configuration and tilt. SLMs are on/off devices, either reflective or transmissive, such as digital micromirror devices (DMD) and liquid crystal light modulator arrays (LCLM). High-resolution spatial light modulator arrays currently have no capacity for changing or control of their average surface configurations. It is proposed to segment the SLM into smaller array chips, each mounted on a vertical positioner, such as a piezo-actuator, to provide the desired configuration to the surface defined by the spatial light modulator arrays.

Abstract: An optical signal processing method and a device which can serve as a signal multiplexer or demultiplexer can be tuned in discrete increments. This device has a movable filter assembly having a number of filters, with each filter having a surface which reflects a particular wavelength of light and passes other wavelengths of light. This defines two wavelength-dependent signal paths. Light reflecting from a reflective surface of the filter passes along one signal path which includes an input waveguide and a first output waveguide. Light transmitted through the filter travels along another signal path which includes the input waveguide and a second output waveguide. The filter can be contained in a trench separating the input and second output waveguides, and can be moved in the trench to alter the optical properties of the two signal paths.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for producing photorefractive net gain two beam coupling utilizing polymeric materials.

Abstract: A thermally written magnetic data storage medium retains desired domains of magnetization having field orientations representative of the data. A first magnetic layer retains one or more domains of desired magnetic field orientations. A second magnetic layer provides a biasing field for obtaining a predetermined magnetic field orientation in the first magnetic layer as a function of the temperature of the second magnetic layer. Disposed between the first and second layers is a thermal isolation layer which provides a thermal barrier for controlling the temperature of the second magnetic layer means. When the medium is heated for a short time, the fringe field from the first layer causes one direction of magnetic orientation to occur in a domain in the first layer. Upon cooling of the domain, the domain magnetization becomes stable with an orientation conforming to the orientation of the fringe field. The thermal isolation layer prevents significant heating of the second layer.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for producing a beam of coherent radiation at essentially 459 nm by mixing, in a nonlinear crystal consisting essentially of KTP, two laser beams, one at essentially 1064 nm and the other at essentially 808 nm. The 1064 nm radiation is derived from a Nd:YAG laser that consists of an input mirror, an output mirror and a Nd:YAG crystal, and contains also the KTP crystal. The Nd:YAG laser is pumped by an essentially 808 nm semiconductor diode laser beam, which passes through the input mirror and through the KTP crystal into the Nd:YAG laser crystal where it is absorbed. The 1064 nm radiation oscillating inside the Nd:YAG laser resonator is mixed either with the said 808 nm pump beam or with 808 nm radiation provided by a second semiconductor diode laser whose light is coupled with the 1064 nm beam using a beamsplitter. The essentially 459 nm beam passes through the output mirror to a utilization device.

Abstract: A time modulated source of frequency doubled laser radiation is described in which a non-linear crystal part of a stripline electrical circuit is mounted within a laser cavity so that the laser beam at a fundamental frequency impinges on and propagates through the non-linear crystal. A high bandwidth electrical data signal is coupled into the stripline electrical circuit to produce an electric field across the non-linear crystal so that an output beam is produced at a wavelength corresponding to the second harmonic of the fundamental frequency which represents a frequency doubled output beam modulated in accordance with the high bandwidth data signal, an alternate embodiment for producing the time modulated source of frequency doubled laser radiation has the non-linear crystal placed in a resonant microwave cavity.

Abstract: Reversible phase change storage material is thermally isolated in a storage medium by means of grooves in the substrate and at least one layer of a thermally conductive dielectric material.

Abstract: A frequency multiplexed optical spatial filter is based upon a thin film of a photochemical hole burning material. The filter stores a plurality of images in the photochemical hole burning medium. The images are formed at different optical frequencies and coexist in the same volume of the storage medium. Individual images are accessed by changing the frequency of the illuminating radiation.

Abstract: A method and device for detecting dichroic and/or birefringent narrow spectral features in a sample is described. The method includes the steps of providing a beam of light having an optical frequency bandwidth which is narrow compared to the width of the narrow spectral feature and having a center frequency .omega..sub.

Abstract: Information is stored by a process involving the steps of(1) sensitizing a recording medium comprising a two-photon, four-level material by exposing said medium to flood illumination with ultra-violet or visible light, and then(2) exposing the sensitized medium simultaneously to two beams of coplanar laser irradiation intersecting within said recording medium to create a microscopic interference pattern.

Abstract: An inexpensive, high quality transmissive holographic optical element and method for making same are described. The holographic optical element consists of a potentially aberrating substrate which supports a layer of holographic recording material. The material contains a recorded fringe pattern that cancels the aberrations induced in an image wavefront as it passes through the aberrating substrate. This optical element is formed by a method having the following steps. A first wavefront from a source, for example a point focus, is passed through the aberrating substrate, becomes distorted, and then passes through the holographic recording material to a wavefront conjugator. The conjugator launches a conjugate of the distorted wavefront back to the holographic recording material. A second wavefront is then passed through the holographic recording material to form a fringe pattern or hologram as a result of the interference of the conjugate waveform and the second waveform.

Abstract: A gated self-developing, non-bleachable holographic material is disclosed which is useful in the infrared region. The holographic material comprises a polymeric matrix with an .alpha.-diketone compound uniformly dispersed therein.

Abstract: An apparatus utilizing four-wave degenerate mixing detects birefringence in irregularly shaped objects (6). Laser radiation (120) having a specified polarization is brought to a focus and then sent through the irregularly shaped object. The emerging radiation impinges upon a nonlinear material (8) to form a conjugate beam by means of four-wave degenerate mixing. The conjugate beam, which passes back through the object, is picked off and detected at a replica of the focus point. The detector (10, 11 and 12) includes a polarization detector (10) which is arranged so that a signal is detected only when the object has birefringence.

Abstract: A process and recording medium for four-level, two-photon holography are provided. These media are particularly useful for recording holograms using continuous wave lasers. The recording medium is formed by a transport resin containing a tetrazine compound.