Abstract: An OCT system includes a broadband light source and illumination optics that projects the generated broadband light to a sample where the light is scattered from within the sample in a direction that is normal to a surface of the sample to form a sample beam and is reflected from a top surface of the sample in a direction that is normal to the surface of the sample to form a reference beam where the sample beam and reference beam co-propagate. Collection optics collect light in the sample and reference beams and project the light to an interferometric combiner. The interferometric combiner is configured to interferometrically the collected light from the sample beam and collected light from the reference beam and to project the interferometrically combined light to a spectrometer that generates spectral interferometric information to determine information about the sample.

Abstract: A dual-output light source includes a laser-driven light source that generates light from a thermal plasma over an angular range of emission of at least 180 degrees. A first and second off-axis conical mirror are positioned within the at least 180 degrees of emission of the thermal plasma so that light generated by the plasma propagating from a first region of emission strikes a first focal point of the first off-axis conical mirror and light generated by the plasma propagating from a second region of emission strikes a first focal point of the second off-axis conical mirror. The first and second off-axis conical mirrors reflect light in a respective and first and second optical paths. A first optical filter having a first bandwidth is positioned in the first optical path. A second optical filter having a second bandwidth is positioned in the second optical path.

Abstract: An OCT system includes a broadband light source and illumination optics that projects the generated broadband light to a sample where the light is scattered from within the sample in a direction that is normal to a surface of the sample to form a sample beam and is reflected from a top surface of the sample in a direction that is normal to the surface of the sample to form a reference beam where the sample beam and reference beam co-propagate. Collection optics collect light in the sample and reference beams and project the light to an interferometric combiner. The interferometric combiner is configured to interferometrically the collected light from the sample beam and collected light from the reference beam and to project the interferometrically combined light to a spectrometer that generates spectral interferometric information to determine information about the sample.

Abstract: A spectrally-shaped source includes a source that generates a round beam. An optical element transforms the round beam to a rectangular beam. An image forming dispersive device angularly disperses wavelengths and images the rectangular beam at a modulation plane. A pixelated SLM is illuminated by the dispersed wavelengths of the rectangular beam such that each column of illuminated pixels is illuminated by a different wavelength. Toroidal optics projects light directed from the SLM to an output plane and focuses the angularly dispersed wavelengths of the beam so that a selected portion of the optical beam is reflected toward the toroidal optic by the SLM. A controller instructs the pixelated SLM to selectively reflect the portion of the optical beam toward the toroidal optic and to selectively reflect another portion of the beam away from the toroidal optic so as to provide a desired spectral shape.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing light includes a chamber and an ignition source that ionizes a gas within the chamber. The apparatus also includes at least one laser that provides energy to the ionized gas within the chamber to produce a high brightness light. The laser can provide a substantially continuous amount of energy to the ionized gas to generate a substantially continuous high brightness light.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing light includes a chamber and an ignition source that ionizes a gas within the chamber. The apparatus also includes at least one laser that provides energy to the ionized gas within the chamber to produce a high brightness light. The laser can provide a substantially continuous amount of energy to the ionized gas to generate a substantially continuous high brightness light.

Abstract: An arc discharge metal halide lamp for use in selected lighting fixtures having a discharge chamber with light permeable walls of a selected shape bounding a discharge region of a selected volume through which walls a pair of electrodes are supported with ionizable materials being provided in the discharge region of the discharge chamber comprising at least one member selected from a group consisting of halides of cerium, dysprosium, holmium, lithium, sodium, praseodymium, thallium and thulium, and further comprising a halide of calcium in a selected fraction of that weight total of all halides present in the discharge chamber with this selection depending also on the addition or not of a halide of aluminum. Others of the foregoing halides that are present are provided in amounts with certain limits.

Abstract: An arc tube is provided for use in a high intensity discharge lamp. The arc tube is generally comprised of an elongated outer envelope defining two opposed ends and a cavity therebetween; an electrode sleeve protruding outwardly from each end of the outer envelope, such that each electrode sleeve has a passageway; and an electrical feedthrough member inserted into the passageway of the electrode sleeve, where the feedthrough member includes an inner rod that extends into the cavity of the arc tube and a ceramic sleeve encircling a portion of the inner rod disposed within the passageway. A sealing compound is disposed at an outwardly facing end of the passageway for sealing the feedthrough member to the electrode sleeve, such that the sealing compound extends into the passageway of the electrode sleeve but is spatially separated from the ceramic sleeve.

Abstract: An arc discharge metal halide lamp for use in selected lighting fixtures comprising a discharge chamber having light permeable walls of a selected shape including therein a pair of end region wall portions through each of which a corresponding one of a pair of electrodes are supported separated from one another by a separation length. The ratio of the separation length to the effective operation inner diameter of the chamber is greater than two. The lengths of the wall sides between the end wall portions is greater than the effective operation inner diameter. The end wall portions have inner surfaces of constant or smaller varying radii of curvature and they are separated from the interior ends of the electrodes by more than one millimeter. The discharge chamber can be constructed of polycrystalline alumina and contain metal halides.

Abstract: A high intensity discharge lamp is provided with an arc tube having an improved heat insulator. The heat insulator is formed proximate to at least one end of the arc tube but absent around an outer middle portion of the arc tube. In addition, the heat insulator is made of a material transmissive of visible light but not transmissive of thermal radiation. By adding a heat insulator to the cold spot area of the arc tube, radiation heat lose from that area will be significantly reduced and the temperature of that area will be increased. Moreover, by choosing a material that will not get oxidized and will not block the visible light, higher lamp efficacy can be achieved.

Abstract: An arc tube is provided for use in a high intensity discharge lamp. The arc tube is generally comprised of an elongated outer envelope defining two opposed ends and a cavity therebetween; an electrode sleeve protruding outwardly from each end of the outer envelope, such that each electrode sleeve has a passageway; and an electrical feedthrough member inserted into the passageway of the electrode sleeve, where the feedthrough member includes an inner rod that extends into the cavity of the arc tube and a ceramic sleeve encircling a portion of the inner rod disposed within the passageway. A sealing compound is disposed at an outwardly facing end of the passageway for sealing the feedthrough member to the electrode sleeve, such that the sealing compound extends into the passageway of the electrode sleeve but is spatially separated from the ceramic sleeve.

Abstract: An arc discharge metal halide lamp for use in selected lighting fixtures having a discharge chamber with light permeable walls of a selected shape bounding a discharge region of a selected volume through which walls a pair of electrodes are supported with ionizable materials being provided in the discharge region of the discharge chamber comprising at least one member selected from a group consisting of halides of cerium, dysprosium, holmium, lithium, sodium, praseodymium, thallium and thulium, and further comprising a halide of calcium in a selected fraction of that weight total of all halides present in the discharge chamber with this selection depending also on the addition or not of a halide of aluminum. Others of the foregoing halides that are present are provided in amounts with certain limits.

Abstract: An arc discharge metal halide lamp having a discharge chamber with visible light permeable walls bounding a discharge region through which walls a pair of electrode assemblies are supported with interior ends thereof positioned in the discharge region spaced apart from one another. These electrode assemblies each also extend through a corresponding capillary tube affixed to the walls to have exterior ends thereof positioned outside the arc discharge chamber. At least one of these electrode assemblies comprises an electrode discharge structure with a discharge region shaft extending into the capillary tube corresponding thereto. A discharge region shaft extends outwardly in that corresponding capillary tube to be in direct contact with an interconnection shaft extending outside of that corresponding capillary tube to provide an exterior end of this electrode assembly, and which is in direct contact with a sealing cap over the end of the tube.

Abstract: An arc discharge metal halide lamp having a discharge chamber having visible light permeable walls bounding a discharge region supported electrodes in a discharge region spaced apart by a distance Le with an average interior diameter equal to D so they have a selected ratio. Ionizable materials are provided in this chamber involving a noble gas, one or more halides, and mercury in an amount sufficiently small so as to result in a relatively low maximum voltage drop between the electrodes during lamp operation.

Abstract: A lighting system includes a high intensity discharge metal halide lamp having an arc discharge chamber with electrodes at each end and containing a fill of mercury, rare gas and metal halides, and a ballast circuit configured to supply pulsed electrical power to the lamp. The ballast circuit includes a controller configured to adjust the pulsed lamp power between a first relatively high power level at a relatively high duty cycle and a second relatively low power level at a relatively low duty cycle. The controller may be configured to adjust the pulsed lamp power between 90% duty cycle at rated lamp power and 10% duty cycle at 30% of the rated lamp power. The duty cycle of the pulsed lamp power may be controlled to maintain a substantially constant correlated color temperature (CCT) as the power level is adjusted.

Abstract: An arc discharge metal halide lamp having a discharge chamber with visible light permeable walls bounding a discharge region through which walls a pair of electrode assemblies are supported with interior ends thereof positioned in the discharge region spaced apart from one another. These electrode assemblies each also extend through a corresponding capillary tube affixed to the walls to have exterior ends thereof positioned outside the arc discharge chamber. At least one of these electrode assemblies comprises an electrode discharge structure with a discharge region shaft extending into the capillary tube corresponding thereto. A discharge region shaft extends outwardly in that corresponding capillary tube to be in direct contact with an interconnection shaft extending outside of that corresponding capillary tube to provide an exterior end of this electrode assembly, and which is in direct contact with a sealing cap over the end of the tube.

Abstract: An arc discharge metal halide lamp for use in selected lighting fixtures having a discharge chamber with light permeable ceramic walls of a selected shape about a discharge region of a selected volume. A pair of electrodes are supported in the discharge region separated from one another by a separation length. The separation length is in a ratio to the effective inner diameter that is greater than four. Ionizable materials are provided in the discharge region comprising a quantity of mercury in a ratio to the discharge region volume that is less than 4 mg/cm3, a noble gas, praseodymium halide, and sodium halide.

Abstract: An arc discharge metal halide lamp having a discharge chamber having visible light permeable walls bounding a discharge region supported electrodes in a discharge region spaced apart by a distance Le with an average interior diameter equal to D so they have a selected ratio. Ionizable materials are provided in this chamber involving a noble gas, one or more halides, and mercury in an amount sufficiently small so as to result in a relatively low maximum voltage drop between the electrodes during lamp operation.