Abstract: Broadband light, for example, from a Fabry-Perot quantum cascade laser, is shone onto a sample, and spectral data concerning the broadband light reflected from the sample is collected. The spectral data is analyzed to determine information about one or more substances in the sample. For example, if the sample contains micro-organisms, such as bacteria or fungus, the biological classification(s) (e.g., species) of the micro-organisms can be determined from the spectral data. As another example, if the sample contains virus, the biological classification(s) (e.g., species) of the virus(es) can be determined from the spectral data. As yet another example, if the sample contains particles, size, location and velocity can be determined from the spectral data.

Abstract: Broadband light, for example, from a Fabry-Perot quantum cascade laser, is shone onto a sample, and spectral data concerning the broadband light reflected from the sample is collected. The spectral data is analyzed to determine information about one or more substances in the sample. For example, if the sample contains micro-organisms, such as bacteria or fungus, the biological classification(s) (e.g., species) of the micro-organisms can be determined from the spectral data. As another example, if the sample contains virus, the biological classification(s) (e.g., species) of the virus(es) can be determined from the spectral data. As yet another example, if the sample contains particles, size, location and velocity can be determined from the spectral data.

Abstract: Broadband light, for example, from a Fabry-Perot quantum cascade laser, is shone onto a sample, and spectral data concerning the broadband light reflected from the sample is collected. The spectral data is analyzed to determine information about one or more substances in the sample. For example, if the sample contains micro-organisms, such as bacteria or fungus, the biological classification(s) (e.g., species) of the micro-organisms can be determined from the spectral data. As another example, if the sample contains virus, the biological classification(s) (e.g., species) of the virus(es) can be determined from the spectral data. As yet another example, if the sample contains particles, size, location and velocity can be determined from the spectral data.

Abstract: A sensor (200, 900) comprising an illuminator (212, 500, 804, 832, 858, 904), a receiver (216, 400, 420, 460, 480, 808, 836, 862, 924) and an analyzer (240) for detecting and identifying an analyte having a characteristic absorption band that is present in a sample region (208, 812, 824, 874, 922). The illuminator includes an illumination source (220) for illuminating the sample region with spectral energy across at least a portion of the characteristic absorption band. The receiver includes a detector (228, 404, 424, 460, 484, 866, 928) for sensing predetermined portions of the spectral energy band and for creating a sample spectral data vector (236). The analyzer uses the spectral data vector and known characteristic data to detect and identify the analyte.

Abstract: A sensor (200, 900) comprising an illuminator (212, 500, 804, 832, 858, 904), a receiver (216, 400, 420, 460, 480, 808, 836, 862, 924) and an analyzer (240) for detecting and identifying an analyte having a characteristic absorption band that is present in a sample region (208, 812, 824, 874, 922). The illuminator includes an illumination source (220) for illuminating the sample region with spectral energy across at least a portion of the characteristic absorption band. The receiver includes a detector (228, 404, 424, 460, 484, 866, 928) for sensing predetermined portions of the spectral energy band and for creating a sample spectral data vector (236). The analyzer uses the spectral data vector and known characteristic data to detect and identify the analyte.

Abstract: An optical fiber includes a core for guiding light of a specified range of wavelengths therethrough, each wavelength in the specified range of wavelengths traveling through the core at a particular group velocity and the light potentially producing a nonlinear optical effect. The optical fiber also includes a cladding formed around the core for substantially containing the light within the core. The optical fiber further includes a predetermined amount of at least one dopant uniformly dispersed throughout the core such that no two distinct wavelengths in the specified range of wavelengths travel through the core at the same, particular group velocity, thereby causing the nonlinear optical effect to be suppressed.

Abstract: A short intense pulse of radiation is generated by shining radiation through a magneto-optical material and providing multiple stimulations to the material. The material is excited multiple times to rapidly change a property of the radiation, such as the angle of its polarization. The first excitation rotates the polarization in a first direction and the second excitation can rotate the polarization further. Alternatively the second excitation can bring the polarization back to its initial direction. Effect of lengthy relaxation times in the material cancel each other out and the pulse of light has a length that depends on the time difference between the two excitations and the spacing between them. This allows a pulse of light to be produced that has more rotation or has a shorter pulse width than the time for excitation plus the time for normal relaxation of the magneto-optical material.

Abstract: An optical fiber includes a core for guiding light of a specified range of wavelengths therethrough, each wavelength in the specified range of wavelengths traveling through the core at a particular group velocity and the light potentially producing a nonlinear optical effect. The optical fiber also includes a cladding formed around the core for substantially containing the light within the core. The optical fiber further includes a predetermined amount of at least one dopant uniformly dispersed throughout the core such that no two distinct wavelengths in the specified range of wavelengths travel through the core at the same, particular group velocity, thereby causing the nonlinear optical effect to be suppressed.

Abstract: A method for increasing the critical temperature, Tc, of a high critical temperature superconducting (HTS) film (104) grown on a substrate (102) and a superconducting structure (100) made using the method. The HTS film has an a-b plane parallel to the surface of the substrate and a c-direction normal to the surface of the substrate. Generally, the method includes providing the substrate, growing the HTS film on the substrate and, after the HTS film has been grown, inducing into the HTS film a residual compressive strain the a-b plane and a residual tensile strain into the c-direction.

Abstract: A short intense pulse of radiation is generated by shining radiation through a magneto-optical material and providing multiple stimulations to the material. The material is excited multiple times to rapidly change a property of the radiation, such as the angle of its polarization. The first excitation rotates the polarization in a first direction and the second excitation can rotate the polarization further. Alternatively the second excitation can bring the polarization back to its initial direction. Effect of lengthy relaxation times in the material cancel each other out and the pulse of light has a length that depends on the time difference between the two excitations and the spacing between them. This allows a pulse of light to be produced that has more rotation or has a shorter pulse width than the time for excitation plus the time for normal relaxation of the magneto-optical material.

Abstract: An optical fiber includes a core for guiding light of a specified range of wavelengths therethrough, each wavelength in the specified range of wavelengths traveling through the core at a particular group velocity and the light potentially producing a nonlinear optical effect. The optical fiber also includes a cladding formed around the core for substantially containing the light within the core. The optical fiber further includes a predetermined amount of at least one dopant uniformly dispersed throughout the core such that no two distinct wavelengths in the specified range of wavelengths travel through the core at the same, particular group velocity, thereby causing the nonlinear optical effect to be suppressed.

Abstract: An optical fiber includes a core for guiding light of a specified range of wavelengths therethrough, each wavelength in the specified range of wavelengths traveling through the core at a particular group velocity and the light potentially producing a nonlinear optical effect. The optical fiber also includes a cladding formed around the core for substantially containing the light within the core. The optical fiber further includes a predetermined amount of at least one dopant uniformly dispersed throughout the core such that no two distinct wavelengths in the specified range of wavelengths travel through the core at the same, particular group velocity, thereby causing the nonlinear optical effect to be suppressed.

Abstract: A mid-infrared transmitter for providing a light signal in a free-space communication system includes an arrangement for producing electromagnetic radiation having a certain wavelength in a mid-infrared wavelength range. The mid-infrared transmitter further includes an arrangement for modulating the electromagnetic radiation so as to provide a train of light pulses having the certain wavelength as the light signal.

Abstract: A method for increasing the critical temperature, Tc, of a high critical temperature superconducting (HTS) film (104) grown on a substrate (102) and a superconducting structure (100) made using the method. The HTS film has an a-b plane parallel to the surface of the substrate and a c-direction normal to the surface of the substrate. Generally, the method includes providing the substrate, growing the HTS film on the substrate and, after the HTS film has been grown, inducing into the HTS film a residual compressive strain the a-b plane and a residual tensile strain into the c-direction.

Abstract: The high speed data link includes a light modulating device having an output, a source of light of a certain wavelength and a superconductive material, which is switchable between superconducting and non-superconducting states. This light modulating device also includes an arrangement for switching the superconductive material to provide at the output a train of light pulses having the certain wavelength. The high speed data link further includes a wavelength changing device, for changing the wavelength of the light pulses, an optical fiber, for directing the train of wavelength changed light pulses away from the wavelength changing device, and an arrangement, for receiving the train of wavelength changed light pulses. The receiving arrangement includes a demultiplexer, for dividing the train of wavelength changed light pulses into a series of sub-trains of wavelength changed light pulses, and a series of optical receivers, each optical receiver detecting at least one of the sub-trains.

Abstract: The high speed data link includes a light modulating device having an output, a source of light of a certain wavelength and a superconductive material, which is switchable between superconducting and non-superconducting states. This light modulating device also includes an arrangement for switching the superconductive material to provide at the output a train of light pulses having the certain wavelength. The high speed data link further includes a wavelength changing device, for changing the wavelength of the light pulses, an optical fiber, for directing the train of wavelength changed light pulses away from the wavelength changing device, and an arrangement, for receiving the train of wavelength changed light pulses. The receiving arrangement includes a demultiplexer, for dividing the train of wavelength changed light pulses into a series of sub-trains of wavelength changed light pulses, and a series of optical receivers, each optical receiver detecting at least one of the sub-trains.

Abstract: A multi-layer passivation barrier (24) for, and a method of, passivating a superconducting layer (22) of a microelectronic device (20). The passivation barrier includes a passivating layer (32) and a barrier buffering layer (30). The passivating layer provides a barrier to moisture, salts, alkali metals and the like located outside the device. The passivating layer also provides a barrier to outdiffusion of oxygen from the superconducting layer. The buffering layer permits oxygen to diffuse therethrough and provides a barrier to prevent diffusion of one or more constituent chemical elements of the passivating layer into the superconducting layer. The method includes the steps of depositing the barrier buffering layer (30) onto the superconducting layer (22) and depositing the passivating layer (32) onto the buffering layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for modulating light, wherein a light source provides light of a certain wavelength to be modulated by a layer of superconducting material which forms part of a specifically configured plate assembly. The superconducting layer is placed in the optical path of the light source. Further the superconducting layer is switched between a partially transparent non-superconducting state and a substantially non-transparent superconducting state by a modulation circuit. The resulting optical pulses transmitted through the superconducting layer are converted from the original wavelength to a lower wavelength by a frequency converting device.

Abstract: An optical fiber includes a core for guiding light of a specified range of wavelengths therethrough, each wavelength in the specified range of wavelengths traveling through the core at a particular group velocity and the light potentially producing a nonlinear optical effect. The optical fiber also includes a cladding formed around the core for substantially containing the light within the core. The optical fiber further includes a predetermined amount of at least one dopant uniformly dispersed throughout the core such that no two distinct wavelengths in the specified range of wavelengths travel through the core at the same, particular group velocity, thereby causing the nonlinear optical effect to be suppressed.

Abstract: A short pulse of radiation is generated by shining radiation through a magneto-optical material. The material is excited twice to rapidly change a property of the wave, such as the direction of the polarization. The first excitation rotates the polarization in a first direction and the second excitation brings the polarization back to its initial direction before the first excitation. Although the time for relaxation from the excitations may be lengthy, a pulse of light can be produced that is shorter in time than the time for excitation plus the time for relaxation. Light experiencing the pair of lengthy relaxations has each cancelling the effect of the other. The pulse of light has a length that depends on the time difference between the two excitations and the spacing between them. The rapid excitations are provided by pulses of current in a superconductor located near the magneto-optical material.