Abstract: Method, device, and non-transitory storage medium to receive peak viewership parameters that indicate one or more program channels to be modeled; query a device that stores viewership data based on the peak viewership parameters; determine a peak viewership for the one or more program channels; query another device that stores network configuration data pertaining to a program delivery network; obtain channel path information pertaining to the one or more program channels; generate peak channel delivery data based on the channel path information and the peak viewership data; and simulate, based on the peak channel delivery data, resource utilization of the program delivery network stemming from a provisioning of the one or more program channels according to a delivery channel format that is different from another delivery channel format that was used to deliver the one or more program channels to subscribers.

Abstract: Method, device, and non-transitory storage medium to receive peak viewership parameters that indicate one or more program channels to be modeled; query a device that stores viewership data based on the peak viewership parameters; determine a peak viewership for the one or more program channels; query another device that stores network configuration data pertaining to a program delivery network; obtain channel path information pertaining to the one or more program channels; generate peak channel delivery data based on the channel path information and the peak viewership data; and simulate, based on the peak channel delivery data, resource utilization of the program delivery network stemming from a provisioning of the one or more program channels according to a delivery channel format that is different from another delivery channel format that was used to deliver the one or more program channels to subscribers.

Abstract: A fiber optical Y-junction device includes a l.times.N optical fiber coupler connected to N fiber optic amplifier module structures constructed from a doped optical fiber. When the optical Y-junction structure contains a fiber optic amplifier, the fiber optical Y-junction device is operable as either a modulator or lossless power divider. A nonblocking optical switch is constructed by coupling M.times.l optical fiber couplers to the outputs of the fiber optic amplifier module structures utilizing the fiber optical Y-junction.

Abstract: A new, simplified method of fabricating optically transparent fluoride glasses containing ZrF.sub.4 and/or HfF.sub.4 has been developed which relies on a high vacuum pre-treatment for surface dehydration, melting in a rigorously inert argon atmosphere, and incorporation of a nonvolatile metallic oxidant in the melt such as InF.sub.3 and SnF.sub.4. Previous method for making these glasses have relied on either addition of ammonium bifluoride into the batch materials, or melting in an oxidizing atmosphere (so-called reactive atmosphere processing or RAP); both of these latter techniques have significant drawbacks.

Abstract: Glass compositions for high efficiency erbium.sup.3+ -doped optical fiber lasers, amplifiers and superluminescent sources are optimized for pumping by high power solid state lasers in the vicinity of 800 nm to provide amplified signals in wavelengths between 1.5 and 1.7 microns, a principal telecommunications window. A number of suitable host glasses for doping with erbium 3+ are identified wherein the excited state absorption/ground state absorption intensity ratio calculated at 800 nm is 1.00 or less.

Abstract: A new, simplified method of fabricating optically transparent fluoride glasses containing ZrF.sub.4 and/or HfF.sub.4 has been developed which relies on a high vacuum pretreatment for surface dehydration, melting in a rigorously inert argon atmosphere, and incorporation of a nonvolatile metallic oxidant in the melt such as InF.sub.3 or SnF.sub.4. Previous methods for making these glasses have relied on either addition of ammonium bifluoride into the batch materials, or melting in an oxidizing atmosphere (so-called reactive atmosphere processing or RAP); both of these latter techniques have significant drawbacks.

Abstract: A laser has been made using a Nd.sup.3+ -doped fluoro-zirconate heavy metal fluoride (HMF) glass multimode fiber which lases in a range equal to or greater than 1.32 micrometers. The fiber laser was made for forming a glass fiber from a core glass composition comprising 52.8 mole % ZrF.sub.4, 19.9 mole % BaF.sub.2, 2.5 mole % LaF.sub.3, 3.0 mole % AlF.sub.3, 19.9 mole % NaF, 0.4 mole % InF.sub.3, and 1.5 mole % NdF.sub.3 the active dopant and the composition of the cladding glass comprises 39.6 mole % ZrF.sub.4, 17.9 mole % BaF.sub.2, 4.0 mole % LaF.sub.3, 3.0 mole % AlF.sub.3, 21.9 mole % NaF, 0.4 mole % InF.sub.3, and 13.2 mole % HfF.sub.4.

Abstract: A laser medium containing a chromium (3+) doped germanate garnet represented by the general formula: Ca.sub.3 M.sub.2(1-x) Cr.sub.2x (GeO.sub.4).sub.3 wherein M is Al.sup.3+, Ga.sup.3+, Sc.sup.3+, Lu.sup.3+, or Y.sup.3+ and 0<x.ltoreq.0.25 is disclosed. A laser employing the above-described laser medium is also described.

Abstract: A laser medium includes an ordered perovskite crystal of the general formula: A.sub.2 B Cr.sub.y B'.sub.1-y X.sub.6. A and B are alkali metal ions with the ionic radius of A greater than B. B' is an ion selected from the group consisting of Y.sup.3+, La.sup.3+, Gd.sup.3+, Lu.sup.3+, Sc.sup.3+, Al.sup.3+, Ga.sup.3+, and In.sup.3+. X is an ion selected from the group consisting of F.sup.-, Cl.sup.-, and Br.sup.-. A can be an ion selected from the group consisting of K.sup.+, Na.sup.+,Cs.sup.+, and Rb.sup.+. B can be an ion selected from the group consisting of K.sup.+-, Na.sup.+, and Li.sup.+. The chromium can be represented by Cr.sup.+3 ions. The laser media can be ordered perovskite polycrystalline compounds of the formulae: CsNaCr.sub.0.01 Y.sub.0.99 Cl.sub.6 ; KLi Cr.sub.y Sc.sub.1-y F.sub.6 (where y equals 0.01 and 0.10); K.sub.2 NaCr.sub.y Sc.sub.1-y F.sub.6 (where 0.01 .ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.40).