Abstract: An optical detector array is disclosed to locate dynamically the source position of an incoming beam of light. For example, the incoming beam of light may be a reflection of a low-divergence laser beam from a scattering surface in target space. A system and a method are disclosed for determining the position of a light spot generated by an optical beam when it falls on a scattering surface based on a one-dimensional detector array.

Abstract: A novel eye-safe, long range laser pointer system for use in day or night conditions is described. The system uses a short pulse laser and a gated camera to detect the laser spot at long ranges in the presence of a strong solar background. The camera gate is synchronized with incident laser pulses using a separate large area, fast photodiode to detect the high peak power pulses. Alternately, gate synchronization using a GPS-disciplined clock can be used. Eye-safe systems operating in the near-UV or SWIR band are described.

Abstract: A system for short-range laser detection and ranging of targets can provides rapid three-dimensional, e.g., angle, angle, range, scans over a wide field-of-view. Except for the final transmit/receive lens, the disclosed LADAR system can be implemented in an all-fiber configuration. Such system is compact, low cost, robust to misalignment, and lends itself to eye-safe operation by making use of available pulsed 1550 nm fiber lasers and amplifier sources. The disclosed LADAR system incorporates many novel features that provide significant advantages compared to current LADAR systems. The disclosed system uses a monostatic fiber-based transmitter/receiver, a fiber beam scanner based on a laterally vibrating fiber, and a position sensor to monitor the transmitted beam position.

Abstract: A system for short-range laser detection and ranging of targets can provides rapid three-dimensional, e.g., angle, angle, range, scans over a wide field-of-view. Except for the final transmit/receive lens, the disclosed LADAR system can be implemented in an all-fiber configuration. Such system is compact, low cost, robust to misalignment, and lends itself to eye-safe operation by making use of available pulsed 1550 nm fiber lasers and amplifier sources. The disclosed LADAR system incorporates many novel features that provide significant advantages compared to current LADAR systems. The disclosed system uses a monostatic fiber-based transmitter/receiver, a fiber beam scanner based on a laterally vibrating fiber, and a position sensor to monitor the transmitted beam position.

Abstract: A compact monostatic optical transmitter/receiver device simultaneously transmits an optical beam and collects returning light using a single lens or optical aperture. The system provides automatic alignment of the transmit and receive aperture and is compatible with fiber-coupled laser sources. Transmit light is emitted from a double-cladding fiber core while received light is coupled into the inner cladding of the same fiber. The transmit light propagating in the core and the received light propagating in the inner cladding are separated by the means of a diplexer comprised of a fused fiber coupler or a fiber-coupled micro-optic device.

Abstract: High-resolution optical position sensing is disclosed using sparse, low-resolution detectors. Precise location of two-dimensional position or angular orientation of an optical beam at the focal plane of a sensor system is made possible using sparse low-resolution detectors. The beam may be emitted directly from a source, or scattered from a remote target. The high precision in determining the beam or focal spot location is the result of a novel data processing and analysis method for the signals from the low-resolution detectors.

Abstract: A monoblock laser cavity incorporates optical components for a short-pulse laser. These optical components are ‘locked’ into alignment forming an optical laser cavity for flash lamp or diode laser pumping. The optical laser cavity does not need optical alignment after it is fabricated, increasing the brightness of the monoblock laser.

Abstract: A compact solid state laser that generates multiple wavelengths and multiple beams that are parallel, i.e., bore-sighted relative to each other, is disclosed. Each of the multiple laser beams can be at a different wavelength, pulse energy, pulse length, repetition rate and average power. Each of the laser beams can be turned on or off independently. The laser is comprised of an optically segmented gain section, common laser resonator with common surface segmented cavity mirrors, optically segmented pump laser, and different intra-cavity elements in each laser segment.

Abstract: An actively Q-switched laser based on UV illumination mitigates pyroelectric effects in lithium niobate. An exemplary embodiment comprises a pump source; a dichroic mirror having one end optically facing said pump source; a gain medium optically facing another end of said dichroic mirror; a polarizer having one end optically facing another end of said gain medium; a quarter wave plate having one end optically facing another end of said polarizer; and a electro-optic crystal having one end optically facing said quarter wave plate, at least one side of said electro-optic crystal being electrically connected to Q-switch driver to have the crystal function as a Q-switch. A UV illumination source illuminates a side surface of said electrical-optic crystal with UV light. An output mirror receives an output from said Q-switch and produces a laser emission.

Abstract: A method and device for reducing the timing jitter in a passive Q-switched Nd:YAG solid state laser by spatially selective bleaching a thin sheet of a saturable absorber of Cr+4:YAG from a direction orthogonal to the direction of laser emission where the Cr+4:YAG transmission increases 18% when the bleaching probe beam is a single laser diode bar. For steady state operation of a passive Q-switched laser, the pulse-to-pulse timing jitter showed a ?12× reduction in standard deviation from 241 nsec for free running operation to 20 nsec with optical triggering.

Abstract: The compact Er:Yb:Glass Laser Cavity incorporates all optical components required for a short-pulse laser. These optical components are ‘locked’ into alignment forming an optical laser cavity for diode laser or flash lamp pumping. The optical laser cavity does not need optical alignment after it is fabricated. The improvement upon the original Er:Yb:Glass design replaces the Cobalt Spinel passive Q-switch component with a MEMS active Q-Switch component.

Abstract: A compact solid state laser that generates multiple wavelengths and multiple beams that are parallel, i.e., bore-sighted relative to each other, is disclosed. Each of the multiple laser beams can be at a different wavelength, pulse energy, pulse length, repetition rate and average power. Each of the laser beams can be turned on or off independently. The laser is comprised of an optically segmented gain section, common laser resonator with common surface segmented cavity mirrors, optically segmented pump laser, and different intra-cavity elements in each laser segment.

Abstract: A device for amplifying optical signals propagating in optical fibers comprising a double cladding fiber amplifier having multiple gain stages, a port for coupling pump light into the double cladding fiber amplifier, and a double cladding fiber coupler for splitting the coupled pump light between the gain stages of the double cladding fiber amplifier. Also, a method for amplifying optical signals propagating in optical fibers comprising the steps of providing a double cladding fiber amplifier having multiple gain stages, coupling pump light into the double cladding fiber amplifier, and splitting the coupled pump light between the gain stages of the double cladding fiber amplifier.

Abstract: A monoblock laser cavity incorporates optical components for a short-pulse laser. These optical components are ‘locked’ into alignment forming an optical laser cavity for flash lamp or diode laser pumping. The optical laser cavity does not need optical alignment after it is fabricated, increasing the brightness of the monoblock laser.

Abstract: A compact solid state laser that generates multiple wavelengths and multiple beams that are parallel, i.e., bore-sighted relative to each other, is disclosed. Each of the multiple laser beams can be at a different wavelength, pulse energy, pulse length, repetition rate and average power. Each of the laser beams can be turned on or off independently. The laser is comprised of an optically segmented gain section, common laser resonator with common surface segmented cavity mirrors, optically segmented pump laser, and different intra-cavity elements in each laser segment.

Abstract: A novel eye-safe, long range laser pointer system for use in day or night conditions is described. The system uses a short pulse laser and a gated camera to detect the laser spot at long ranges in the presence of a strong solar background. The camera gate is synchronized with incident laser pulses using a separate large area, fast photodiode to detect the high peak power pulses. Alternately, gate synchronization using a GPS-disciplined clock can be used. Eye-safe systems operating in the near-UV or SWIR band are described.

Abstract: High-resolution optical position sensing is disclosed using sparse, low-resolution detectors. Precise location of two-dimensional position or angular orientation of an optical beam at the focal plane of a sensor system is made possible using sparse low-resolution detectors. The beam may be emitted directly from a source, or scattered from a remote target. The high precision in determining the beam or focal spot location is the result of a novel data processing and analysis method for the signals from the low-resolution detectors.

Abstract: A compact monostatic optical transmitter/receiver device simultaneously transmits an optical beam and collects returning light using a single lens or optical aperture. The system provides automatic alignment of the transmit and receive aperture and is compatible with fiber-coupled laser sources. Transmit light is emitted from a double-cladding fiber core while received light is coupled into the inner cladding of the same fiber. The transmit light propagating in the core and the received light propagating in the inner cladding are separated by the means of a diplexer comprised of a fused fiber coupler or a fiber-coupled micro-optic device.

Abstract: An actively Q-switched laser based on UV illumination mitigates pyroelectric effects in lithium niobate. An exemplary embodiment comprises a pump source; a dichroic mirror having one end optically facing said pump source; a gain medium optically facing another end of said dichroic mirror; a polarizer having one end optically facing another end of said gain medium; a quarter wave plate having one end optically facing another end of said polarizer; and a electro-optic crystal having one end optically facing said quarter wave plate, at least one side of said electro-optic crystal being electrically connected to Q-switch driver to have the crystal function as a Q-switch. A UV illumination source illuminates a side surface of said electrical-optic crystal with UV light. An output mirror receives an output from said Q-switch and produces a laser emission.

Abstract: A monoblock laser cavity incorporates optical components for a short-pulse laser. These optical components are ‘locked’ into alignment forming an optical laser cavity for flash lamp or diode laser pumping. The optical laser cavity does not need optical alignment after it is fabricated, increasing the brightness of the monoblock laser.