Abstract: An apparatus includes an energy storage circuit, an input circuit, and a hybrid management circuit. The energy storage circuit is structured to receive information regarding a state of charge (SOC) and a state of health (SOH) of an energy storage device structured to store energy. The input circuit is structured to receive an indication of a torque demand. The hybrid management circuit is structured to: determine a SOH adjustment factor based on the SOH of the energy storage device; determine a first torque output for a genset based on the SOH adjustment factor and the SOC of the energy storage device, the genset including an engine and a first motor-generator; and operate the genset to provide the first torque output and to generate an amount of energy for a second motor-generator to meet the torque demand according to the SOH adjustment factor.

Abstract: A single-shot Mueller matrix polarimeter (1700), MMP, comprising: a polarization state generator (1706), PSG, arranged to receive a source optical field (1704) and provide a probe field (1708) having a plurality of spatial portions, each portion having a different polarization state; a polarization state analyser (1718), PSA, arranged to receive a modified probe field (1716) resulting from interaction of the probe field generated by the PSG with a sample under investigation, and further arranged to apply, to each of a corresponding plurality of spatial portions of the modified probe field, a plurality of retardances and a plurality of fast axis orientations; and a detector (1720) arranged to detect an output (1722) of the PSA.

Abstract: A polarimeter (10) is disclosed. The polarimeter (10) comprises: a full Poincaré generator (110) configured to receive an incident light beam with unknown polarisation state and generate a full Poincaré beam therefrom; a polariser (130) configured to select an eigenstate from the full Poincaré beam generated by the full Poincaré generator (110); a detector (170) configured to detect a spatial distribution of intensity of the eigenstate selected by the polariser; and a processor (250) configured to determine a polarisation state of the incident light beam in dependence on the output from the detector (170).

Abstract: Method of laser modifying an optical fibre to form a modified region at a target location within the fibre, comprising positioning at least a portion of an optical fibre in a laser system for modification by a laser, applying a correction to an active optical element of the laser system to modify wavefront properties of the laser to counteract an effect of aberration on laser focus, and laser modifying the optical fibre at the target location using the laser with the corrected wavefront properties to produce the modified region.

Abstract: Method of laser modifying an optical fibre to form a modified region at a target location within the fibre, comprising positioning at least a portion of an optical fibre in a laser system for modification by a laser, applying a correction to an active optical element of the laser system to modify wavefront properties of the laser to counteract an effect of aberration on laser focus, and laser modifying the optical fibre at the target location using the laser with the corrected wavefront properties to produce the modified region.

Abstract: A device for modulation of light (16) having a wavelength, comprising: a first substrate (10) with a first face (81) and a second opposite face (82), and comprising a first electrode (11); a second substrate (20) adjacent to the second face (82) and defining a gap between the first and second substrate (10, 20), the second substrate (20) comprising a second electrode (21); a responsive liquid crystal layer (15) disposed in the gap, wherein the responsive liquid crystal layer (15) has a flexoelectro-optic chiral nematic phase, and is birefringent with an optic axis that tilts in response to an applied electric field between the first and second electrode (11, 21); and a mirror adjacent to the second substrate (20), the mirror configured to reflect incident circular polarised light while preserving its handedness.

Abstract: A method of fabricating one or more colour centres in a crystal is described. The method comprises focusing a laser into a crystal to induce the creation, modification, or diffusion of defects within a focal region of the laser. Fluorescence detection is used to determine when one or more colour centres are formed within the focal region and the laser is terminated when a desired number of colour centres have been formed. The method enables colour centres to be formed in a crystal with a high degree of control in terms of both the number and location of colour centres within the crystal, and a degree of control over other parameters such as colour centre orientation and local environment. In particular, it is possible to form a well-defined pattern of colour centres within a crystal.

Abstract: A laser system for modification of a sample to form a modified region at a target location within the sample, the target location being disposed below a surface of the sample, the laser system comprising: a laser light source configured to provide laser light; a sample holder for supporting the sample; one or more optical elements configured to direct the laser light from the laser light source into the sample when the sample is supported by the sample holder, wherein the one or more optical elements are configured to focus the laser light into the sample, and wherein the one or more optical elements includes a component configured to correct for spherical aberration caused by mismatch in refractive index at the surface of the sample through which the laser light enters the sample such that the laser light is focused at the target location within the sample, a tilt measurement device configured to measure a tilt angle of the surface of the sample relative to an optical axis of the laser light entering through

Abstract: A single-shot Mueller matrix polarimeter (1700), MMP, comprising: a polarization state generator (1706), PSG, arranged to receive a source optical field (1704) and provide a probe field (1708) having a plurality of spatial portions, each portion having a different polarization state; a polarization state analyser (1718), PSA, arranged to receive a modified probe field (1716) resulting from interaction of the probe field generated by the PSG with a sample under investigation, and further arranged to apply, to each of a corresponding plurality of spatial portions of the modified probe field, a plurality of retardances and a plurality of fast axis orientations; and a detector (1720) arranged to detect an output (1722) of the PSA.

Abstract: An apparatus (100, 300, 400, 500) for generating vector vortex beams (VVB) that comprise non-uniform polarization states and orbital angular momentum (OAM), the apparatus comprising: a light source (102) arranged to provide a source field (104); a polarization state generator (106, 402, 502), PSG, arranged to manipulate the source field to provide a modified field (108) having a single polarization state; and a transformation module (110, 200, 404, 504) arranged to receive the modified field from the PSG and transform it to provide an output field (112), wherein the transformation module comprises a cascade of gradient-index, GRIN, lenses (202, 204, 206, 408, 508).

Abstract: A device for modulation of light (16) having a wavelength, comprising: a first substrate (10) with a first face (81) and a second opposite face (82), and comprising a first electrode (11); a second substrate (20) adjacent to the second face (82) and defining a gap between the first and second substrate (10, 20), the second substrate (20) comprising a second electrode (21); a responsive liquid crystal layer (15) disposed in the gap, wherein the responsive liquid crystal layer (15) has a flexoelectro-optic chiral nematic phase, and is birefringent with an optic axis that tilts in response to an applied electric field between the first and second electrode (11, 21); and a minor adjacent to the second substrate (20), the minor configured to reflect incident circular polarised light while preserving its handedness.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for authenticating a product. The method comprises: receiving a verification code associated with the product; applying an electric field to a liquid crystal device (100) located in or on the product, the liquid crystal device (100) comprising: a first substrate (105); a second substrate (110) spaced apart from the first substrate (105); a liquid crystal composition (115) located between the first substrate (105) and the second substrate (110); wherein the liquid crystal composition (115) comprises one or more regions (120) of polymerised liquid crystal composition; and a first electrode (125) and a second electrode (130) configured to apply the electric field; comparing a display output by the liquid crystal device (100) in response to the application of the electric field to the verification code associated with the product; wherein, if the display output by the liquid crystal device (100) matches the verification code associated with the product, the product is authenticated.

Abstract: A method of fabricating one or more colour centres in a crystal is described. The method comprises focusing a laser into a crystal to induce the creation, modification, or diffusion of defects within a focal region of the laser. Fluorescence detection is used to determine when one or more colour centres are formed within the focal region and the laser is terminated when a desired number of colour centres have been formed. The method enables colour centres to be formed in a crystal with a high degree of control in terms of both the number and location of colour centres within the crystal, and a degree of control over other parameters such as colour centre orientation and local environment. In particular, it is possible to form a well-defined pattern of colour centres within a crystal.

Abstract: Method of laser modifying an optical fibre to form a modified region at a target location within the fibre, comprising positioning at least a portion of an optical fibre in a laser system for modification by a laser, applying a correction to an active optical element of the laser system to modify wavefront properties of the laser to counteract an effect of aberration on laser focus, and laser modifying the optical fibre at the target location using the laser with the corrected wavefront properties to produce the modified region.

Abstract: A black box recorder for an autonomous vehicle includes an interface configured to receive data from an engine control unit (ECU) device. The data includes first data and second data. The black box recorder further includes an error correction code (ECC) engine configured to determine a first parity size associated with the first data based on a characteristic of the first data and a second parity size associated with the second data based on a characteristic of the second data. The first parity size is different than the second parity size. The ECC engine is further configured to generate a convolutional low-density parity-check (CLDPC) codeword that includes the first data, the second data, first redundancy data associated with the first data, and second redundancy data associated with the second data. The first redundancy data has the first parity size, and the second redundancy data has the second parity size.

Abstract: A black box recorder for an autonomous vehicle includes an interface configured to receive data from an engine control unit (ECU) device. The data includes first data and second data. The black box recorder further includes an error correction code (ECC) engine configured to determine a first parity size associated with the first data based on a characteristic of the first data and a second parity size associated with the second data based on a characteristic of the second data. The first parity size is different than the second parity size. The ECC engine is further configured to generate a convolutional low-density parity-check (CLDPC) codeword that includes the first data, the second data, first redundancy data associated with the first data, and second redundancy data associated with the second data. The first redundancy data has the first parity size, and the second redundancy data has the second parity size.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a screening chip for cell sorting, said screening chip comprising a substrate having opposing first and second surfaces, wherein at least a portion of said first surface is coated with a Raman-inactive coating material which can be vaporised by laser irradiation at a wavelength and wherein said substrate is transparent to laser radiation at wavelength In further aspects of the invention, a cell sorting method employing the screening chip and a cell sorting apparatus employing the screening chip are provided.

Abstract: Aberrations in stimulated emission depletion microscopy are corrected using an adaptive optics approach using a metric which combines both image sharpness and brightness. Light modulators (22,32) are used to perform aberration correction in one or more of the depletion path (10), the excitation path (12), or the emission path from sample to detector.

Abstract: Aberrations in stimulated emission depletion microscopy are corrected using an adaptive optics approach using a metric which combines both image sharpness and brightness. Light modulators (22,32) are used to perform aberration correction in one or more of the depletion path (10), the excitation path (12), or the emission path from sample to detector.

Abstract: In a method and system for controlling the shape of an optical pulse, the two-dimensional shape of the phase front is controlled using a first control device and the shape of the phase front and the two-dimensional shape of the pulse front is controlled using a second control device. The combined effect on the phase front results in a desired overall phase front control and the second device provides the desired overall pulse front control. This enables the phase front control and pulse front control to be decoupled. Correcting for pulse lengthening of femtosecond laser pulses during focusing by a dispersive lens. The spatially varying phase (72) introduced by the lens can be corrected for by a spatial light modulator like (SLM) a liquid crystal modulator. The spatially varying arrival time at the focus (70) can be compensated for by a deformable mirror (DM). A controller with a feedback loop and pulse characterization in the focus can compensate for the errors introduced by any dispersive focusing means.