Abstract: A magnification adjustable projection system includes an imaging system having a first pair of cylindrical lens plates located within an object or image space. The first pair of cylindrical lens plates includes a first cylindrical lens plate axially movable relative to a second cylindrical lens plate. A second pair of cylindrical lens plates is located within the object or image space in optical alignment with the first pair of cylindrical lens plates. The second pair of cylindrical lens plates includes a third cylindrical lens plate axially movable relative to a fourth cylindrical lens plates. First and second actuators adjusts distances between the first and second cylindrical lens plates and between the third and fourth cylindrical lens plates. The first and second pairs of cylindrical lens plates have first and second cylindrical transverse axes that are approximately 45° relative to each other.

Abstract: According to some embodiments a method of assembling an optical system comprises steps of: measuring retardance profiles of a plurality of optical elements, relatively positioning the optical elements in relative orientations that enhance complementarity between the retardance profiles of the optical elements, and securing the combinations of relatively oriented optical elements together, to control or minimize the combined retardance of the stacked optical elements.

Abstract: According to some embodiments a method of assembling an optical system comprises steps of: measuring retardance profiles of a plurality of optical elements, relatively positioning the optical elements in relative orientations that enhance complementarity between the retardance profiles of the optical elements, and securing the combinations of relatively oriented optical elements together, to control or minimize the combined retardance of the stacked optical elements.

Abstract: An optical device includes a support structure configured to retain an optical element using a cured adhesive composition that is disposed between a surface of the support structure and a surface of the optical element, wherein a structured optical particulate material is dispersed throughout the cured adhesive. The structured optical particulate material redirects curing radiation via a scattering mechanism to facilitate curing of portions of the adhesive compositions that cannot be directly exposed to the radiation, thereby facilitating rapid and more thorough curing than could otherwise be achieved without the structured optical particulate material.

Abstract: Optical connectors for connecting optical fiber to a light source are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical connector includes a housing with a first end having an open aperture and a second end having a blind aperture. A chamber is disposed in the housing such that the optical axis of the housing passes through the chamber. The chamber includes a first material. A light collecting region formed from a second material is disposed in the housing between the second end of the housing and the chamber. A blind aperture is positioned in the light collecting region such that a termination of the blind aperture is spaced apart from the chamber by at least a portion of the second material. A refracting surface is disposed in the housing between the open aperture and the light collecting region such that the optical axis of the housing passes through the refracting surface.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a coating consisting of a binary metal fluoride coating consisting a high refractive index metal fluoride layer on top of a substrate, a low refractive index metal fluoride layer on top of the high refractive index layer and layer of SiO2 or F—SiO2 containing 0.2 wt % to 4.5 (2000 ppm to 45,000 ppm) F on top of the low refractive index layer. In one embodiment the F content of F—SiO2 is in the range of 5000 ppm to 10,000 ppm F. The high index and low index materials are each deposited to a thickness of less than or equal to 0.9 quarter wave, and the capping material is deposited to a thickness in the range of 5 nm to 25 nm. The disclosure is also directed to optical elements having the foregoing coating and a method of making the coating.

Abstract: Thickness and group index variations in test strip samples of ultra-low expansion glass are made by extracting the strip samples with front and back faces oriented at an acute skew angle to the axis of the boule. The strip samples are positioned the within an interferometric measurement cavity so that a set of subcavities formed by pairings of each of two reference surfaces together with each of the front and back faces of the strip sample which each subcavity having a different optical path length spacing. The skew angle is sized to avoid diffusion effects of striae present in the boule.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a coating consisting of a binary metal fluoride coating consisting a high refractive index metal fluoride layer on top of a substrate, a low refractive index metal fluoride layer on top of the high refractive index layer and layer of SiO2 or F—SiO2 containing 0.2 wt % to 4.5 (2000 ppm to 45,000 ppm) F on top of the low refractive index layer. In one embodiment the F content of F—SiO2 is in the range of 5000 ppm to 10,000 ppm F. The high index and low index materials are each deposited to a thickness of less than or equal to 0.9 quarter wave, and the capping material is deposited to a thickness in the range of 5 nm to 25 nm. The disclosure is also directed to optical elements having the foregoing coating and a method of making the coating.

Abstract: Optical connectors for connecting optical fiber to a light source are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical connector includes a housing with a first end having an open aperture and a second end having a blind aperture. A chamber is disposed in the housing such that the optical axis of the housing passes through the chamber. The chamber includes a first material. A light collecting region formed from a second material is disposed in the housing between the second end of the housing and the chamber. A blind aperture is positioned in the light collecting region such that a termination of the blind aperture is spaced apart from the chamber by at least a portion of the second material. A refracting surface is disposed in the housing between the open aperture and the light collecting region such that the optical axis of the housing passes through the refracting surface.

Abstract: An optical device includes a support structure configured to retain an optical element using a cured adhesive composition that is disposed between a surface of the support structure and a surface of the optical element, wherein a structured optical particulate material is dispersed throughout the cured adhesive. The structured optical particulate material redirects curing radiation via a scattering mechanism to facilitate curing of portions of the adhesive compositions that cannot be directly exposed to the radiation, thereby facilitating rapid and more thorough curing than could otherwise be achieved without the structured optical particulate material.

Abstract: Thickness and group index variations in test strip samples of ultra-low expansion glass are made by extracting the strip samples with front and back faces oriented at an acute skew angle to the axis of the boule. The strip samples are positioned the within an interferometric measurement cavity so that a set of subcavities formed by pairings of each of two reference surfaces together with each of the front and back faces of the strip sample which each subcavity having a different optical path length spacing. The skew angle is sized to avoid diffusion effects of striae present in the boule.

Abstract: An apparatus for directing laser light has an illumination source having one or more lasers that are each energizable to emit laser light. A first faceted array in the path of the emitted laser light from the illumination source has at least a first light-redirecting facet and an adjacent second light-redirecting facet. A second faceted array, spaced apart from the first faceted array by a light propagation distance has at least a first light-collimating facet and a second light-collimating facet, wherein the first and second collimating facets define an output axis and wherein the emitted light that is redirected from the first light-redirecting facet is incident to the first light-collimating facet and directed along the output axis and wherein the emitted light that is redirected from the second light-redirecting facet is incident to the second light-collimating facet and directed along the output axis.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a coating consisting of a binary metal fluoride coating consisting a high refractive index metal fluoride layer on top of a substrate, a low refractive index metal fluoride layer on top of the high refractive index layer and layer of SiO2 or F—SiO2 containing 0.2 wt % to 4.5 (2000 ppm to 45,000 ppm) F on top of the low refractive index layer. In one embodiment the F content of F—SiO2 is in the range of 5000 ppm to 10,000 ppm F. The high index and low index materials are each deposited to a thickness of less than or equal to 0.9 quarter wave, and the capping material is deposited to a thickness in the range of 5 nm to 25 nm. The disclosure is also directed to optical elements having the foregoing coating and a method of making the coating.