Abstract: A laser system may include a laser source configured to generate a laser light beam, a beam stabilizer downstream from the laser light source, and an acousto-optic modulator (AOM). The AOM may include an acousto-optic medium configured to receive the laser light beam, and a phased array transducer including a plurality of electrodes coupled to the acousto-optic medium and configured to cause the acousto-optic medium to output a zero order laser light beam and a first order diffracted laser light beam. The system may further include a photodetector configured to receive a sampled laser light beam split from the zero order beam and generate a feedback signal associated therewith, and an RF driver configured to generate an RF drive signal to the phased array transducer electrodes so that noise is diverted to the first order diffracted laser light beam based upon the feedback signal.

Abstract: A geospatial data collection system is for an aerial vehicle and includes a data collection light detection and ranging (LiDAR) device and a protection LiDAR device. The data collection LiDAR device is configured to collect geospatial data as the aerial vehicle moves along a collection path. The protection LiDAR device is configured to sense a geospatial area ahead of the data collection LiDAR device. The data collection LiDAR device is switchable from an operating mode to a protected mode based upon the protection LiDAR device.

Abstract: A system may include a laser source configured to generate a first laser light beam, an atom trap, and a multi-channel acousto-optic modulator (AOM). The multi-channel AOM may include a beamsplitter to split the first laser light beam into a plurality of second laser light beams for the atom trap, a common acousto-optic medium configured to receive the plurality of second laser light beams, and a respective plurality of electrodes coupled to the common acousto-optic medium for each of the second laser light beams. The system may also include a plurality of radio frequency (RF) drivers each configured to generate respective RF drive signals for each of the plurality of electrodes.

Abstract: A laser system may include a laser source configured to generate a first laser light beam, a beam stabilizer downstream from the laser source and configured to stabilize the first laser light beam, and a beamsplitter downstream from the beam stabilizer and configured to split the stabilized first laser light beam into a plurality of second laser light beams. The system may further include a multi-channel acousto-optic modulator (ACM) including a common acousto-optic medium configured to receive the plurality of second laser light beams, and a respective phase array transducer comprising a plurality of electrodes coupled to the common acousto-optic medium for each of the second laser light beams. The system may further include a plurality of radio frequency (RF) drivers each configured to generate respective RF drive signals for the phased array transducer electrodes.

Abstract: A method may include generating a laser light beam, stabilizing the laser light beam using a beam stabilizer, splitting the laser light beam using a first beamsplitter into a first front side laser light beam and a back side laser light beam for a back side of an ion trap, directing the front side laser light beam to a second beamsplitter using an input telescope, and splitting the first front side laser light beam using the second beamsplitter into second front side laser light beams. The method may further include receiving the front side laser light beams at a common acousto-optic medium, generating respective RF drive signals for electrodes coupled to the common acousto-optic medium for each of the second front side laser light beams using RF drivers, and directing the second front side laser light beams to a front side of the ion trap using an output telescope.

Abstract: A laser system may include a laser source configured to generate a laser light beam, a beam stabilizer downstream from the laser light source, and an acousto-optic modulator (AOM). The AOM may include an acousto-optic medium configured to receive the laser light beam, and a phased array transducer including a plurality of electrodes coupled to the acousto-optic medium and configured to cause the acousto-optic medium to output a zero order laser light beam and a first order diffracted laser light beam. The system may further include a photodetector configured to receive a sampled laser light beam split from the zero order beam and generate a feedback signal associated therewith, and an RF driver configured to generate an RF drive signal to the phased array transducer electrodes so that noise is diverted to the first order diffracted laser light beam based upon the feedback signal.

Abstract: A method may include generating a laser light beam with a laser source, splitting the laser light beam into a first front side beam and a back side beam for a back side of an ion trap using a first beamsplitter, directing the front side beam to a second beamsplitter using an input telescope, and splitting the first front side beam into a plurality of second front side beams directed to a common acousto-optic medium using a second beamsplitter. The common acousto-optic medium may have a respective plurality of electrodes coupled to the common acousto-optic medium for each of the second front side beams. The method may further include directing the plurality of second front side beams to a front side of the ion trap using an output telescope, and generating a respective RF drive signal for each of the plurality of electrodes using a plurality of RF drivers.

Abstract: A laser system may include a laser source configured to generate a laser light beam and an acousto-optic modulator (AOM). The AOM may include an acousto-optic medium configured to receive the laser light beam, and a phased array transducer comprising a plurality of electrodes coupled to the acousto-optic medium and configured to cause the acousto-optic medium to output a zero order laser light beam and a first order diffracted laser light beam. The system may further include a beamsplitter downstream from the AOM and configured to split a sampled laser light beam from the zero order laser light beam, a photodetector configured to receive the sampled laser light beam and generate a feedback signal associated therewith, and a radio frequency (RF) driver configured to generate an RF drive signal to the phased array transducer electrodes so that noise is diverted to the first order diffracted laser light beam based upon the feedback signal.

Abstract: A method may include generating a laser light beam with a laser source, splitting the laser light beam into a first front side beam and a back side beam for a back side of an ion trap using a first beamsplitter, directing the front side beam to a second beamsplitter using an input telescope, and splitting the first front side beam into a plurality of second front side beams directed to a common acousto-optic medium using a second beamsplitter. The common acousto-optic medium may have a respective plurality of electrodes coupled to the common acousto-optic medium for each of the second front side beams. The method may further include directing the plurality of second front side beams to a front side of the ion trap using an output telescope, and generating a respective RF drive signal for each of the plurality of electrodes using a plurality of RF drivers.

Abstract: A laser system may include a laser source configured to generate a laser light beam and an acousto-optic modulator (AOM). The AOM may include an acousto-optic medium configured to receive the laser light beam, and a phased array transducer comprising a plurality of electrodes coupled to the acousto-optic medium and configured to cause the acousto-optic medium to output a zero order laser light beam and a first order diffracted laser light beam. The system may further include a beamsplitter downstream from the AOM and configured to split a sampled laser light beam from the zero order laser light beam, a photodetector configured to receive the sampled laser light beam and generate a feedback signal associated therewith, and a radio frequency (RF) driver configured to generate an RF drive signal to the phased array transducer electrodes so that noise is diverted to the first order diffracted laser light beam based upon the feedback signal.

Abstract: A laser system may include a laser source configured to generate a first laser light beam, a beamsplitter configured to split the first laser light beam into a plurality of second laser light beams, and a multi-channel acousto-optic modulator (AOM). The multi-channel AOM may include a common acousto-optic medium configured to receive the plurality of second laser light beams, and a respective phased array transducer comprising a plurality of electrodes coupled to the acousto-optic medium for each of the second laser light beams. The laser system may further include a plurality of radio frequency (RF) drivers configured to generate respective RF drive signals for the phased array transducer electrodes.

Abstract: An optical connector assembly may include a first housing having a first opening therein, a second housing having a second opening therein, a first optical window carried by the first housing within the first opening, a second optical window carried by the second housing within the second opening, at least one Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) carried within the first housing behind the first optical window, and at least one photodetector carried within the second housing behind the second optical window. A first magnetic member may be carried by the first housing, and a second magnetic member may be carried by the second housing and configured to cooperate with the first magnetic member to bias the first and second housings together so that the at least one VCSEL and the at least one photodetector are in optical alignment.

Abstract: An optical connector assembly may include a first housing having a first opening therein, a second housing having a second opening therein, a first optical window carried by the first housing within the first opening, a second optical window carried by the second housing within the second opening, at least one Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) carried within the first housing behind the first optical window, and at least one photodetector carried within the second housing behind the second optical window. A first magnetic member may be carried by the first housing, and a second magnetic member may be carried by the second housing and configured to cooperate with the first magnetic member to bias the first and second housings together so that the at least one VCSEL and the at least one photodetector are in optical alignment.

Abstract: An optical sensing system includes a transmitter configured to transmit a free-space optical signal toward a target, and a receiver configured to receive a reflected free-space optical target signal from the target. The receiver includes a phase sensitive amplifier (PSA), a homodyne detector coupled downstream from the PSA, and a controller configured to adjust a phase of the PSA based upon the homodyne detector.

Abstract: An optical sensing system includes a transmitter configured to transmit a free-space optical signal toward a target, and a receiver configured to receive a reflected free-space optical target signal from the target. The receiver includes a phase sensitive amplifier (PSA), a homodyne detector coupled downstream from the PSA, and a controller configured to adjust a phase of the PSA based upon the homodyne detector.

Abstract: An acousto-optic modulator includes an acousto-optic bulk medium. A transducer is attached to the acousto-optic bulk medium and formed as a linear array of electrodes. A transducer driver is connected to each electrode and comprises a plurality of amplifiers connected to the electrodes such that each electrode is driven by a respective amplifier as a means to provide a low cost alternative to the use of higher power hybrid amplifiers in conventional AO device applications.

Abstract: An acousto-optic modulator includes an acousto-optic bulk medium and transducer attached to the acousto-optic bulk medium and formed as a linear array of electrodes. A transducer driver is connected to each electrode and is coherently phase driven to alter the angular momentum distribution of an acoustic field and alternately allow and inhibit phase matching between the optical and acoustic field and produce a desired intensity modulation of an optical wavefront.

Abstract: An acousto-optic modulator includes an acousto-optic bulk medium and transducer attached to the acousto-optic bulk medium. The transducer includes an electrode circuit and plurality of piezoelectric platelet segments attached to the bulk medium and supporting the electrode circuit. The piezoelectric platelet segments are configured for reducing shear stress and susceptibility to fracture due to temperature extremes.

Abstract: An acousto-optic modulator includes an acousto-optic bulk medium and transducer attached to the acousto-optic bulk medium. The transducer includes an electrode circuit and plurality of piezoelectric platelet segments attached to the bulk medium and supporting the electrode circuit. The piezoelectric platelet segments are configured for reducing shear stress and susceptibility to fracture due to temperature extremes.

Abstract: An acousto-optic modulator includes an acousto-optic bulk medium. A transducer is attached to the acousto-optic bulk medium and formed as a linear array of electrodes. A transducer driver is connected to each electrode and comprises a plurality of amplifiers connected to the electrodes such that each electrode is driven by a respective amplifier as a means to provide a low cost alternative to the use of higher power hybrid amplifiers in conventional AO device applications.