Abstract: A system for directing electromagnetic energy. The inventive system includes a first subsystem mounted on a first platform for transmitting a beam of the electromagnetic energy through a medium and a second subsystem mounted on a second platform for redirecting the beam. In accordance with the invention, the second platform is mobile relative to the first platform. In the illustrative embodiment, the beam is a high-energy laser beam. The first subsystem includes a phase conjugate mirror in optical alignment with a laser amplifier. The first subsystem further includes a beam director in optical alignment with the amplifier and a platform track sensor coupled thereto. In the illustrative embodiment, the second subsystem includes a co-aligned master oscillator, outcoupler, and target track sensor which are fixedly mounted to a stabilized platform, a beam director, and a platform track sensor. In the best mode, the stable platform is mounted for independent articulation relative to the beam director.

Abstract: A beam control system and method. In an illustrative embodiment, the inventive system (500) provides a first beam of electromagnetic energy (503); samples the first beam (503) and provides a second beam (505) in response thereto; detects aberrations in the second beam (505); and corrects aberrations in the first beam (503) in response to the detected aberrations. In a specific implementation, the invention (500) includes a beam director telescope (510) having a primary mirror (516) on which a holographic optical element (518) is disposed. The holographic optical element (518) samples the output high-power beam and provides a sampled beam to a wavefront sensor (520). The wavefront sensor (520) provides signals to an adaptive optics processor (580). The adaptive optics processor (580) analyzes the sampled wavefront, detects aberrations therein and provides a correction signal to an optical phased array (550).

Abstract: A beam control system and method which utilizes the wavefront reversal property of nonlinear optical phase conjugation to permit incorporation of a liquid crystal OPA within the low power legs of the beam control system, thereby affording the advantages of the OPA without the power limitations thereof. The invention is adapted for use with a beacon for illuminating a target with a first beam of electromagnetic energy. The system includes a telescope (1010) for receiving a target return comprising a reflection of the first beam from the target. An optical phased array (1050) is included for correcting for aberrations in the wavefront of the target return. A mechanism is included for ascertaining the correction applied by the optical phased array to the target return. The mechanism applies the correction to a third beam which ultimately is the output beam.

Abstract: An efficient multi-emitter boresight reference source (12). The efficient reference source (12) includes a first mechanism (182) for transmitting a first portion of electromagnetic energy (184) within a first waveband. A second mechanism (186) transmits a second portion of electromagnetic energy (188) within a second waveband different than the first waveband. A third mechanism (148) for combining the first portion of electromagnetic energy and the second portion of electromagnetic energy to yield a uniform reference beam (28).

Abstract: A self-adjusting interferometric outcoupler. In the most general sense, the invention is an optical system (100) comprising a first mechanism (112) for generating a first beam, a second mechanism (122) for receiving the first beam and returning a second beam, and an interferometer (116) positioned to couple the first beam to the second mechanism (122) and to receive and output the second beam, wherein the interferometer (116) is also shared by the first mechanism (112) and/or the second mechanism (122) to control the frequency of the first beam and/or the second beam, respectively. In the illustrative embodiment, the first mechanism (112) is a master oscillator, the second mechanism (122) is a phase conjugate mirror, and the system (100) further includes a power amplifier (118) positioned to amplify the first beam during a first pass and to amplify the second beam during a second pass.

Abstract: A system for directing electromagnetic energy. The inventive system includes a first subsystem mounted on a first platform for transmitting a beam of the electromagnetic energy through a medium and a second subsystem mounted on a second platform for redirecting the beam. In accordance with the invention, the second platform is mobile relative to the first platform. In the illustrative embodiment, the beam is a high-energy laser beam. The first subsystem includes a phase conjugate mirror in optical alignment with a laser amplifier. The first subsystem further includes a beam director in optical alignment with the amplifier and a platform track sensor coupled thereto. In the illustrative embodiment, the second subsystem includes a co-aligned master oscillator, outcoupler, and target track sensor which are fixedly mounted to a stabilized platform, a beam director, and a platform track sensor. In the best mode, the stable platform is mounted for independent articulation relative to the beam director.

Abstract: An optical system has a light source of an optical beam, and a wavefront distortion generator that introduces a known wavefront distortion into at least one wavelength component of the optical beam prior to the formation of an intermediate image. A focusing device receives the optical beam, produces the intermediate image of the optical beam, and outputs the optical beam. A wavefront distortion corrector, after the formation of the intermediate image, introduces a wavefront distortion correction into each component of the optical beam into which the known wavefront distortion was introduced by the wavefront distortion generator. The wavefront distortion correction is the reverse of the known wavefront distortion introduced into the optical beam by the wavefront distortion generator.

Abstract: A solid state, laser light control device (20, 30) and material (10), and methods of producing same. The device (20, 30) and material (10) consist essentially of a host material (14) which contains: a dopant species (16) at a first valence state (a), the concentration of which increases with distance from the surface (18); and the same dopant species (16) at a second valence state (b), the concentration which decreases with distance from the surface (18). The method comprises the steps of: obtaining a doped solid state material (14); exposing the solid state material (14) to elevated temperature, for a period of time, in an oxidizing or reducing atmosphere. The elevated temperature and time of exposure are selected to change the valence state (a) of the dopant (16) in direct proportion to distance from the surface (18) of the solid state material (16).

Abstract: A laser cooling apparatus and method. Generally, the inventive apparatus includes a mechanism for transporting sensible thermal energy from a solid state laser and for communicating waste fluorescent radiation therefrom as well. In the illustrative embodiment, the apparatus includes an optically transparent manifold with an inlet port, an exhaust port and a plurality of spray nozzles therebetween adapted to direct a cooling fluid on the laser medium of a laser. In addition, the optically transparent manifold is used to permit waste fluorescent radiation to escape the confines of the laser and cooling system means such that said fluorescent radiation may be optically directed to an external heat sink such as free space.

Abstract: A laser cooling apparatus and method. Generally, the inventive apparatus includes a mechanism for transporting sensible thermal energy from a solid state laser and for communicating waste fluorescent radiation therefrom as well. In the illustrative embodiment, the apparatus includes an optically transparent manifold (10) with an inlet port (12), an exhaust port (19) and a plurality of spray nozzles (16) therebetween adapted to direct a cooling fluid on the laser medium (20) of a laser (30). In addition, the optically transparent manifold (10) is used to permit waste fluorescent radiation to escape the confines of the laser and cooling system means such that said fluorescent radiation may be optically directed to an external heat sink such as free space.

Abstract: A system (200) for effecting low-order aberration correction of a beam of electromagnetic energy. The inventive system (200) includes a first mechanism (220), including at least one articulated optical element (222), for receiving and correcting the beam; a second mechanism (270) for generating a signal indicative of the aberrations to be corrected; and a third mechanism (226), responsive to the second mechanism (270), for adjusting the position of the optical element (222) to generate an output beam that is at least partially compensated with respect to the aberrations. In the preferred embodiment, the first mechanism (220) is a telescope comprising a fixed primary lens or mirror (224) and an articulated secondary lens or mirror (222). The second mechanism (270) includes a wavefront error sensor for detecting aberrations in the received beam.

Abstract: An efficient multi-emitter boresight reference source (12). The efficient reference source (12) includes a first mechanism (182) for transmitting a first portion of electromagnetic energy (184) within a first waveband. A second mechanism (186) transmits a second portion of electromagnetic energy (188) within a second waveband different than the first waveband. A third mechanism (148) for combining the first portion of electromagnetic energy and the second portion of electromagnetic energy to yield a uniform reference beam (28).

Abstract: A concentrator including a volume of at least partially transmissive material and a plurality of facets disposed at at least one surface thereof. Each of the facets is disposed at a position dependent angle relative to the surface effective to cause an internal reflection of energy applied to the layer whereby the density of the applied energy varies as a function of position. In the illustrative implementation, the volume is an active medium, i.e., a slab. The slab has substantially parallel, planar upper and lower surfaces and first and second edges therebetween. A plurality of cladding layers are disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the slab. The facets are provided in the cladding layers on the upper and lower surfaces of the slab and angled as a function of distance relative to the first or the second edge. The facets provide a Fresnel reflecting surface or a binary optic surface.

Abstract: A beam control system and method which utilizes the wavefront reversal property of nonlinear optical phase conjugation to permit incorporation of a liquid crystal OPA within the low power legs of the beam control system, thereby affording the advantages of the OPA without the power limitations thereof. The invention is adapted for use with a beacon for illuminating a target with a first beam of electromagnetic energy. The system includes a telescope (1010) for receiving a target return comprising a reflection of the first beam from the target. An optical phased array (1050) is included for correcting for aberrations in the wavefront of the target return. A mechanism is included for ascertaining the correction applied by the optical phased array to the target return. The mechanism applies the correction to a third beam which ultimately is the output beam.

Abstract: A beam control system and method. In an illustrative embodiment, the inventive system (500) provides a first beam of electromagnetic energy (503); samples the first beam (503) and provides a second beam (505) in response thereto; detects aberrations in the second beam (505); and corrects aberrations in the first beam (503) in response to the detected aberrations. In a specific implementation, the invention (500) includes a beam director telescope (510) having a primary mirror (516) on which a holographic optical element (518) is disposed. The holographic optical element (518) samples the output high-power beam and provides a sampled beam to a wavefront sensor (520). The wavefront sensor (520) provides signals to an adaptive optics processor (580). The adaptive optics processor (580) analyzes the sampled wavefront, detects aberrations therein and provides a correction signal to an optical phased array (550).

Abstract: A concentrator including a volume of at least partially transmissive material and a plurality of facets disposed at at least one surface thereof. Each of the facets is disposed at a position dependent angle relative to the surface effective to cause an internal reflection of energy applied to the layer whereby the density of the applied energy varies as a function of position. In the illustrative implementation, the volume is an active medium, i.e., a slab. The slab has substantially parallel, planar upper and lower surfaces and first and second edges therebetween. A plurality of cladding layers are disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the slab. The facets are provided in the cladding layers on the upper and lower surfaces of the slab and angled as a function of distance relative to the first or the second edge. The facets provide a Fresnel reflecting surface or a binary optic surface.

Abstract: An optical system has a light source of an optical beam, and a wavefront distortion generator that introduces a known wavefront distortion into at least one wavelength component of the optical beam prior to the formation of an intermediate image. A focusing device receives the optical beam, produces the intermediate image of the optical beam, and outputs the optical beam. A wavefront distortion corrector, after the formation of the intermediate image, introduces a wavefront distortion correction into each component of the optical beam into which the known wavefront distortion was introduced by the wavefront distortion generator. The wavefront distortion correction is the reverse of the known wavefront distortion introduced into the optical beam by the wavefront distortion generator.

Abstract: A face-cooling scheme is used with multiple nonlinear crystal formats used primarily for second harmonic generation without the need for air-path rephasing between the crystals. Birefringent crystals, e.g., MgF2, are cut and oriented such that there is no dispersion between the fundamental and second harmonic wavelengths within each crystal. The crystals are then disposed in a heat-conducting housing sandwiched by two or more nonlinear crystals and used as the face-cooling medium, thereby causing the heat generated in the nonlinear crystals by absorption at the fundamental and second harmonic wavelengths to flow longitudinally (direction of beam propagation) into the face-cooling medium. This minimizes any transverse thermal gradient in the nonlinear crystals and the attendant dephasing loss. The crystals can be dry stacked with a very small gas-filled gap, immersed in a liquid or gel, bonded with optical cement, optically contacted, or diffusion-bonded together to form a composite crystal.

Abstract: A laser pump cavity apparatus with integral concentrator provides uniform gain and high absorption efficiency. The apparatus has a doped solid-state laser medium, a concentrator which has a top cladding layer formed on the top surface of the doped laser medium having a cylindrical focusing surface, a bottom cladding layer formed on the bottom surface of the doped laser crystal having a cylindrical focusing surface, and edge cladding layers formed on the side surfaces of the doped laser medium. Cold plates, each of which also preferably has one cylindrical surface of substantially identical shape, are placed in thermal contact with the cylindrical focusing surfaces of the top and bottom cladding layers to absorb heat. The cylindrical focusing surfaces preferably have hyperbolic or quasi-hyperbolic shape. The laser pump cavity apparatus is preferably edge-pumped with several laser diode arrays focused toward the line foci of the cylindrical focusing surfaces in directions transverse to a laser beam axis.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improving the thermal performance of a slab laser pump cavity is provided. Absorbing regions placed on either side of an active lasing region through which the active region is pumped provides uniform heat dissipation across the width of the slab thereby providing one-dimensional heat flow perpendicular to the broad surfaces of the lasing medium and maintaining uniform lensing and birefringence. Foreshortened cold plates in thermal communication with the active lasing region also provide improved thermal performance by providing uniform one-dimensional heat flow perpendicular to the broad surfaces of the lasing slab. In addition, a compliant thermal interface of variable thickness is provided to also improve the distribution of heat flow. Further, cooling channels located within the cold plates are located to achieve uniform one-dimensional heat flow.