Abstract: A tunable laser for providing a laser beam with a selectable wavelength. In one example, the tunable laser includes a gain medium for generating the laser beam; a waveguide for processing the laser beam, the waveguide having liquid crystal material or other electro-optic material disposed therein; an optical path length control element disposed within said waveguide for controlling an effective optical path length of the laser cavity; and a wavelength selective element for controlling the wavelength of the laser beam. The tunable laser may be designed without any moving mechanical parts if desired.

Abstract: A waveguide having an adjustable index of refraction (or an adjustable optical path length, or for providing an adjustable optical phase delay) based in part on thermal effects in the waveguide. In one example, the waveguide may include a core for guiding a light beam through the waveguide; at least one cladding; liquid crystal material disposed within the waveguide; and at least one temperature control element, such as resistive heater, for receiving at least one control signal to control a temperature of at least a portion of the liquid crystal material; wherein the index of refraction (or the optical path length, or the optical phase delay of the light beam) of the waveguide is altered by an amount that is controlled by the control signal.

Abstract: In a polarimeter for analyzing a state of polarization of a light beam incident thereon, the polarimeter including first and second variable retarders configured to exhibit first and second retardance values, respectively, variable over an overall retardance range, and a detector arrangement, a method includes the steps of directing the light beam through the first and second variable retarders and sweeping a selected one of the first and second retardance values progressively and unidirectionally through at least a part of the overall retardance range to produce a plurality of retardance values. The method further includes the steps of, for the plurality of retardance values, detecting at the detector arrangement at least a spatial portion of the beam and extracting the state of polarization based on the spatial portion of the light beam detected at the detector arrangement corresponding to the plurality of retardance values.

Abstract: In a polarimeter for analyzing a state of polarization of a light beam incident thereon, the polarimeter including first and second variable retarders configured to exhibit first and second retardance values, respectively, variable over an overall retardance range, and a detector arrangement, a method includes the steps of directing the light beam through the first and second variable retarders and sweeping a selected one of the first and second retardance values progressively and unidirectionally through at least a part of the overall retardance range to produce a plurality of retardance values. The method further includes the steps of, for the plurality of retardance values, detecting at the detector arrangement at least a spatial portion of the light beam and extracting the state of polarization based on the spatial portion of the light beam detected at the detector arrangement corresponding to the plurality of retardance values.

Abstract: A flight simulator displays control choices on an out-the-window display allows a crew member to control it directly by making selections of displayed choices through a "point and click" control module accessible by the crew member while located in the crew station. The simulator can be controlled by either of two crew members and also by an operator at an instructor operator station outside the crew station.