Abstract: A two-layer hybrid solid wedged etalon was fabricated and combined with a traditional imager to make a compact computational spectrometer. The hybrid wedge was made of Nb2O5 and Infrasil 302 and was designed to operate from 0.4-2.4 ?m. Initial demonstrations used a CMOS imager and operated from 0.4-0.9 ?m with spectral resolutions <30 cm?1 from single snapshots. The computational spectrometer operates similarly to a spatial Fourier Transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer with spectral reconstruction using a non-negative least squares fitting algorithm based on analytically computed wavelength response vectors determined from extracted physical thicknesses across the entire two-dimensional wedge. This computational technique resulted in performance and spectral resolutions exceeding those that could be achieved from Fourier techniques. With an additional imaging lenses and translational scanning, the system can be converted into a hyperspectral imager.

Abstract: A two-layer hybrid solid wedged etalon was fabricated and combined with a traditional imager to make a compact computational spectrometer. The hybrid wedge was made of Nb2O5 and Infrasil 302 and was designed to operate from 0.4-2.4 ?m. Initial demonstrations used a CMOS imager and operated from 0.4-0.9 ?m with spectral resolutions<30 cm?1 from single snapshots. The computational spectrometer operates similarly to a spatial Fourier Transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer with spectral reconstruction using a non-negative least squares fitting algorithm based on analytically computed wavelength response vectors determined from extracted physical thicknesses across the entire two-dimensional wedge. This computational technique resulted in performance and spectral resolutions exceeding those that could be achieved from Fourier techniques. With an additional imaging lenses and translational scanning, the system can be converted into a hyperspectral imager.

Abstract: A system includes a build-up cavity to locally increase the power of light beams within the build-up cavity, where the light beams interact with samples to sense a substance of interest. The build-up cavity is disposed within a main cavity that includes a gain material to amplify the light beams. A portion of the light beams oscillating in the build-up cavity propagators through the build-up cavity and functions as a feedback to control the linewidth of the light beams. The two cavities can function as two separate “filters” and light beams at wavelengths that propagate through both of these “filters” can be preferentially amplified. The combination of the build-up cavity and the main cavity can achieve high power and narrow linewidth for the light beams without complex electronics, thereby decreasing the size, weight, and power (SWaP) of the system.

Abstract: A system includes a build-up cavity to locally increase the power of light beams within the build-up cavity, where the light beams interact with samples to sense a substance of interest. The build-up cavity is disposed within a main cavity that includes a gain material to amplify the light beams. A portion of the light beams oscillating in the build-up cavity propagators through the build-up cavity and functions as a feedback to control the linewidth of the light beams. The two cavities can function as two separate “filters” and light beams at wavelengths that propagate through both of these “filters” can be preferentially amplified. The combination of the build-up cavity and the main cavity can achieve high power and narrow linewidth for the light beams without complex electronics, thereby decreasing the size, weight, and power (SWaP) of the system.