Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for forming a material layer that may make use of an optical light source for generating an optical beam, and a beam shaping subsystem configured to shape the optical beam to generate a complex beam intensity profile. The complex shaped beam may be used to selectively melt at least portions of a bed of powder particles residing on a substrate during formation of the material layer, as the optical light source is moved. A computer may be used to control the optical light source. The complex beam intensity profile enables control over the microstructure of grains formed during melting of the powder particles as the material layer is formed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for forming a material layer that may make use of an optical light source for generating an optical beam, and a beam shaping subsystem configured to shape the optical beam to generate a complex beam intensity profile. The complex shaped beam may be used to selectively melt at least portions of a bed of powder particles residing on a substrate during formation of the material layer, as the optical light source is moved. A computer may be used to control the optical light source. The complex beam intensity profile enables control over the microstructure of grains formed during melting of the powder particles as the material layer is formed.

Abstract: A method and system for calorimetrically measuring the temperature-dependent absorptivity of a homogeneous material dimensioned to be thin and flat with a predetermined uniform thickness and a predetermined porosity. The system includes a material holder adapted to support and thermally isolate the material to be measured, an irradiation source adapted to uniformly irradiate the material with a beam of electromagnetic radiation, and an irradiation source controller adapted to control the irradiation source to uniformly heat the material during a heating period, followed by a cooling period when the material is not irradiated.

Abstract: A method and system for calorimetrically measuring the temperature-dependent absorptivity of a homogeneous material dimensioned to be thin and flat with a predetermined uniform thickness and a predetermined porosity. The system includes a material holder adapted to support and thermally isolate the material to be measured, an irradiation source adapted to uniformly irradiate the material with a beam of electromagnetic radiation, and an irradiation source controller adapted to control the irradiation source to uniformly heat the material during a heating period, followed by a cooling period when the material is not irradiated.

Abstract: Techniques for increasing the spatial and spectral brightness of laser arrays such as laser diode arrays are provided. Passive cavity designs are described that produce wavefront phase locking across the face of large arrays. These designs enable both spatial and spectral selectivity in order to coherently link the individual emitters that make up the diode array. Arrays of customized micro-optics correct aberrations of the individual apertures of the arrays while highly spectrally selective partial reflectors overcome the deleterious effects of inhomogeneities in local thermal environments of the individual emitters that are being phase locked together. Using these two technologies, along with intracavity diffractive beam coupling, solves two long standing problems that have prevented effective and robust phase locking of laser diode arrays.