Abstract: A method includes generating a primary beam using light emitted by a light-source. The method includes generating a secondary beam using a portion of the light using a lens of a telescope. The lens includes one or more refraction elements positioned on a first surface of the lens, and the secondary beam is generated by diverting the portion of the light using the one or more refraction elements.

Abstract: A wide angle scanning system includes a plurality of rotationally symmetrical transmissive optical elements each having a non-refracting surface and a refracting surface; and a mechanical beam steering system including micro-mechanical steering elements, each being coupled to a respective one of the plurality of rotationally symmetrical transmissive optical elements for rotating a respective rotationally symmetrical transmissive optical element about a center of rotation that coincides with a center of the non-refracting surface.

Abstract: An anti-reflection nanostructure assembly including an array of nanostructures, wherein each nanostructure of the array includes a proximal end and a distal end, and is tapered from the proximal end to the distal end, and wherein the proximal end of each nanostructure of the array is contiguous with the proximal ends of adjacent nanostructures of the array to form a contiguous layer.

Abstract: A method includes generating a primary beam using light emitted by a light-source. The method includes generating a secondary beam using a portion of the light using a lens of a telescope. The lens includes one or more refraction elements positioned on a first surface of the lens, and the secondary beam is generated by diverting the portion of the light using the one or more refraction elements.

Abstract: An anti-reflection nanostructure assembly including an array of nanostructures, wherein each nanostructure of the array includes a proximal end and a distal end, and is tapered from the proximal end to the distal end, and wherein the proximal end of each nanostructure of the array is contiguous with the proximal ends of adjacent nanostructures of the array to form a contiguous layer.

Abstract: Fiber optic probe scatterometers for spectroscopy measurements are disclosed. An example device includes an optically transparent illumination tube, an opaque tube, an inner surface of the opaque tube being adjacent an outer surface of the illumination tube and the illumination tube being disposed within the opaque tube, and an optical fiber disposed within and spaced a first distance from the illumination tube, wherein the opaque tube is to be coupled to a spectrometer and an illumination source to provide a light signal along the illumination tube and to collect a scattered light signal via the optical fiber for the spectrometer.

Abstract: A device for making spectroscopy measurements with reduced or eliminated surface reflections is provided, the device including an elongated member including an outermost opaque thin walled enclosure; an optically transparent thin-walled enclosure adjacent an inner surface of said outermost thin walled enclosure; one or more optical fibers centrally and axially disposed and spaced apart a distance B with respect to the optically transparent thin-walled enclosure; wherein the elongated member is adapted to be coupled to a spectrometer and an illumination source to provide a light signal from the illumination source along said optically transparent thin-walled enclosure and collect a scattered light signal from the sample by said one or more optical fibers to provide to the spectrometer.

Abstract: Fiber optic probe scatterometers for spectroscopy measurements are disclosed. An example device includes an optically transparent illumination tube, an opaque tube, an inner surface of the opaque tube being adjacent an outer surface of the illumination tube and the illumination tube being disposed within the opaque tube, and an optical fiber disposed within and spaced a first distance from the illumination tube, wherein the opaque tube is to be coupled to a spectrometer and an illumination source to provide a light signal along the illumination tube and to collect a scattered light signal via the optical fiber for the spectrometer.

Abstract: A device for making spectroscopy measurements with reduced or eliminated surface reflections is provided, the device including an elongated member including an outermost opaque thin walled enclosure; an optically transparent thin-walled enclosure adjacent an inner surface of said outermost thin walled enclosure; one or more optical fibers centrally and axially disposed and spaced apart a distance B with respect to the optically transparent thin-walled enclosure; wherein the elongated member is adapted to be coupled to a spectrometer and an illumination source to provide a light signal from the illumination source along said optically transparent thin-walled enclosure and collect a scattered light signal from the sample by said one or more optical fibers to provide to the spectrometer.

Abstract: An adjustable, low-temperature blackbody radiation system includes a blackbody enclosure having an optical port formed therein, and a cold element provided within the blackbody enclosure adjacent the optical port, the cold element configured to emit thermal radiation through the optical port. A dry gas source is in fluid communication with the blackbody enclosure, and is configured to purge the blackbody enclosure with a gas. A temperature control system is coupled to the cold element to maintain the cold element at a predetermined temperature. A light trap feature (e.g., a dark mirror cube corner structure) is incorporated into and/or around the cold element.

Abstract: An adjustable, low-temperature blackbody radiation system includes a blackbody enclosure having an optical port formed therein, and a cold element provided within the blackbody enclosure adjacent the optical port, the cold element configured to emit thermal radiation through the optical port. A dry gas source is in fluid communication with the blackbody enclosure, and is configured to purge the blackbody enclosure with a gas. A temperature control system is coupled to the cold element to maintain the cold element at a predetermined temperature. A light trap feature (e.g., a dark mirror cube corner structure) is incorporated into and/or around the cold element.

Abstract: An antenna system for receiving both RF wave and optical wave radiation via a single antenna aperture that may be moved between stowed and deployed configurations as needed. The system includes a wavefront correction system for correcting optical wavefront distortion errors caused by anomalies in the shape of the antenna aperture itself, as well as optical wavefront distortion errors caused by atmospheric perturbations. The optical components used for optical signal conditioning are supported from the antenna aperture and form a compact, unobtrusive means for separating electromagnetic and optical wave signals received by the antenna aperture.

Abstract: An assembly is provided that may be used in high data rate optical communications, such as free-space communication systems. The assembly may include a main optical receiver element and a lenslet array or other optical element disposed near the focal plane that collects an optical signal and focuses that signal as a series of optical signal portions onto a photodetector array, formed of a series of InGaAs photodiodes, for example. The electrical signals from the photodetectors may be amplified using high bandwidth transimpedance amplifiers connected to a summing amplifier or circuit that produces a summed electrical signal. Alternatively, the electrical signals may be summed initially and then amplified via a transimpedance amplifier. The assembly may be used in remote optical communication systems, including free-space laser communication environments, to convert optical signals up to or above 1 Gbit/s or higher data rates into electrical signals at 1 Gbit/s or higher data rates.

Abstract: A turbidimeter is described for measuring the turbidity of a liquid. The turbidimeter includes (a) a sample cell for the liquid to be tested, (b) an optical source such as a light-emitting diode (LED) for producing a light beam directed at the sample cell; (c) an optical detector, and (d) non-imaging optical concentrator located between the sample cell and the optical detector for concentrating light scattered by the liquid in the sample cell. The optical concentrator is preferably integral with the sample cell holder and it exhibits a sharp field of view which minimizes the effect of stray light in the instrument. The optical detector means produces a signal in response to the amount of scattered light it detects. The signal is converted to a turbidity value which is displayed. The turbidimeter can be battery powered and is small and compact.

Abstract: A split-path point-diffraction interferometer (SPPDI) comprising separate signal and reference beam paths is disclosed. A beamsplitter is used to divide a linearly polarized converging incident signal beam into separate signal and reference beam paths prior to focus. The reference beam path comprises a diffracting aperture located at the focal point of the signal beam. The diffracting aperture in the reference beam path produces an expanding, diffraction-limited reference wavefront. The signal and reference beam paths comprise linear polarizers whose yaw, pitch, and roll orientation may be freely adjusted. Yaw and pitch adjustment of one or more linear polarizers provides for adjustment of fringe spacing and orientation. Roll adjustment of one or more linear polarizers provides for adjustment of fringe contrast and intensity. Beam turning mirrors are used to direct the signal and reference beams to a beam combiner. Polarizing analysers are placed in the combined output beams produced by the beam combiner.

Abstract: A mount for use by optical elements in a laser tooling alignment system. The mount provides a high degree of isolation from external rotational disturbances about any horizontal axis (i.e., pitch and roll) by retaining optical components in a fixed relationship to the local gravity gradient. The mount is a passive gravity referencing two stage, fluid damped pendulum. When a constant deviation optic (e.g. pentaprism beam splitter) is attached to the mount, effective isolation from yaw disturbances is also achieved.