Abstract: An optical communication system which is tunable and polarization insensitive is provided herein. The optical communication system may comprise an optical bench coupling an optical transmit pathway and an optical receiving pathway to an external pathway. The optical bench includes a polarization insensitive optical circulator. The system may further include a tunable component positioned along the optical receiving pathway, and a controller coupled to the tunable component.

Abstract: A communication system has a plurality of LEO satellites in a specified orbital plane and a plurality of trunk satellites in a medium earth orbit. Each LEO satellite acquires satellite-specific data and includes inter-satellite links with adjacent LEO satellites. Each trunk satellite includes inter-satellite links adjacent trunk satellites. One of the trunk satellites operates as a relay trunk satellite in position to maintain optical communication with a specified ground station on the Earth. Each LEO satellite has a limited field of regard to establish optical communication with any trunk satellite. A relay LEO satellite is configured to establish optical communication with a corresponding trunk satellite. The plurality of LEO satellites relay aggregated data to the relay LEO satellite. The relay LEO satellite relays the aggregated data to the corresponding trunk satellite. The relay trunk satellite relays the received aggregated data to the corresponding ground station.

Abstract: An optical communication system which is tunable and polarization insensitive is provided herein. The optical communication system may comprise an optical bench coupling an optical transmit pathway and an optical receiving pathway to an external pathway. The optical bench includes a polarization insensitive optical circulator. The system may further include a tunable component positioned along the optical receiving pathway, and a controller coupled to the tunable component.

Abstract: An optical communication system that includes terminals that operate with different, widely separated wavelengths in which a terminal in the system may be configured to function in both a first operational mode and in a second operational mode. For example, a terminal according to the techniques of this disclosure may communicate with full duplex communication by transmitting a first optical wavelength and receiving a second optical wavelength while in the first operational mode. The same terminal may be reconfigured to transmit the second optical wavelength and receive the first optical wavelength while in the second operational mode. In some examples, the terminal may be located in a spacecraft, such as an orbiting satellite or other vehicle, and may communicate with other terminals such as airborne terminals, terminals located at ground station on the Earth's surface, or with terminals located in other spacecraft.

Abstract: A communication system has a plurality of LEO satellites in a specified orbital plane and a plurality of trunk satellites in a medium earth orbit. Each LEO satellite acquires satellite-specific data and includes inter-satellite links with adjacent LEO satellites. Each trunk satellite includes inter-satellite links adjacent trunk satellites. One of the trunk satellites operates as a relay trunk satellite in position to maintain optical communication with a specified ground station on the Earth. Each LEO satellite has a limited field of regard to establish optical communication with any trunk satellite. A relay LEO satellite is configured to establish optical communication with a corresponding trunk satellite. The plurality of LEO satellites relay aggregated data to the relay LEO satellite. The relay LEO satellite relays the aggregated data to the corresponding trunk satellite. The relay trunk satellite relays the received aggregated data to the corresponding ground station.

Abstract: An optical communication system that includes terminals that operate with different, widely separated wavelengths in which a terminal in the system may be configured to function in both a first operational mode and in a second operational mode. For example, a terminal according to the techniques of this disclosure may communicate with full duplex communication by transmitting a first optical wavelength and receiving a second optical wavelength while in the first operational mode. The same terminal may be reconfigured to transmit the second optical wavelength and receive the first optical wavelength while in the second operational mode. In some examples, the terminal may be located in a spacecraft, such as an orbiting satellite or other vehicle, and may communicate with other terminals such as airborne terminals, terminals located at ground station on the Earth's surface, or with terminals located in other spacecraft.

Abstract: An optical system includes a plurality of internal apertures, a plurality of external optical assemblies and a telescope assembly positioned between the plurality of internal apertures and the plurality of external optical assemblies. Each internal aperture is operable to receive a corresponding aperture-specific optical signal. Each external optical assembly corresponds to one of the internal apertures, and each external optical assembly is operable to direct the aperture-specific optical signal of the corresponding internal aperture in a corresponding external direction. The external direction for each external optical assembly is independently controllable and the telescope assembly defines a shared optical train arranged to direct the aperture-specific optical signals between each internal aperture and the corresponding external optical assembly.

Abstract: An optical system includes a plurality of internal apertures, a plurality of external optical assemblies and a telescope assembly positioned between the plurality of internal apertures and the plurality of external optical assemblies. Each internal aperture is operable to receive a corresponding aperture-specific optical signal. Each external optical assembly corresponds to one of the internal apertures, and each external optical assembly is operable to direct the aperture-specific optical signal of the corresponding internal aperture in a corresponding external direction. The external direction for each external optical assembly is independently controllable and the telescope assembly defines a shared optical train arranged to direct the aperture-specific optical signals between each internal aperture and the corresponding external optical assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for optical pointing is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a telescope, a transmission prism rotatably coupled to the telescope, and a rotatable mechanism operatively coupled to the telescope. The transmission prism is configured to rotate around a first rotation axis, and the rotatable mechanism is configured to rotate around a second rotation axis that is different than the first rotation axis.

Abstract: Various embodiments for an optical system are described herein. Generally, the optical system may include an optical transmitter coupled to an optical signal transmission path, an optical receiver coupled to an optical signal reception path, and an external signal path extending between an external optical assembly and both the optical signal transmission path and the optical signal reception path. An optical polarization division multiplexer may be provided to couple the optical signal transmission path and the optical signal reception path to the external signal path. A first non-reciprocal polarization rotator may be also positioned along the external signal path between the optical polarization division multiplexer and the external optical assembly. Further, a quarter wave plate may be positioned along the external signal path between the non-reciprocal polarization rotator and the external optical assembly.

Abstract: Various embodiments for a system and method for a range-enhanced high-speed free-space optical communication are described herein. Generally, the optical communication system may include a first modulator, a second modulator and an average-power limited optical amplifier. The first modulator may receive an input optical signal and generate a modulated optical signal. The second modulator may receive the modulated signal and may be operable to turn-off a select number of pulses in each modulated pulse frame of the modulated signal to generate a low-duty cycle modulated signal. The average-power limited optical amplifier may then generate an amplified modulated signal from the low-duty cycle signal, wherein the amplified modulated signal comprises a plurality of amplified pulse frames with each amplified pulse frame defining an amplified version of a corresponding each low-duty cycle pulse frame.

Abstract: An optical system includes a plurality of internal apertures, a plurality of external optical assemblies and a telescope assembly positioned between the plurality of internal apertures and the plurality of external optical assemblies. Each internal aperture is operable to receive a corresponding aperture-specific optical signal. Each external optical assembly corresponds to one of the internal apertures, and each external optical assembly is operable to direct the aperture-specific optical signal of the corresponding internal aperture in a corresponding external direction. The external direction for each external optical assembly is independently controllable and the telescope assembly defines a shared optical train arranged to direct the aperture-specific optical signals between each internal aperture and the corresponding external optical assembly.

Abstract: An optical system includes a plurality of internal apertures, a plurality of external optical assemblies and a telescope assembly positioned between the plurality of internal apertures and the plurality of external optical assemblies. Each internal aperture is operable to receive a corresponding aperture-specific optical signal. Each external optical assembly corresponds to one of the internal apertures, and each external optical assembly is operable to direct the aperture-specific optical signal of the corresponding internal aperture in a corresponding external direction. The external direction for each external optical assembly is independently controllable and the telescope assembly defines a shared optical train arranged to direct the aperture-specific optical signals between each internal aperture and the corresponding external optical assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for optical pointing is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a telescope, a transmission prism rotatably coupled to the telescope, and a rotatable mechanism operatively coupled to the telescope. The transmission prism is configured to rotate around a first rotation axis, and the rotatable mechanism is configured to rotate around a second rotation axis that is different than the first rotation axis.

Abstract: A portable system for elemental analysis includes one or more neutron emitters, a chamber for containing a test sample, at least one gamma ray detector electrically connected to a data acquisition system, and software or firmware executing on the data acquisition system from a non-transitory physical medium, the software or firmware providing a first function for producing one or more gamma ray spectrums, a second function for applying correction factors to the one or more gamma ray spectrums, and a third function for analyzing the corrected gamma ray spectrum or spectrums to determine a deconvolved elemental composition of the test sample.

Abstract: An adaptive solar concentrator system comprising a controller, a solar energy collector and a solar concentrator with variable concentration ratio is disclosed. The concentration ratio of the variable solar concentrator is varied to maximize the energy collection potential of the solar energy collector in response to fluctuations in incoming solar irradiation to best match the optimum operating conditions of the solar collector and to not exceed the maximum operating conditions of the solar collector for long term reliability.

Abstract: The invention provides a micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) mirror device, comprising: a mirror having a 2-dimensional rotational T-shaped hinge at a first end, and having a flexible connection at a second end opposite the first end. The invention also provides a MEMS mirror device, comprising: a mirror having a 2-dimensional rotational T-shaped hinge at a first end; and a vertical actuator connected to the 2-dimensional T-shaped hinge through a rigid connection. The invention also provides a MEMS mirror device, comprising: a mirror connected to a first end of a rotational actuator through bending springs at a first end, and having a torsional spring at a second end opposite the first end; a movable cantilever connected to the mirror through the torsional spring; and a support structure connected to the first end and a second end of the rotational actuator through torsional springs and connected to the movable cantilever.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an articulated micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) device, which is constructed in such a way as to enable several of the devices to be closely packed together, i.e. high fill factor, for redirecting specific wavelengths of light from a dispersed optical signal to different output ports. The articulated MEMS device includes multiple pivotally connected sections that are pivotable about two perpendicular axes for limiting the amount of dynamic cross-talk as the device is rotated between different positions.

Abstract: An apparatus for shared optical performance monitoring (OPM) is provided. A wavelength sensitive device receives light at an input port and routes it wavelength selectively to a set of output ports. To perform optical performance monitoring on the output ports, a monitoring component of each output signal is extracted, and these monitoring components are then combined. A single OPM function is then performed on the combined signal. However, with knowledge of the wavelengths that were included in each output signal, a virtual OPM function can be realized for each output port. The per port functionality can include total power per port, power per wavelength per port, variable optical attentuation, dynamic gain equalization, the latter two examples requiring feedback.

Abstract: A wavelength cross connect is provided in which there is a dispersive arrangement per port for each input port and each output port. Some of the dispersive arrangements have differing characteristics so as to result in different performances at the ports. The dispersive arrangements can differ in the selection of different dispersive elements or differing coupling optics. A particular implementation features a first set of waveguide dispersive elements having first performance characteristics, and a second set of waveguide dispersive elements having second performance characteristics.