Abstract: Optical detectors and methods of forming them are provided. The detector includes: a controller, pump and probe laser generators that generate modulated pump laser and probe lasers, respectively, a microring cavity that receives the lasers, a microbridge, and a photodetector. The microring cavity includes covered and exposed portions. The microbridge is suspended above the exposed portion and interacts with an evanescent optical field. The wavelength and modulated power of the pump laser are controlled to generate the evanescent optical field that excites the microbridge to resonance. The microbridge absorbs optical radiation which changes the resonance frequency proportionately. The probe laser is modulated in proportion to a vibration amplitude of the microbridge to form a modulated probe laser which is provided to the photodetector.

Abstract: Optical detectors and methods of forming them are provided. The detector includes: a controller, pump and probe laser generators that generate modulated pump laser and probe lasers, respectively, a microring cavity that receives the lasers, a microbridge, and a photodetector. The microring cavity includes covered and exposed portions. The microbridge is suspended above the exposed portion and interacts with an evanescent optical field. The wavelength and modulated power of the pump laser are controlled to generate the evanescent optical field that excites the microbridge to resonance. The microbridge absorbs optical radiation which changes the resonance frequency proportionately. The probe laser is modulated in proportion to a vibration amplitude of the microbridge to form a modulated probe laser which is provided to the photodetector.

Abstract: An optical communicating system and method thereof includes first and second terminals. The first terminal has a transmitter for transmitting an interrogating light beam and a receiver for receiving the interrogating light beam. The second terminal has a cats-eye modulating retroreflector (MRR), which includes a modulator for modulating the interrogating light beam received from the transmitter an optical focusing device for focusing the interrogating light beam from the transmitter to the modulator, and a reflector for reflecting the modulated light beam to the receive. It can include a beam deflector positioned at the aperture of the optical focusing device of the catseye MRR to reduce the field of view of the cats-eye MRR, It can also include an angle of arrival sensor for sensing the angle of arrival of the interrogating beam at the second terminal.

Abstract: An original image of a target is provided. The original image is guidedly perturbed into a first plurality of recognizable uniquely perturbed images, each of the first plurality of recognizable uniquely perturbed images being recognizable as representing the target and distinguishable from the original image. The first plurality of recognizable uniquely perturbed images is guidedly perturbed into a second plurality of unrecognizable uniquely perturbed images, each of the second plurality of unrecognizable uniquely perturbed images being unrecognizable as representing the target. A contour is generated between the first plurality of recognizable uniquely perturbed images and the second plurality of unrecognizable uniquely perturbed images.

Abstract: A system and method for encoding an analog input signal for optical transmission, including driving a voltage controlled oscillator with an analog input signal to produce a frequency modulated electrical signal having a frequency proportional to the amplitude of the input signal, and applying the frequency modulated electrical signal to a multiple quantum well modulating retroreflector. The retroreflector receives optical energy from a laser source and modulates the optical energy with the frequency modulated signal to produce an output optical signal.

Abstract: A sensor and a method for sensing a change in mass of a reflective microbeam in a sensor, the sensor having a reflective layer disposed on a substrate and spaced apart from the reflective microbeam. The microbeam receives amplitude modulated laser energy at a first wavelength and is photothermally excited into resonance at the frequency of amplitude modulation, the reflective microbridge and the reflective layer receive optical energy at a second wavelength and reflect the optical energy toward a receiver. A change in reflectivity of the microbeam at different frequencies is determined. A change in reflectivity indicates a change in resonant frequency of the microbeam. Mass of the microbeam changes when a chemoselective material on the microbeam sorbs a target chemical.