Yale University

US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Nufern

Brandon Redding

Hui Cao

Martin Seifert

Yongle Pan

Peyman Ahmadi

Michael Choma

The present disclosure relates more particularly to active optical fibers, amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) sources using such active optical fibers, and imaging and detection systems and methods using such ASE sources. In one aspect, the disclosure provides an active optical fiber that includes a rare earth-doped gain core configured to emit radiation at at least a peak wavelength emitted wavelength when pumped with pump radiation having a pump wavelength; a pump core surrounding the gain core; and a cladding surrounding the pump core, wherein the value M=16R(NA)/&#x3bb;in which R is the gain core radius, NA is the active optical fiber numerical aperture, and &#x3bb; is the peak emitted wavelength, is at least 50, or at least 100. The present disclosure also provides an optical source that includes the optical fiber coupled to a pump source.

Sources of optical radiation and methods for providing low-speckle optical radiation, and systems and methods using them

Systems and methods are provided for imaging using complex lasers. In general, a complex laser may be used as an electromagnetic source for an imaging application. The use of a lower spatial coherence configured complex laser in imaging applications may advantageously mitigate coherent artifacts in imaging such as cross-talk and speckle and improve overall image quality. Imaging applications where a complex laser may be useful include both incoherent imaging applications, such as digital light projectors and traditional microscopy, and coherent imaging applications, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) and holography. The systems and methods provided also enable controlling the degree of spatial coherence of a complex laser.

Systems and methods for imaging using a random laser

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods for trapping and holding airborne particles. In the various embodiments, an optical trap is provided which uses a focused hollow-beam for trapping and holding both absorbing and non-absorbing airborne particles. The optical trap comprises: a trapping region where a particle can be present to be trapped; a light source for generating a coherent beam of light; optics for forming a hollow beam having a ring geometry from the coherent beam of light; and a focusing element for focusing the hollow beam to a point in the trapping region. In this arrangement, the particle is trapped at or near the focal point of the focused hollow beam.

Optical trap using a focused hollow-beam for trapping and holding both absorbing and non-absorbing airborne particles

Growing community of inventors

New Haven, CT, United States of America

Brandon Redding