Lockheed Martin Corporation

Lockheed Martin Coherent Technologies, Inc.

Joseph Robert Buck, Jr

A system includes an optical source configured to generate an optical signal and illuminate a scene with the optical signal. A first spatial pattern generator comprising pixel elements is configured to form a mask, using the pixel elements, to mask a reflection of the optical signal received from the scene. A pattern controller is coupled to the first spatial pattern generator and configured to control the pixel elements individually to form the mask, and a detector is configured to measure an amplitude of the masked reflection of the optical signal. A digitizer is coupled to the detector and configured to digitize the measured amplitude into an amplitude value. A processor coupled to the pattern controller and the digitizer is configured to instruct the first pattern controller to form a first sequence of masks to sequentially mask reflections of the optical signal using the spatial pattern generator, store the amplitude value corresponding to the measured amplitude of the masked reflection of the optical signal for each mask in the first sequence of masks, and recover an array of signals from the scene based on the stored amplitude values and the first sequence of masks, wherein a number of the stored amplitude values and a number of masks in the first sequence of masks is less than a number of signals of the array of signals.

Receiver encoded active optical compressive sensing

Provided herein are various techniques, protocols, and systems for providing enhanced quantum communications and remote sensing. In one example, a method includes generating a transmission signal by at least projecting qubits encoding payload data onto a physical carrier using at least one multiplexing scheme selected from among a plurality of multiplexing schemes, and transmitting, by the physical carrier, the transmission signal through a communication medium.

Multiplexed quantum communication and remote sensing

An active optical compressive sensing system includes an optical source to generate light for illuminating a target and a pattern generator to generate a pattern. A pattern controller controls an operation of the pattern generator to cause generation of a desired pattern. The pattern is a spatial filtering pattern that enables data compression by generating sparse scattered data. Applying the pattern allows a logarithmic resource scaling.

Active optical compressive sensing

Provided herein are various techniques and equipment for establishing secure non-classical communications between distant nodes. In one example, a method includes introducing, by at least one photon source, source photons into corresponding waveguides configured to convert the source photons into randomly timed pairs of resultant non-classical photons having corresponding polarization states. The method also includes providing first photons of each of the pairs for measurement of the corresponding polarization states and timing, and providing second photons of each of the pairs for combination into a beam for transfer to a distant node and establishment of a cryptographic key, where the second photons from one of the waveguides is presented in an orthogonal polarization before combination.

Enhanced bandwidth for secure optical communications

A system for superadditivity for remote sensing and communication includes coupling optics to direct several input pulses received over a communication channel to an interaction medium. A probe beam entering the interaction medium at an angle performs state preparation and manipulation. A detector reads the output light of the interaction medium. Orthogonality states of symbols represented by the plurality of input pulses are affected by the communication channel, and the interaction medium provides the output light via local entanglement of the plurality of input pulses and the probe beam.

Superadditivity for remote sensing and communication

Information can be transmitted through classical and quantum communication channels in parallel and at rates that enhance secure communication. The quantum communication is scaled to a transmission rate of 10 GHz or more, which matches the rate of classical communication transmission. During transmission of information (e.g., a message) through a classical channel, a quantum channel can transmit quantum key information used to construct a new key (e.g., a new decryption key) from the prior key. As a result, the same key is not reused for decryption and can be discarded after use. Further, a multiplexing system can encode and transmit both classical and quantum communication at the GHz-level transmission rate as a single optical beam, while a demultiplexing can receive and decode the information from the single optical beam.

Systems and methods for scaling quantum key transmission to enhance security

A method of manufacturing a thin film optical apparatus includes providing a substrate and applying an alignment layer over the substrate. The alignment layer ranges from about 50 to 100 nm in thickness. The method includes imprinting a hologram with a desired optic pattern onto the alignment layer and applying at least one layer of mesogen material over the alignment layer.

Thin film optics

A monolithic fiber-lens array includes a number of optical fibers integrated into a fiber block and multiple lens elements integrated into a lens block. The fiber block is coupled to the lens block via a transparent adhesive layer, and the tips of the optical fibers are aligned with respective focal points of the lens elements.

Monolithic fiber-lens array for communication and remote sensing

An optical orbital angular momentum (OAM) encoding system includes an optical source configured to generate a source light, an optical OAM encoder configured to encode the source light based on OAM modes to generate an encoded light, and an optical unit configured to direct the encoded light to a target.

Optical orbital angular momentum for remote sensing and communication

An imaging system includes an imaging platform that has a first aperture and a second aperture that are separated by a separation distance in a predefined direction. The imaging system includes a transmitter device coupled to the first aperture that transmits an optical signal via the first aperture in a first direction perpendicular to the predefined direction. A first receiver of the imaging system receives, via the first aperture, a first reflected signal in the first direction from a target object at a range distance. A second receiver of the imaging system receives, via the second aperture, a second reflected signal in the first direction from the target object. A processor unit of the imaging system determines a phase difference between the first and second reflected signals. The processor unit also determines an estimate of a height of the target object based on the phase difference and the range distance.

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Superior, CO, United States of America

Joseph Robert Buck, Jr