Hrl Laboratories, LLC

The Boeing Company

Monica Minden

Hans W Bruesselbach

Daniel Yap

David M Pepper

Shuoqin Wang

Cris Jones

Oleg M Efimov

Jeffrey L Rogers

Gilmore Joseph Dunning

Dmitry S Starodubov

Metin S Mangir

Dave Hammon

Eric Mies

Anthony Paul Carra, Jr

The invention is a Demodulator for an Optical Analog Pulse Position Modulated signal suitable for inclusion in receivers for Free Space Optical communication systems. In one embodiment the Demodulator may use the pulse position modulated optical information signal and the clock signal with different wavelengths. By proper biasing of a Semiconductor Optical Amplifier and selection of wavelengths for the information signal and the clock signal, the performance of the Demodulator is made insensitive to noise in the received signals.

Optical injection-locked laser

Optical analog PPM demodulator

A coherent laser receiver for receiving encoded light which may have propagated over an aberrated path, situated between a source of the encoded light and the coherent receiver. The coherent laser receiver comprises a bundle of optical fibers arranged in an array to receive light, as encoded from a distant optical transmitter or reflective surface, the encoded light from the distant optical transmitter or reflective surface is received by at least a majority of the fibers in the array. A plurality of light amplifiers is provided for amplifying the received encoded light. A control apparatus coherently combines a composite output of the bundle of optical fibers, the control apparatus includes at least one detector for detecting the a portion of the received encoded light, an output of the at least one detector being utilized to control the plurality of light amplifiers so that differential phases among individual fibers associated with said at least one detector in the bundle are minimized by said light amplifiers. A coherent detector is responsive to the composite output of the bundle for providing an output signal representative of the encoded information from the source.

Phase control of a fiber optic bundle

In one of the embodiments, a dark channel array is provided which includes gain channels, each configured to emit an output beam from an output surface and to have a light wave propagating therethrough. It further includes a dark channel configured to emit an output beam from the output surface of the dark channel array and to have a light wave propagating in the dark channel, such that output beams from the plurality of gain channels are coherently coupled in phase with each other. The dark channel array is configured such that the dark channel captures a portion of the output beam from at least two of the plurality of gain channels by radiant coupling.

Dark channel array with scattering centers

An optical pulse position modulator includes a substrate with parallel first and second sides, the substrate including a first waveguide channel and a parallel second waveguide channel orthogonal to the first and second sides, a linear chirped grating orthogonal to and upon the first and second waveguide channels, and at least a first electrode along the first waveguide channel to apply a voltage modulation thereto. A first optical circulator has a first port coupled to a pulsed optical carrier signal, and a second port coupled to the first waveguide channel on the first side of the substrate, and a second optical circulator has a fourth port coupled to the third port of the first optical circulator, and a fifth port coupled to the second waveguide channel on the second side of the substrate. An output of the second waveguide channel is a position modulated optical pulse signal.

Optical pulse position modulator with chirp compensation

Systems and methods for pre-correcting accumulated optical nonlinear phase error in a shaped optical pulse derived from a continuous wave laser signal are provided. A continuous wave laser signal is received. A pulse signal is received. A shaped optical pulse is generated from the continuous wave laser signal upon being driven by the pulse signal. A pulse intensity level to be applied to the phase of the shaped optical pulse is received. A phase correcting signal is generated based on the pulse intensity level. Application of the phase correcting signal to the shaped optical pulse is time-synchronized and the phase correcting signal is applied to the shaped optical pulse to generate a pre-corrected shaped optical pulse.

Optical pulse generator for high power fiber amplifiers

An optical coupler is provided for a passive coherent combination of fiber lasers/amplifiers. A plurality of optical fibers are arranged in a close-packed hexagonal array having 1+3n(n+1) fibers with (3/2)(n&#x2212;n)+3 interferometrically dark fibers and (3/2)(n+3n)&#x2212;2 light fibers, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 1. Each optical fiber has a first end and a second end. The plurality of optical fibers are fused together along a section of each optical fiber proximate the first end of each optical fiber to form a fused section having a fiber axis. The fused section of the plurality of optical fibers is tapered to form a tapered region. A facet is at an end of the fused section. The facet is disposed in a direction perpendicular to the fiber axis. The coherent pattern is highly stable against perturbation.

All-fiber laser coupler with high stability

A laser apparatus having multiple laser devices coupled together. The laser devices comprise optical fibers with laser active regions. Each of the fibers has a reflector disposed at one end and is connected to a combiner on the other end. A laser pump device for each fiber provides pump energy to the laser active regions. Light propagating in the fibers interacts so as to form inphase states. The array of fibers may be coupled either in pairs or altogether between the reflector and the laser active region.

Method and apparatus for coherently combining multiple laser oscillators

In one embodiment, a dark channel array is provided which includes gain channels, each gain channel being configured to emit an output beam, and which includes a dark channel configured to cause output beams from the gain channels to be coherently couple in phase with each other.

Dark channel array

A fiber optic apparatus formed by fusing together multiple optical fibers and stretching the fused optical fibers to form a tapered portion. The tapered portion is cleaved or cut and polished to form a facet at which an optical beam is received or transmitted.

Method and apparatus for combining laser light

A laser apparatus having multiple laser devices coupled together. The laser devices include optical fibers with laser active regions. Each of the fibers has a reflector disposed at one end and is connected to a combiner on the other end. A laser pump device for each fiber provides pump energy to the laser active regions. Light propagating in the fibers interacts so as to form inphase states. The array of fibers may be coupled either in pairs or altogether between the reflector and the laser active region.

A multiple-fiber, stretched, fused and cleaved coupler designed to act as an output window to a fiber laser array or fiber-coupled laser array, in which the stretch, length and/or position of the fibers is chosen facilitate the in-phase oscillation of the lasers in the array. The in-phase oscillation of the lasers is facilitated by making one or more of the fibers interferometrically dark. The other fibers, the interferometrically lit ones, are made to have fairly uniform intensity under the same collimated illumination.

Dark fiber laser array coupler

A method and apparatus for compensating for phase fluctuations incurred by an optical beam travelling through free space, especially a turbulent atmosphere. A transmitting station transmits a plurality of uniquely tagged optical beams through free space. The plurality of uniquely tagged optical beams are received at a receiving station, where a parameter of each uniquely tagged optical beam is quantified. Information associated with the quantified parameter for each uniquely tagged optical beam is then sent back to the transmitting station via a wireless feedback link. Using the information, the transmitting station adjusts at least one uniquely tagged optical beam to compensate for phase fluctuations.

Adaptive optical system compensating for phase fluctuations

A multiple-fiber, stretched, fused and cleaved coupler designed to act as an output window to a fiber laser array or fiber-coupled laser array, in which the stretch, length and/or position of the fibers is chosen facilitate the in-phase oscillation of the lasers in the array. The in-phase oscillation of the lasers is facilitated by making one or more of the fibers interferometrically dark and having a different propagation constant than the other fibers. The other fibers, the interferometrically lit ones, are made to have fairly uniform intensity under the same collimated illumination.

A phase-conjugate mirror has a length of hollow core photonic crystal multi-spatial mode, polarization-maintaining fiber disposed in a vessel, with a compressible and preferably gaseous medium, such as Xe or CH4, occupying the hollow core of the of hollow core photonic crystal fiber and surrounding the exterior of the hollow core photonic crystal fiber. At least one sealed window is provided in the vessel, the at least one sealed window being optically coupled to at least one end of the length of hollow core photonic crystal fiber.

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Calabasas, CA, United States of America

Monica Minden