The University of Alabama

Other

The United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of the

United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of Nasa

Richard L Fork

Andrew Scott Keys

Michael D Tocci

Michael Scalora

Mark J Bloemer

Jonathan P Dowling

Charles M Bowden

Rustin Laycock

Darryl Keith Jones

Rachel J Flynn

Senter B Reinhardt, Jr

Spencer Trent Cole

An object redirection system may generate a high-resolution three-dimensional map of a surface of a target. Based on the map, the system may identify locations on the target's surface and direct energetic pulses toward the target at the locations. The system may continuously update the map of the target and continue emitting pulses at the target with reference to the map in order to achieve a desired velocity of the target within a desired timeframe.

Object redirection using energetic pulses

A system has a plurality of spacecraft in orbit around the earth for collecting energy from the Sun in space, using stimulated emission to configure that energy as well defined states of the optical field and delivering that energy efficiently throughout the region of space surrounding Earth.

Systems and methods for providing energy to support missions in near earth space

A solid state laser medium comprising at least one cooling element, i.e. cooling element, in contact with and alternating in series with at least one gain element. At least one cooling element and at least one gain element are joined at an interface having a center point, wherein the interface is physically modified at the interface such that the heat transfer coefficient at the interface decreases radially from the center point of the interface. The modified interface promotes thermal transfer from the gain element in the axial direction, in such a manner as to reduce thermal distortion affecting optical properties of the laser. Concentric radially disposed barriers to heat flow that hinder heat flow in the radial direction may be added within the gain element to further reduce thermal distortion within the laser medium.

Solid state laser medium and laser medium heat transfer method

An optical phase modulator includes a bandpass multilayer stack, formed by a plurality of dielectric layers, preferably of GaAs and AlAs, and having a transmission function related to the refractive index of the layers of the stack, for receiving an optical input signal to be phase modulated. A phase modulator device produces a nonmechanical change in the refractive index of each layer of the stack by, e.g., the injection of free carrier, to provide shifting of the transmission function so as to produce phase modulation of the optical input signal and to thereby produce a phase modulated output signal.

Phase modulator with terahertz optical bandwidth formed by multi-layered dielectric stack

The present invention provides optical systems and methods that use a plurality of optical reflectors to fold the optical path of an optical beam used in the optical system. By folding the optical path of the optical beam, the optical system and method of the present invention can in one instance minimize the over-all volume and mass of the optical system. Specifically, the present invention provides an optical amplifier that has a plurality of active and passive reflectors. The passive reflectors are oriented to fold the optical beam in a minimized volume and direct the optical beam repeatedly at the active reflectors to amplify the optical beam to a selected power level. The folding aspects of the optical reflectors may also decrease the operating temperature of the optical system. Specifically, the present invention also provides an optical system having active and passive reflectors where the active reflectors are spaced apart from each other such that the optical system may operate at decreased temperature. In this embodiment, the passive reflectors are oriented to direct the optical beam to the spaced-apart active reflectors. Further, the optical systems and methods of the present invention may also create a laser gyroscope having three optical beam paths for sensing rotation in three coordinate directions. This optical system has optical reflectors positioned to fold each of the optical beams into helical propagation paths. The optical paths are spaced closely together, such that the optical beams propagate within the defined volume of the optical system.

Optical system and method for performing a defined function on an optical beam having at least one of a minimized volume or reduced operating temperature

By applying a photonic signal to a microresonator that includes a photonic bandgap delay apparatus having a photonic band edge transmission resonance at the frequency of the photonic signal, the microresonator imparts a predetermined delay to the photonic signal. The photonic bandgap delay apparatus also preferably has a photonic band edge transmission resonance bandwidth which is at least as wide as the bandwidth of the photonic signal such that a uniform delay is imparted over the entire bandwidth of the photonic signal. The microresonator also includes a microresonator cavity, typically defined by a pair of switchable mirrors, within which the photonic bandgap delay apparatus is disposed. By requiring the photonic signal to oscillate within the microresonator cavity so as to pass through the photonic bandgap delay apparatus several times, the microresonator can controllably impart an adjustable delay to the photonic signal.

Microresonator and associated method for producing and controlling

A photonic signal is applied to a photonic bandgap structure having a photonic band edge transmission resonance at the frequency of the photonic signal and having a photonic band edge transmission resonance bandwidth which is at least as wide as the bandwidth of the photonic signal. When a photonic band edge transmission resonance is matched to the photonic signal which is being transmitted, a controllable delay is imparted to the photonic signal without significantly altering the photonic signal itself.

Growing community of inventors

Madison, AL, United States of America

Richard L Fork