Other

Itt Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.

Exelis Inc.

Thomas Stewart McKechnie

Thomas Herman Chyba

Jeromy Paul Rezac

Howard N LaValley

Noah Scott Higdon

A method of testing figure quality of a convex mirror in which an optical quality substrate material is used. Three separate interferometric null tests are carried out to produce three independent sets of optical path difference (OPD) data. Null lenses, or nulling computer generated holograms (CGHs), are designed and used as needed in each test setup so that spherical aberration is corrected. From the three sets of OPD data, surface figure errors on the rear and front surfaces of the test optic are calculated as well as the OPD error introduced by refractive index inhomogeneity in the substrate material. The rear surface is then corrected, generally using a computer-controlled polishing machine, to reduce rear surface errors to a manageably small level. The front convex surface of the test optic is then corrected to reduce surface figure error to within some specified amount.

Surface figure test method for large convex optical surfaces

A method of testing a convex mirror surface figure in which an optical quality substrate material is used having a convex front surface and a rear surface polished to a precise optical figure to create a lens. The lens is then tested by a standard interferometric or wavefront lens-testing method and the convex surface coated once a desired curvature is obtained. Null testing may be attained by passing a collimated interferometer beam through a focusing lens shaped to counter the predicted spherical aberration introduced by a perfect convex mirror/lens.

Test method for surface figure of large convex mirrors

A Raman spectroscopy sensor integrated with an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) includes a UGV having a robot arm and a camera mounted on the robot arm. A laser and telescope associated with a Raman sensor are mounted on the robot arm in such a way as to point in substantially the same direction in which the camera is pointed. A Raman spectral data acquisition and control module is mounted on the UGV and is configured to receive Raman spectral data from the telescope. A remote base station having a display and a data processing and analysis module is configured to receive data from the data acquisition and control module and to display for an operator images from the camera and information related to the Raman sensor. An autofocus system is preferably employed to automatically control telescope focus and thereby enable the Raman sensor to operate over a wide range, e.g., 0.5 m to 10 m.

Systems and methods for remote unmanned raman spectroscopy

A method of testing a convex mirror surface figure in which an optical quality substrate material is used having a convex front surface and a rear surface polished to a precise optical figure to create a lens. The lens is then tested by a standard interferometric or wavefront lens-testing method and the convex surface coated once a desired curvature is obtained. Null testing may be attained by passing a collimated interferometer beam through a focusing lens shaped to counter the predicted spherical aberration introduced by a perfect convex mirror/lens. A nominal rear surface figure of the mirror/lens may be used if a precisely figured test window is contacted with the rear surface using a refractive index-matching substance with an index of refraction closely matching the index of refraction of the test optic.

Systems and methods for increasing the quantum efficiency of a photocathode used in an intensified an intensified array detector with a photocathode, such as a charge-coupled device (ICCD) are presented. A quantum efficiency enhancement device is disposed in front of an ICCD and is configured to enable or facilitate an increase in the angle of incidence of incoming rays incident on the photocathode. The ICCD itself may be tilted to achieve an increased angle of incidence, and such tilting is preferably only in a direction in which pixel columns of the ICCD extend such that a plane of incidence of incoming light to the ICCD is perpendicular to a direction of wavelength dispersion. The quantum efficiency enhancement device may include re-imaging optics, an optical tilt compensator and optical coupler.

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Albuquerque, NM, United States of America

Thomas Stewart McKechnie