The invention is related to a method and an inertial navigation system for combining continuous signal output from a first inertial sensor (14) with discontinuous signal output from a second inertial sensor (12). The first inertial sensor (14) acquires continuous data with respect to a navigation frame of reference for a parameter used in inertial navigation and the continuous data is processed to produce estimated values of the parameter. The second inertial sensor (12) acquires discontinuous data with respect to a case frame of reference indicative of the parameter with respect to a case (25) containing the second inertial sensor (12). The discontinuous data is processed to produce measurements of the parameter at selected times, —and the estimated values of the parameter and the measurements of the parameter are processed at selected times with a Kalman filter to provide corrections to the estimated values of the parameter at the selected times.

The present application discloses a control method for fast trapping and high-frequency mutual ejection of cold atom groups. The control method includes: arranging three groups of optical stops on three groups of light sources (splitters) in three-dimensional magneto-optical traps, to form a shaded regions; ejecting a cold atom group from the first three-dimensional magneto-optical trap along a movement trajectory to the second three-dimensional magneto-optical trap, where the movement trajectory passes through the shaded regions of the two three-dimensional magneto-optical traps; and, when it is determined that the cold atom group enters the shaded region of the first three-dimensional magneto-optical trap, trapping a next cold atom group by turning on three-dimensional cooling light and three-dimensional repumping light in the first three-dimensional magneto-optical trap.

Disclosed is a stitching-measurement device adapted for performing stitching-measurement on a surface of a concave spherical lens, including: an interferometer, a reference lens, a first plane mirror, a second plane mirror, a first adjustment mechanism, a second adjustment mechanism, a concave spherical object to be measured, a motion table and a control mechanism, the first plane mirror being mounted on the first adjustment mechanism configured to change a position of the first plane mirror; the second plane mirror being mounted on the second adjustment mechanism configured to change a position of the second plane mirror; the concave spherical object to be measured being placed on the motion table configured to change a position of the concave spherical object to be measured; the control mechanism communicating with the interferometer, the first adjustment mechanism, the second adjustment mechanism, and the motion table for issuing control signals, wherein by the first adjustment mechanism and the second adjustment mechanism, an included angle between the first plane mirror and the second plane mirror is adjusted in such a way that light beam incident on the concave spherical object to be measured is inclined by a first angle relative to light beam emitted from the reference lens, thereby avoiding an operation of inclining the concave spherical object to be measured during the stitching-measurement.

A measurement system includes an optical probe that has a reflective prism structure, an input system, and an output system. The reflective prism structure comprises at least two mirrored surfaces on opposing sides of an axis which extends in a direction towards a target. The input system is positioned to receive and direct source light towards one of the mirrored surfaces which is positioned to reflect the source light towards the target. The output system is positioned to receive and output converging light from reflected light that comprises measurement data related to the target. The reflected light is the source light reflected from the target via the other one of the mirrored surfaces and is without substantial overlap with the source light.

In certain embodiments methods of identifying T cell receptors that respond to specific target cell antigens are provided, where the methods comprise providing a substrate bearing a plurality of target cells (e.g., mammalian cells); contacting the target cells on the substrate with CD8+ T cells; and using label-free optical imaging to identify an increase in mass of a T-cell and/or a decrease in mass of a target cell, where an increase in mass of a T cell and/or a decrease in mass of a target cell is an indicator that said T cell bears a T cell receptor activated by antigens presented on said target cell.

The present disclosure is directed toward low-coherence interferometry imaging systems comprising a common-path interferometer that is at least partially integrated as part of a planar lightwave circuit is disclosed. Imaging systems in accordance with the present disclosure are implemented in integrated optics without the inclusion of highly wavelength-sensitive components. As a result, they exhibit less wavelength dependence than PLC-based interferometers of the prior art. Further, common-path interferometer arrangements in accordance with the present disclosure avoid polarization and wavelength dispersion effects that plague prior-art PLC-based interferometers. Still further, an integrated common-path interferometer is smaller and less complex than other integrated interferometers, which makes it possible to integrate multiple interferometers on a single chip, thereby enabling multi-signal systems, such as plane-wave parallel OCT systems.

A system and method for generating, enhancing, and detecting the amplitude and phase modulation of a laser under a condition of self-mixing is provided. The system may comprise a laser and a detector to extract the characteristic self-mix signal, which is then interpreted using algorithms implemented in hardware or software. In the case of the laser being a Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting laser (VCSEL), the output signal can be detected by monitoring the surface light emission by means of a beam splitter, or in some embodiments as emission from the bottom surface of the laser. In some embodiments, the system may further comprise a wavelength filter such as an etalon in the signal path.

An optical system comprising an optical coherence tomography (OCT) measuring device and a beam deflection unit for laterally deflecting the position or angle of a beam path of the OCT measuring device. There is an optical component in the beam path, said optical component being embodied in such a way that a back-reflection of the optical component has a different configuration in terms of its longitudinal location along the beam path depending on the lateral position of the deflected beam path on the optical component. The optical system comprises an evaluation unit which is embodied in such a way that a value of the lateral position or angle deflection of the beam deflection unit is determinable on the basis of a longitudinal location of the back-reflection at the optical component determined by the OCT measuring device.

There is provided retro-reflective interferometer device for detection and/or measurement of displacements and/or rotations and/or mechanical vibrations, the device includes a transceiver unit including at least one radiation source capable of emitting a radiation beam and at least one radiation receiver; a movable unit movably mounted with respect to said transceiver unit, the movable unit includes one or more movable elements that are susceptible to displacement and/or vibration by an external force; and at least one retro-reflective element capable of reflecting back the radiation beam to form a sequence of radiation patterns; and an analyzing element operationally associated with the radiation receiver for analyzing a displacement change, an intensity change and/or a frequency change in the sequence of radiation patterns. Further provided are systems including the device and methods utilizing the same.

In a method of detecting changes in direction of a collimated coherent light beam, the light beam is split into partial light beams which are superimposed on a camera to form an interference pattern displaying light intensity minima and maxima alternatingly following to one another in a transverse direction oriented transversely to an average propagation direction of the partial beams. The light beam is focused into at least one focus located in front of the camera. Pictures of the interference pattern including a plurality of the light intensity maxima are registered with the camera. An average shift of the plurality of light intensity maxima with regard to the camera in the at least one transverse direction is determined from the pictures. A change in angular orientation of the collimated coherent light beam in the at least one transvers direction is deduced from the average shift.