Methods, devices and systems provide improved detection, sensing and identification of objects using modulated polarized beams. An example polarization sensitive device includes an illumination source, and a modulator coupled to the illumination source to produce output beams in which polarization states or polarization parameters of the output beams are modulated to produce a plurality of modulated polarized beams. The device further includes a polarization sensitive detector positioned to receive a reflected portion of modulated polarized beams after reflection from an object and to produce information that is indicative of modulation and polarization states of the received beams. The information can be used to enable a determination of a distance between the polarization sensitive device and the object, or a determination of a polarization-specific characteristic of the object.

The present invention is directed to an electro-optical sensor for high intensity electric field measurement. The electro-optical sensor was used to measure a strong 118 MV/m narrow pulse width (˜33 ns) electric field in the magnetically insulated transmission line (MITL) of a pulsed power accelerator. Accurately measuring these high fields using conventional pulsed power diagnostics is difficult due to the strength of interfering particles and fields. The electro-optical sensor uses a free space laser beam with a dielectric crystal sensor that is highly immune to electromagnetic interference and does not require an external calibration.

A beam positioner can be broadly characterized as including a first acousto-optic (AO) deflector (AOD) operative to diffract an incident beam of linearly polarized laser light, wherein the first AOD has a first diffraction axis and wherein the first AOD is oriented such that the first diffraction axis has a predetermined spatial relationship with the plane of polarization of the linearly polarized laser light. The beam positioner can include at least one phase-shifting reflector arranged within a beam path along which light is propagatable from the first AOD. The at least one phase-shifting reflector can be configured and oriented to rotate the plane of polarization of light diffracted by the first AOD.

According to one embodiment, a display device includes a display panel configured to modulate a first polarization component, a first viewing angle control panel including a first liquid crystal layer containing twisted liquid crystal molecules, a second viewing angle control panel including a second liquid crystal layer containing twisted liquid crystal molecules, and a polarization axis rotation element provided between the first viewing angle control panel and the display panel. A second polarization axis of a second polarization component which passed through the first viewing angle control panel is different from a first polarization axis of the first polarization component. The polarization axis rotation element is configured to rotate the second polarization axis.

A generator device for generating an arbitrary optical pulse pattern includes: a light source to provide primary laser pulses, a distributor to provide a plurality of primary optical pulses by distributing light of the primary laser pulses (LB00.sub.k) into a plurality of branches, a combiner to form an output signal by combining modulated optical signals from the branches, and a controller unit to provide control signals for controlling optical modulators of the branches, wherein a first branch comprises a first optical modulator to form a first modulated optical signal from primary optical pulses of the first branch, wherein a second branch comprises a second optical modulator to form a second modulated optical signal from primary optical pulses of the second branch, and wherein a propagation delay of the second branch is different from a propagation delay of the first branch.

An optical system is provided that includes a correction portion including one or more spatially varying polarizers. A first spatially varying polarizer of the one or more spatially varying polarizers has a first control input configured to receive a first control signal indicating whether the first spatially varying polarizer is to be active or inactive. When active, the first spatially varying polarizer is operative to provide a first optical correction on light passing through the correction portion. The optical system includes a controller configured to determine whether to implement the first optical correction on the light passing through the correction portion and in response to determining to implement the first optical correction on the light passing through the correction portion, output the first control signal indicating the first spatially varying polarizer is to be active. Additional spatially varying polarizers may be controlled to provide additional or alternative optical corrections.

An optical lens assembly to accept various illumination ellipticity profiles as angle of incidence (AOI) varies is provided. The optical lens assembly may include an optical stack, such as pancake optics. The optical lens assembly may also include a switchable optical element communicatively coupled to a controller. The optical lens assembly may further include an optical element, such as a Pancharatnam-Berry phase (PBP) lens, also known as a geometric phase lens (GPL). In some examples, the switchable optical element may be a switchable have wave plate, which may be configured, via application of optical power by the controller, so that the optical lens assembly may accept varying illumination ellipticity profiles as angle of incidence (AOI) increases.

Systems and methods for tracking the position of a head-mounted display (HMD) system component. The HMD component may carry a plurality of angle sensitive detectors that are able to detect the angle of light emitted from a light source. The HMD component may include one or more scatter detectors that detect whether light has been scattered or reflected, so such light can be ignored. Control circuitry causes light sources to emit light according a specified pattern, and receives sensor data from the plurality of angle sensitive detectors. The processor may process the sensor data and scatter detector data, for example using machine learning or other techniques, to track a position of the HMD component. An angle sensitive detector may include a spatially-varying polarizer having a position-varying polarizing pattern and one or more polarizer layers that together are operative to detect the angle of impinging light.

A fiber optics polarization controller comprises: an optical fiber and multiple polarization stages. A first stage comprises: a motor having a hollow shaft spanning from a proximal end to a distal end along a rotational axis; and a fiber paddle affixed to and adapted to rotate with the hollow shaft. The fiber paddle has a ring-shaped body with two openings arranged opposite to each other around the ring-shaped body. A first opening of the fiber paddle is connected to the distal end of the hallow shaft substantially collinear with the rotational axis of the motor. The optical fiber is arranged spanning through the hollow shaft, entering the fiber paddle through the first opening, following around the ring-shaped body to form a fiber loop, and exiting the ring-shaped body through the second opening. A second stage is arranged in series with the first stage.

A high-power electro-optic modulator (EOM) is formed to use specialized electrodes of a material selected to have a CTE that matches the CTE of the modulator's crystal. Providing CTE matching reduces the presence of stress-induced birefringence, which is known to cause unwanted modulation of the propagating optical signal. The specialized electrodes are preferably formed of a CuW metal matrix composite having a W/Cu ratio selected to create the matching CTE value. Advantageously, the CuW-based electrodes also exhibit a thermal conductivity about an order of magnitude greater than conventional electrode material (brass, Kovar) and thus provide additional thermal stability to the EOM's performance.