A single photon detector (SPD) includes a resonator to store probe photons at a probe wavelength and an absorber disposed in the resonator to absorb a signal photon at a signal wavelength. The absorber is also substantially transparent to the probe photons. In the absence of the signal photon, the resonator is on resonance with the probe photons, thereby confining the probe photons within the resonator. Absorption of the signal photon by the absorber disturbs the resonant condition of the resonator, causing the resonator to release multiple probe photons. A photodetector (PD) then detects these multiple probe photons to determine the presence of the signal photon.

In a LIDAR device (100) a laser light source (110) generates first laser light having a first laser frequency which is frequency modulated with a first frequency modulation. A non-linear optical element (120) receives the first laser light and generates therefrom second laser light having a comb-like frequency spectrum with a plurality of second laser frequencies which are each frequency modulated with a second frequency modulation defined by the first frequency modulation. A frequency excursion of the second frequency modulation is smaller than a spacing of the second laser frequencies. A diffractive element (140) spatially separates the second laser light according to the second laser frequencies and directs the spatially separated second laser light towards a ranging region (200), with each of the second laser frequencies being directed towards a corresponding spatially distinct target position in the ranging region (200). A detector (150) receives reflections of the second laser light from the ranging region (200) and measures, by simultaneously detecting a frequency modulation of the reflections for each of the second laser frequencies, a distance and/or a velocity at the target position corresponding to the second laser frequency.

The present disclosure is directed to an optically active medium comprising dye aggregates and optionally a nucleotide oligomer or other nucleotide-based architecture, which may be used in in optical devices, in particular nonreciprocal devices (i.e., devices in which energy flows in one direction only), that can respond to differences in the polarization of light. An analysis is presented of the energy levels and the strengths of the optical transitions (changes in energy states) for a three-chromophore (dye) aggregate in which the chromophores are coupled with a J-like (i.e., end-to-end) stacking. Specific devices and methods of use are also disclosed herein.

This invention relates to a device for rapid focus control of one or more lasers. The controlled beam (5), is refracted by the dynamic refraction device (1) whose refractive index is set by its response to the control beam (3). The invention can be used for rapid focus and re-focus of a laser on a target as might be useful in such industries as flat panel television manufacturing, fuel injector nozzle manufacture, laser material processing/machining, laser scanning and indirect drive inertial confinement fusion.

A method for providing a jitter signal for modulating a switching frequency of a power switch for a power converter. The method comprising receiving a drive signal representative of the switching frequency of the power switch, detecting the switching frequency from the drive signal, determining if the switching frequency is less than a first threshold frequency, and modulating a frequency of the jitter signal in response to determining if the switching frequency is less than the first threshold frequency.

The present disclosure provides an optical system (100) for controlling atoms. The optical system (100) comprises a laser source (10) for generating a laser beam at a carrier frequency and microwave and radio frequency (MW/RF) sources (41 and 45) for generating I and Q modulation signals at a set of frequencies, wherein the set of frequencies comprises at least two frequencies. The optical system (100) further comprises an IQ modulator (20) configured for receiving the laser beam and the generated signals at the set of frequencies and for outputting an output laser beam (Eout) based on the received laser beam and the generated signals at the set of frequencies, wherein the output laser beam (Eout) comprises multi-toned optical single-sidebands (MT-OSSB) at the set of frequencies with the carrier frequency being suppressed.

A laser beam phase-modulation device, a laser beam steering device, and a laser beam steering system including the same are provided. The laser beam phase-modulation device includes a refractive index conversion layer having a refractive index that is changed according to an electrical signal applied thereto, the refractive index conversion layer including an upper surface on which the laser beam is incident and a lower surface opposite the upper surface, at least one antenna pattern embedded in the upper surface of the refractive index conversion layer, and a metal mirror layer provided under the lower surface of the refractive index conversion layer and configured to reflect the laser beam.

An optical logic gate decision-making circuit that combines non-linear materials, such as silicon nitride, on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate is described. Circuitry includes a ring cavity coupled to an input optical bus waveguide. The input optical bus waveguide receives an optical signal and passes the optical signal to the ring cavity. An electro-optical device, for instance a PN junction, is integrated within the ring cavity to modulate the optical signal such that an optical logic gate function is enabled. An output optical bus waveguide is also coupled to the ring cavity, which outputs the optical signal modified based on the optical logic gate function and based on a wavelength routing function. By using silicon nitride, the optical non-linearity of the materials enables an “all-optical” logic gate. Thus, the optical logic gate decision-making circuit is suitable for all-optical circuits, and support ultrafast optical signal processing and enabling packet switching of data.

An optical processing system providing a rapid optical response, the system including: a first optical material sensitive to an effective refractive index change under photon absorption; a first optical pump for optically pumping the first optical material at a first frequency so as to cause the first optical material to undergo an effective refractive index change by means of photon absorption; a second optical pump for optically pumping the first optical material at a second frequency so as to cause the first optical material to undergo a rapid second refractive index change by means of stimulated emission.

An anti-dazzle imaging camera is provided that includes a photorefractive crystal that is wavelength-agnostic. The photorefractive crystal is configured to receive an optical beam. When the optical beam includes no laser, the photorefractive crystal is configured to pass the optical beam unchanged to an imaging detector. When the optical beam includes a laser, the photorefractive crystal is configured to attenuate the laser to generate a modified optical beam and to pass the modified optical beam to the imaging detector.