Methods and apparatus for a controlling a stimulus source to direct photons to a pixel in a pixel array contained in a detector system, analyzing a response of the pixel in the pixel array; and generating an alert based on the response of the pixel in the pixel array. Example stimulus sources include a conductive trace, a PN junction, and a current source.

A fluorescence guide plate includes first and second surfaces, an edge surface connecting a periphery of the first surface with a periphery of the second surface, and a dichroic mirror laminated on the first surface. Fluorescent material is dispersed at least one of inside a space defined by the first surface, the second surface, and the edge surface, on the first surface, or on the second surface. The fluorescence guide plate has a plate-shaped structure made of a material with a higher refractive index than an outside. The fluorescence guide plate is configured such that, when irradiation light enters from the first surface, the fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent material exits from the edge surface. A reflection wavelength band of a normal incident beam reflected by the dichroic mirror lies in a range of wavelengths longer than a peak wavelength of a fluorescence wavelength band of the fluorescent material.

A fluorescence guide plate includes first and second surfaces, an edge surface connecting a periphery of the first surface with a periphery of the second surface, and a dichroic mirror laminated on the first surface. Fluorescent material is dispersed at least one of inside a space defined by the first surface, the second surface, and the edge surface, on the first surface, or on the second surface. The fluorescence guide plate has a plate-shaped structure made of a material with a higher refractive index than an outside. The fluorescence guide plate is configured such that, when irradiation light enters from the first surface, the fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent material exits from the edge surface. A reflection wavelength band of a normal incident beam reflected by the dichroic mirror lies in a range of wavelengths longer than a peak wavelength of a fluorescence wavelength band of the fluorescent material.

Methods and apparatus for receiving a return laser pulse at a detector system having pixels in a pixel array and analyzing a response of the pixels in the pixel array including comparing the response to at least one threshold corresponding to decay of photonic energy of the laser pulse over distance and target reflectivity, wherein the at least one threshold comprises a first threshold corresponding to a low trigger for a pulse generated by a first type of laser and a second threshold corresponding to a high trigger for the pulse generated by the first type of laser. Embodiments can further include generating an alert signal based on the response of the pixels in the pixel array.

A light source for Raman amplification to Raman-amplify signal light includes: plural incoherent light sources that output incoherent light; plural pumping light sources that output second-order pumping light; an optical fiber for Raman amplification to Raman-amplify the incoherent light with the second-order pumping light, and outputs the amplified incoherent light; and an output unit connected to the optical transmission fiber, receiving the amplified incoherent light, and outputting the amplified incoherent light as first-order pumping light having a wavelength that Raman-amplifies the signal light to the optical transmission fiber.

A light source for Raman amplification to Raman-amplify signal light includes: plural incoherent light sources that output incoherent light; plural pumping light sources that output second-order pumping light; an optical fiber for Raman amplification to Raman-amplify the incoherent light with the second-order pumping light, and outputs the amplified incoherent light; and an output unit connected to the optical transmission fiber, receiving the amplified incoherent light, and outputting the amplified incoherent light as first-order pumping light having a wavelength that Raman-amplifies the signal light to the optical transmission fiber.

Disclosed are a device and a method for the design and fabrication of the device for enhancing the brightness of luminescent molecules, nanostructures, and thin films. The device includes a mirror, a dielectric medium or spacer, an absorptive layer, and a luminescent layer. The absorptive layer is a continuous thin film of a strongly absorbing organic or inorganic material. The luminescent layer may be a continuous luminescent thin film or an arrangement of isolated luminescent species, e.g., organic or metal-organic dye molecules, semiconductor quantum dots, or other semiconductor nanostructures, supported on top of the absorptive layer.

Disclosed are a device and a method for the design and fabrication of the device for enhancing the brightness of luminescent molecules, nanostructures, and thin films. The device includes a mirror, a dielectric medium or spacer, an absorptive layer, and a luminescent layer. The absorptive layer is a continuous thin film of a strongly absorbing organic or inorganic material. The luminescent layer may be a continuous luminescent thin film or an arrangement of isolated luminescent species, e.g., organic or metal-organic dye molecules, semiconductor quantum dots, or other semiconductor nanostructures, supported on top of the absorptive layer.

A light concentrator includes a luminescent concentrator and a gain medium. The luminescent concentrator includes a semiconductor material and the semiconductor material absorbs first photons. The first photons have energy greater than or equal to a threshold energy, and the semiconductor material emits second photons through a spontaneous emission process where the second photons have less energy than the first photons. The gain medium is optically coupled to the luminescent concentrator to receive the second photons. The gain medium absorbs the second photons, and in response to absorbing the second photons, the gain medium emits third photons through a stimulated emission process. The third photons have less energy than the second photons.

A solar-pumped laser device includes: a light-guiding plate configured such that a fluorescence substance absorbing solar light and emitting fluorescence including a predetermined wavelength is dispersed in the light-guiding plate so as to bring the fluorescence to exit a predetermined surface; and an optical fiber disposed close to the predetermined surface, the optical fiber including: a core part in which a medium excitable by the fluorescence so as to emit a laser is dispersed; and a clad part that is formed by a material through which the fluorescence passes, is disposed around the core part, and has a smaller refractive index than a refractive index of the core part, wherein a light emitted by the medium is totally reflected by one end surface of the optical fiber, and is brought to pass through the other end surface of the optical fiber.