The additive manufacture of polymer optical elements has the promise of reducing component weight, providing new design capabilities, and enhanced performance for a wide variety of military and commercial optical systems. We review progress in the development of three-dimensional (3D)-printed gradient index (GRIN) lenses and optical phase masks. The 3D printing process uses a modified commercial inkjet printer and ultraviolet curable polymers that have specific nanoparticles added to them to modulate the index of refraction. Complex optical phase masks for the generation of Airy laser beams and polymer GRIN lenses to replace conventional glass lenses used in a telescope or riflescope are created. The generation and propagation of Airy beams using these polymer-generated optical phase masks have been investigated and analyzed through experimentation, simulations, and comparison with recent theoretical predictions. Airy beams have been generated using the conventional approach with a spatial light modulator and compared to the 3D printed optical phase masks. The maximum nondiffracting propagation distance of an aperture truncated Airy beam was experimentally measured. The results show that the maximum nondiffracting propagation distance of a laboratory generated Airy beam is proportional to x02, the Airy beam waist size squared. The size of the Gaussian envelope beam has a weaker effect on the Airy beam propagation distance. The experimental results were compared with current theoretical models. A set of 1-inch-diameter 100-mm focal length polymer GRIN lenses have been made using 3D printing. Transmission and modulation transfer function results for the lenses are reported.
The additive manufacture of polymer optical elements has the promise of reducing component weight, providing new design capabilities, and enhanced performance for a wide variety of military and commercial optical systems. This paper reviews progress in the development of 3d printed Gradient Index (GRIN) lenses and optical phase masks. The 3d printing process uses a modified commercial inkjet printer and UV curable polymers that have specific nanoparticles added to them to modulate the index of refraction. Complex optical phase masks for the generation of Airy laser beams and polymer GRIN lenses to replace conventional glass lenses used in a telescope or riflescope are created. The generation and propagation of Airy beams using these polymer generated optical phase masks has been investigated and analyzed through experimentation, simulations, and comparison with recent theoretical predictions. Airy beams have been generated using the conventional approach using a spatial light modulator and compared to the 3d printed optical phase masks. The maximum non-diffracting propagation distance of an aperture truncated Airy beam was experimentally measured. The results show that the maximum non-diffracting propagation distance of a laboratory generated Airy beam is proportional to x0 2, the Airy beam waist size squared. The size of the Gaussian envelope beam has a weaker effect on the Airy beam propagation distance. The experimental results were compared with current theoretical models. A set of 1 inch diameter 100 mm focal length polymer GRIN lenses have been made using 3d printing. Transmission and modulation transfer function (MTF) results for the lenses is reported.
The additive manufacture of polymer optical elements has the promise of reducing component weight, providing new design capabilities, and enhanced performance for a wide variety of military and commercial optical systems. This paper reviews progress in the development of 3d printed Gradient Index (GRIN) lenses and optical phase masks. The 3d printing process uses a modified commercial inkjet printer and UV curable polymers that have specific nanoparticles added to them to modulate the index of refraction. Complex optical phase masks for the generation of Airy laser beams and polymer GRIN lenses to replace conventional glass lenses used in a telescope or riflescope are created. The generation and propagation of Airy beams using these polymer generated optical phase masks has been investigated and analyzed through experimentation, simulations, and comparison with recent theoretical predictions. Airy beams have been generated using the conventional approach using a spatial light modulator and compared to the 3d printed optical phase masks. The maximum non-diffracting propagation distance of an aperture truncated Airy beam was experimentally measured. The results show that the maximum non-diffracting propagation distance of a laboratory generated Airy beam is proportional to x0 2 , the Airy beam waist size squared. The size of the Gaussian envelope beam has a weaker effect on the Airy beam propagation distance. The experimental results were compared with current theoretical models. A set of 1 inch diameter 100 mm focal length polymer GRIN lenses have been made using 3d printing. Transmission and modulation transfer function (MTF) results for the lenses is reported.
A series of nanocrystal and nanocrystal quantum dot taggant technologies were developed for covertly tagging and
tracking objects of interest. Homogeneous and heterogeneous nanocrystal taggant designs were developed and optimized
for ultraviolet through infrared emissions, utilizing either Dexter energy transfer or Förster resonant energy transfer
(FRET) between specific absorbing and emitting functionalities. The conversion efficiency, target-specific identification,
and adhesion properties of the taggants were engineered by means of various surface ligand chemistries. The ability to
engineer poly-functional ligands was shown effective in the detection of a biological agent simulant, detected through a
NC photoluminescence that is altered in the presence of the agent of interest; the technique has broad potential
applicability to chemical, biological, and explosive (CBE) agent detection. The NC photoluminescence can be detected
by a remote LIDAR system; the performance of a taggant system has been modeled and subsequently verified in a series
of controlled field tests. LIDAR detection of visible-emitting taggants was shown to exceed 2.8 km in calibrated field
tests, and from these field data and calibrated laboratory measurements we predict >5 km range in the covert shortwavelength
infrared (SWIR) spectral region.
The European Southern Observatory is developing a medium order curvature adaptive optics system designed to be operable with minimal modification at any focus of the Very Large telescope (VLT). The first application of this AO system (MACAO) is to equip all four VLT Unit Telescope (UT) Coude foci with 60 element AO systems capable of delivering to the VLT Interferometer (VLTI) > 50% K band Strehl. The AO system being used by an interferometer is constrained to introduce minimal piston and operating as a sub-system of a large and complex instrument to have a robust architecture and simple operation. Installation of the first AO system is scheduled to begin first Quarter 2002 with completion of all four UTs by early 2004. Other applications of the MACAO system will be for use by the CRIRES and SPIFFI spectrographs.
KEYWORDS: Semiconductor lasers, Laser systems engineering, Photodynamic therapy, Light sources, Cancer, Oncology, High power lasers, Dye lasers, Optoelectronics, Bladder cancer
The Applied Optronics Corporation's model LM-400 is the first commercially available visible diode laser system which can meet the light source requirements for photodynamic therapy (PDT). PDT is a treatment for cancer which uses the topical illumination by a precise wavelength of light to photochemically activate an otherwise nontoxic drug, resulting in the localized necrosis of cancerous cells. Following a discussion of the light source requirements for PDT, we describe the system design and performance of AOC's self-contained, all solid- state, visible diode laser system. When compared to dye laser systems pumped by secondary lasers, diode laser systems offer significant advantages in terms of cost, simplicity of operation, portability, and negligible installation and maintenance requirements.
Due to their high reliability, modest electrical and cooling requirements, and their compact size, diode laser systems are attractive high power, fiber-coupled laser sources for surgical and therapeutics procedures. We describe Applied Optronics Corporation's LM series of portable air-cooled diode laser systems delivering 25 W or 50 W of cw power from the distal end of a disposable, 0.37 NA optical fiber with a core size of 600 micrometers or 1 mm respectively. In comparative tissue interaction studies using the 980 nm laser source, three laser interaction regimes are identified and characterized for laser interactions with six types of cadervic soft tissue.
Carlo Coluzza, J. Almeida, E. Tuncel, Jean Staehli, P. Baudat, Giorgio Margaritondo, Jim McKinley, Akira Ueda, Alan Barnes, Royal Albridge, Norman Tolk, D. Martin, Francois Morier-Genoud, C. Dupuy, Alok Rudra, Marc Ilegems
We used optical pumping by the Vanderbilt Free Electron Laser and the technique of internal photoemission to measure with high accuracy the conduction band discontinuity of semiconductor heterojunction interfaces. The experiment is the first application of a free- electron laser to interface research.
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