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At least 55 records · Page 3

Integrated optical circuits for numerical computation

The development of integrated optical circuits (IOC) for numerical-computation applications is reviewed, with a focus on the use of systolic architectures. The basic architecture criteria for optical processors are shown to be the same as those proposed by Kung (1982) for VLSI design, and the advantages of IOCs over bulk techniques are indicated. The operation and fabrication of electrooptic grating structures are outlined, and the application of IOCs of this type to an existing 32-bit, 32-Mbit/sec digital correlator, a proposed matrix multiplier, and a proposed pipeline processor for polynomial evaluation is discussed. The problems arising from the inherent nonlinearity of electrooptic gratings are considered. Diagrams and drawings of the application concepts are provided.

Verber, C. M.↗

The vector magnetograph of the Sayan Solar Observatory

The problem of choosing an optimum scheme for the electrooptical analyzer of polarization and related control principles are discussed. An electrooptical deflector, which is advantageously used to employ a single photodetector and to remove systematic errors inherent in magnetographs with two photodetectors in the wings of the line is discussed, as well as adjustment errors of optical elements of the polarization analyzer and errors of control voltages. A method for measuring the telescope's polarization matrix, reduction of magnetographic measurements for instrumental polarization and calibration of magnetograph channels are examined. Questions of evaluating scattered light and of reducing magnetic field measurements are also considered as a computational procedure for the magnetic field vector parameters is briefly outlined. Computer control of the solar magnetograph and of the processing and control system software is discussed.

Grigoryev, V. M.↗

Optical technology for microwave applications IV; Proceedings of the Meeting, Orlando, FL, Mar. 28, 29, 1989

Among the topics discussed at the meeting are high-speed laser and electrooptical technologies, detectors and detector arrays, microwave delay lines, and photon-microwave interactions. In addition, optical link applications are discussed, along with electronic warfare receivers and acoustooptical signal processing. Emphasis is placed on laser diode technology, direct modulation of laser diodes, external electrooptical laser modulation techniques, and microwave fiber-optic delay lines. Attention is given to such optical link applications as multigigahertz links as well as to signal processing for phased-array antennas and channelized microwave receiver technologies.

Yao, Shi-Kay↗

Estimation of optical flow in airborne electro-optical sensors by stochastic approximation

The essence of motion or range estimation by passive electrooptical means is the ability to determine the correspondence of picture elements in pairs of image frames and to estimate their coordinates and their disparity (relative shifts) in the image plane of an electrooptical imaging sensor. The disparity can be in successive frames due to self-motion or in simultaneous frames of a stereo pair. A key issue is to provide these estimates on-line. This paper describes the theoretical background of such an interframe shift estimator. It is based on a stochastic gradient algorithm, specifically implementing a form of stochastic approximation, which can achieve rapid convergence of the shift estimate. Analytical and numerical simulation examples for random texture and isolated features validate the feasibility and the effectiveness of the estimator.

Merhav, S. J.↗

Predicted and measured in-flight wing deformations of a forward-swept-wing aircraft

An electrooptical flight-deflection measurement system (FDMS) is described in terms of its use in structural testing of the composite forward-swept wing of the X-29 aircraft. The wing deflected shapes measured using the present system are compared to the shapes predicted by NASTRAN and other codes as well as data from ground-test load measurements. The electrooptical FDMS is based on a control unit, two receivers, a target driver, and 12-16 IR LED targets. The FDMS determines the in-flight deflected wing shapes at a variety of altitudes at Mach 0.9, and the results are compared to the analytically predicted wing-twist distributions. The FDMS data describe the predicted increasing streamwise twist with increasing dynamic pressure and suggest that the streamwise twist is more prevalent at the inboard measurement station than at the wing tip. This hook shape is not represented in the predicted data, and suggestions are given for improving the modeling of the X-29 wing.

Lokos, William A.↗

Shallow-trap-induced positive absorptive two-beam coupling 'gain' and light-induced transparency in nominally undoped barium titanate

The asymmetry of beam coupling with respect to the orientation of the polar axis in a nominally undoped barium titanate crystal is used to determine the electro-optic and absorptive 'gain' in the usual beam-coupling geometry. For small grating wave vectors, the electrooptic coupling vanishes but the absorptive coupling remains finite and positive. Positive absorptive coupling at small grating wave vectors is correlated with the light-induced transparency of the crystal described herein. The intensity and grating wave vector dependence of the electrooptic and absorptive coupling, and the light-induced transparency are consistent with a model incorporating deep and shallow levels.

Garrett, M. H.↗

Synthesis of optical birefringent networks.

Outline of synthesis procedures, with description of the birefringent networks which result from their use. Optical compensators are employed in synthesis procedures in two different ways. The first role is simply the practical one of compensating for slightly incorrect crystal lengths. The second role occurs because some synthesis procedures require different fractional retardations for the stages of the network. Lyot and Solc filters are described, and an attempt is made to show how birefringent networks function. Experimental results are presented, and the application of synthesis procedures to electrooptic networks is discussed.

Ammann, E. O.↗

Intracavity CdTe modulators for CO2 lasers.

The use of cadmium telluride as an electrooptic material for intracavity modulation of CO2 lasers is described. Included are the predicted and measured effects of CdTe intracavity modulators on laser performance. Coupling and frequency modulation are discussed and experimental results compared with theoretically predicted performance for both techniques. Limitations on the frequency response of the two types of modulation are determined.

Kiefer, J. E.↗

Strain-biased PLZT input devices /page composers/ for holographic memories and optical data processing.

The features of a new class of transparent ferroelectric ceramic materials, called PLZT, are described. PLZT are shown to have very strong electrooptic properties and memory, and are switched through transparent electrodes when mechanically strained. Because of these properties, they can be used to fabricate two-dimensional page composers for coherent optical systems. Techniques for fabricating such devices are outlined along with preliminary test results. Applications in displays are shown to be also feasible.

Roberts, H. N.↗

Broadband CO2 laser coupling modulation.

The application of coupling modulation is described for achieving a 110-MHz bandwidth using CO2 lasers and GaAs electrooptic crystals. Coupling modulation is a technique that has no bandwidth limitations and allows the modulation bandwidth to exceed that of the laser resonator.

Mcavoy, N.↗

Electronic systems for the new multichannel spectrometer at Sacramento Peak.

Description of the design features and operation of a new multichannel solar spectrometer to be used for ground-based observations of active regions whose X-ray and EUV emissions are studied by the OSO-H and other satellites. The electronic systems associated with the instrument include (1) an electrooptical guider controlled by a punched paper tape capable of making raster scans of selected portions of the solar disk, (2) a programmer unit that applies paper-tape commands to various portions of the instrument, (3) a closed-loop servosystem for the vacuum heliostat, (4) stepping motor controls for spectral scans, (5) a 40-channel photomultiplier readout, and (6) a magnetometer. Preliminary solar observations indicate satisfactory performance of the system.

Hobbs, R. W.↗

Active optics for space astronomy.

Discussion of the segmented and deformable active optics approaches underlying some of the modern electrooptical techniques that are to be used in the design of future generations of giant-aperture orbital space telescopes. Combinations of laser interferometry and precise servomechanisms are shown to make possible the solution of such key problems of large monolithic mirrors in orbit as weight, thermal distortion, launchability, and material stability. The applicability of these active optics approaches to future giant-aperture space astronomy systems in the 200-inch to 400-inch diameter range is reviewed.

Wischnia, H. F.↗

Fast recharge circuit for q-switched lasers

Cavity-dumped lasers employ electrooptic-effect cell to alternately block and release laser pulse. Cell requires high-speed switching circuit that can apply and remove high voltage. Solid-state circuit employs complementary transistor switches which can switch at rates greater than 5 kHz, eliminate warmup time, provide variable voltage wave-form, and allow polarity reversal.

Hansen, R. L.↗

Multichannel television coupling modulation experiments using a CO2 laser.

Experiments are described in which a carbon dioxide laser oscillating at 28.4 THz has been modulated simultaneously by three commercial television signals with carriers at 54, 66, and 82 MHz. Signal-to-noise degradation in the system was measured to be less than 1 dB, corresponding to modulator drive power of 1 W. This combination of wide bandwidth and low power consumption was made possible by the application of coupling modulation. This technique employs an intracavity electrooptic crystal to which the modulating fields are applied. Despite the fact that the crystal is positioned inside the laser cavity, the maximum bandwidth attainable is independent of both the cavity Q and the laser transition linewidth, and is limited only by modulator characteristics and optical transit time. Rigrod's (1965) method has been adapted to obtain an expression for the power coupled out of the laser. Modulator frequency response and drive power requirements are also summarized. It is seen that the noise bandwidth performance of the system would allow simultaneous modulation by 17 color television channels, or equivalently, more than a 300-megabit/sec capacity.

Hall, D. R.↗

A study of optical image sensors for the large space telescope.

A generalized approach is attempted to the problem of designing an image sensor that is to be used on a large spaceborne telescope. General design and performance goals are presented, and the parameters describing the sensor characteristics are discussed. Electrooptical techniques and components presently available are reviewed, and promising design orientations are explored.

Hallam, K. L.↗

Planar electroluminescent panel techniques

Investigations of planar electroluminescent multipurpose displays with latch-in memory are described. An 18 x 24 in. flat, thin address panel with elements spacing of 0.100 in. was constructed which demonstrated essentially uniform luminosity of 3-5 foot lamberts for each of its 43200 EL cells. A working model of a 4-bit EL-PC (electroluminescent photoconductive) electrooptical decoder was made which demonstrated the feasibility of this concept. A single-diagram electroluminescent display device with photoconductive-electroluminescent latch-in memory was constructed which demonstrated the conceptual soundness of this principle. Attempts to combine these principles in a single PEL multipurpose display with latch-in memory were unsuccessful and were judged to exceed the state-of-the-art for close-packed (0.10 in. centers) photoconductor-electroluminescent cell assembly.

Kerr, C.↗

Real-time incoherent-to-coherent optical converter

Description of a real-time incoherent-to-coherent optical converter designed for application in image processing systems. The converter utilizes the photoconductivity effect of the compound Bi(12)SiO(20) for spatial modulation of electrical polarization in the compound. An optically absorbed write-in image is stored as an image polarization pattern in the device. Readout is effectuated electrooptically by using phase retardation in a polarized coherent light beam during the passage through the crystal. The operating mode required for achieving continuous image conversion with a high-speed recyclability is discussed. The performance characteristics of the converter are given and the fabrication technology is described.

Vohl, P.↗