Abstract:
An improved apparatus and method for detecting the polarization state of an optical wavefront is disclosed, which is especially suitable for use in an integrated magneto-optic recording head. An optically transparent waveguide structure (10) transmits TE and TM modes of the wavefront propagated as a beam coupled into the waveguide by a TE/TM grating coupler (16). In the waveguide structure is a periodic structure (21) comprising a birefringent mode separator that splits the propagating beam into TE and TM modes. The mode separator comprises an array of uniformly spaced volumes of identical configuration. Photosensitive devices (13,14) detect the intensity of the light contained within each of the separated beams. The signals from these photosensitive devices are used to determine the state of polarization of the optical wavefront. The periodic structure may, if desired, comprise regions of alternating birefringence, such as a Bragg grating, either in a waveguide layer or a cladding layer. Focal power is introduced (1) by providing focal power in the input grating coupler to the waveguide with a curved grating structure, (2) by varying the pitch of the birefringent mode separator extending in a direction transverse to the optical axis of the propagating beam, or (3) by introducing a surface grating with a varying pitch in a direction transverse of the optical axis.
Abstract:
L'arrangement de mesure pour l'analyse des rayonnements électromagnetiques comporte, dans le trajet des radiations, les ensembles suivants disposés les uns derrière les autres: (a) au moins un polarisateur (2); (b) au moins un élément optiquement actif (3) avec une activité optique connue, c'est-à-dire avec une dépendance en fréquence connue de la rotation du plan de rotation; et (c) au moins un analyseur (4), dont la direction de polarisation possède une orientation fixe et préréglée par rapport à la direction du polarisateur linéaire. Le faisceau provenant de l'analyseur (4) est amené à travers un capteur photosensible (7, 8) d'un circuit de mesure. L'intensité globale des radiations à mesure est déterminée en créant de plusieurs façons un signal de référence, notamment par une mesure directe avec un élément optiquement actif partiellement éloigné du trajet des radiations par le découplage d'un faisceau partiel ou par un analyseur séparateur de faisceau. L'arrangement de mesure permet une analyse très rapide (jusqu'à la mesure du temps d'étalonnage) du faisceau électromagnétique avec un pouvoir de résolution extrêmement élevé, sans qu'aucune pièce mécanique en mouvement ne soit nécessaire. Les domaines d'application de l'arrangement de mesure sont: la détermination du centre optique des radiations, la détermination de la caractéristique spectrale des radiations et aussi le contrôle spectrométrique et/ou photométrique des échantillons.
Abstract:
The method and the device are based on interference techniques. Two quasi-monochromatic radiations (2a, 2b; 102a, 102b; 202a, 202b) with slightly different optical frequencies are generated. A radiation is converted into a 45° linearly-polarized radiation, while the other presents the polarization state imposed by a body under test (4, 204). In each radiation, horizontal and vertical polarization components are separated, and then recombined into two different beams (20a, 21a; 34, 35) comprising radiations at both frequencies, respectively polarized in the same plane. Beatings between the two components of each beam are originated and from the two electrical signals in the radio frequency range thus obtained the information is extracted on the relative phase and the amplitude of the two components of the radiation with polarization imposed by the body under test (4, 204).
Abstract:
A stabilisation system for stabilising an output of a controllable light or laser source comprises a randomizer for randomizing light from the controllable light or laser source to generate a speckle pattern; a detector for detecting the speckle pattern to determine one or more properties of the light and/or changes in one or more properties of the light; and a controller for controlling the controllable light or laser source based on the determined one or more properties of the light and/or changes in one or more properties of the light.
Abstract:
A system and method to obtain and process interferometer output scans is described. The interferometer-based sensor system includes a tunable laser to transmit a transmit signal and a polarization scrambler to produce a polarization state change on the transmit signal. The system also includes an interferometer to provide an output scan based on the transmit signal with the polarization state change and a processor to process the output scan.
Abstract:
Described are methods and systems for vicarious polarimetric calibration and performance validation of a remote sensor. The system includes a plurality of reflective mirrors configured and arranged to reflect radiation from a source of radiation onto the remote sensor with accurately known polarimetric properties. Each of the reflective mirrors are located so that the target images do not overlap. The remote sensor is configured to receive the radiation reflected from the plurality of reflective mirrors and store the received radiation as image data (e.g., the image of each mirror appears as a point target). The system includes a processor configured to process the received data to provide direct calibration and performance validation for each polarimetric or spectral channel of the remote sensor. In addition, the calibration method removes all atmospheric effects except for transmittance and provides reference targets that have high polarimetric contrast, full spectrum performance and easy to deploy.