摘要:
An optical time delay unit for use in an optical phased array beam-steering system includes a switchable polarization rotator in conjunction with Brewster plates and mirrors to form electrically-selectable optical paths of different lengths. The switchable polarization rotator is aligned with the optical beam and is responsive to a control signal for varying the polarization of light passing therethrough. The Brewster plates receive the light passing through the first polarization rotator and are transmissive to a first polarization and reflective of a second. The transmissive and reflective paths are of different lengths, and are recombined at a second Brewster plate. The original polarization may be restored by a second polarization rotator. A plurality of time delay units may be cascaded to permit selection from among many paths of various lengths. In a preferred embodiment, the polarization rotators include liquid crystal cells having nematic phase molecules. Optically-transparent electrodes are formed on the cell windows by an ion implantation process. A planar phased array beam-forming system comprises a plurality of time delay units, illustratively arranged in a 2-by-2 configuration, wherein each unit is illuminated by a corresponding sector of a single light beam.
摘要:
A laser radar system for measuring wind velocities including apparatus for permitting the system to measure the direction of the atmospheric flow field. A modulator is used to chirp the laser frequency toward increasing frequencies. The local oscillator frequency available for homodyning will be offset from the initial transmitted frequency by an amount equal to the chirp rate multiplied by the round trip transit time to the aerosols at the focal point of the converging laser beam. During the up-ramped chirps of the optical beam frequency, the Doppler shift frequency of aerosols moving toward the laser beam will be translated to a lower frequency, and the Doppler shift frequency of aerosols moving away from the laser beam will be frequency translated upward.
摘要:
A coherent detection scanning laser system having an optical system that compensates for the angular deviation of the received signal resulting from the scanning process, and having a detection system with output independent of spatially varying sensitivity or response of the detector caused by inhomogeneities therein.In one embodiment, the local oscillator reference signal is compensated for the lag angle and the detector is placed at the image plane of the scanning antenna, and system geometry is arranged so that the image plane of the mirror providing the compensating reference signal coincides with the image plane of the scanning antenna. In another embodiment, the received signal is compensated for lag angle and the system geometry is arranged so that the detector receives a focused signal permitting the use of a smaller area.
摘要:
A scanning laser doppler system in which the change in angle between transmitted and received beams caused by the finite transit time to the target is automatically compensated. The scanning beam is produced as a downward looking Palmer scan pattern by an expanded laser beam transmitted through a rotating wedge. The rotating wedge is tilted in accordance with the invention to align the received beam with a portion of the transmitted beam upon a detector.
摘要:
In a laser system, the method of operating a laser simultaneously as an oscillator to produce a beam of coherent light and as an amplifier for backscattered light from targets illuminated by the coherent light in such beam is disclosed.