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Full-Text Articles in Physics
Algorithm Development For On-Line Control Of The Airborne Laser, Michael W. Oppenheimer
Algorithm Development For On-Line Control Of The Airborne Laser, Michael W. Oppenheimer
Theses and Dissertations
The use of adaptive optics entails the design of a controller. This requires the development of a model of the plant to be controlled, which, in this case, Consists of the atmosphere through which light is traveling. In optics, Zemike polynornials are used as a basis set for the expansion of wavefront phase distortions. Due to the turbulence induced stochastic nature of the underlying process involved, the spatial-temporal correlation functions of the Zemike polynomial phase expansion coefficients must be evaluated if a proper stochastic model of the plant is to be developed and adaptive optics is to be employed. In …
Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics For The Compensation Of Amplitude And Phase Distortions, Peter N. Crabtree
Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics For The Compensation Of Amplitude And Phase Distortions, Peter N. Crabtree
Theses and Dissertations
Two deformable mirrors (DMs) with finite conjugate ranges are investigated for compensating amplitude and phase distortions due to laser propagation through turbulent atmospheres. Simulations are performed based on Adaptive Optics (AO) for an Airborne Laser-type scenario. The Strehl ratio, the number of branch points in DM controls, and the number of iterations to convergence are used as figures of merit to evaluate performance of the Sequential Generalized Projection Algorithm that generates mirror commands. The results are ensemble averages over 32 realizations of the scintillated test fields for each value of the Rytov parameter within the test scenario. The Gaussian beam …
Optical Metrology Of Adaptive Membrane Mirrors, John W. Wagner
Optical Metrology Of Adaptive Membrane Mirrors, John W. Wagner
Theses and Dissertations
Current space-based imaging platforms are significantly constrained in both size and weight by the launch vehicle. Increased payload size and weight results in increased cost and a decrease in launch responsiveness. The USAF Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) identified "Large lightweight structures for optics and antennas" as a revolutionary primary technology to be developed for the Air Force of the 21st Century. A membrane primary mirror in a space-based imaging system has the ability to overcome current payload constraints and meet evolutionary needs of the future. The challenge of membrane optics in space is the process of implementing adaptive optics technology …
Active Multispectral Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function Measurement System, Mark J. Proctor
Active Multispectral Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function Measurement System, Mark J. Proctor
Theses and Dissertations
Today's highly technical battlefield environment dictates the need for a method of standoff target identification, which reduces risk to personnel and equipment. It is widely known that a given material will react differently to incident radiation than a dissimilar material. Certain materials may respond specularly while others tend to be diffuse. By measuring these responses, materials can be identified by comparison with a known database. One method of building such a database for target recognition is by employing an active multi spectral bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) measurement system. In the following text, such a system is developed and tested …
Investigation Of Laser Beam Combining And Cleanup Via Seeded Stimulated Brillouin Scattering In Multimode Optical Fibers, Bryan J. Choi
Investigation Of Laser Beam Combining And Cleanup Via Seeded Stimulated Brillouin Scattering In Multimode Optical Fibers, Bryan J. Choi
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this thesis research was to determine if stimulated Brillouin scattering amplification in multimode optical fibers would exhibit the same laser beam combining and clean-up properties exhibited by SBS oscillation, and to characterize the Brillouin amplification process in a multimode optical fiber. Beam combining in multimode fibers via SBS is being considered as a method of combining low power laser beams into a single beam having higher power and superior spatial coherence for applications such as electro-optic countermeasures. Experimental results demonstrate seeding a 9.5 mm fiber significantly reduced the pump power required to initiate SBS. An amplified Stokes …