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Articles 271 - 300 of 349

Full-Text Articles in Optics

Active Multispectral Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function Measurement System, Mark J. Proctor Mar 2000

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 …


Optical Metrology Of Adaptive Membrane Mirrors, John W. Wagner Mar 2000

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 …


Output Control Of Vertical Microcavity Light Emitting Device, James A. Lott Apr 1999

Output Control Of Vertical Microcavity Light Emitting Device, James A. Lott

AFIT Patents

An improved intracavity sensor based output power control for microcavity light emitting devices. An improved phototransistor transducer is both configured and physically disposed so that it passively transmits the spurious optical energy output of the microcavity light emitting device while simultaneously generating a light determined electrical signal of easily used large magnitude that is nearly free of error. The base-collector region of the transistor is disposed with a quantum well absorbing layer and produces a signal responsive to a selected emission wavelength. The configuration of the optical energy communicating transducer is arranged so that it is improved in sensitivity and …


Active Multispectral Band Selection And Reflectance Measurement System, Bradley D. Rennich Mar 1999

Active Multispectral Band Selection And Reflectance Measurement System, Bradley D. Rennich

Theses and Dissertations

Due to system design requirements, an active multispectral laser radar system may be limited in the number of spectral bands that can be integrated into the system. To aid in the selection of these bands, a novel multispectral band selection technique is presented based on the cross-correlation of the material class reflectance spectra over a wavelength range of 1 - 5 microns. The algorithm uses directional hemispherical reflectance data from the Nonconventional Exploitation Factors database to select a number of spectral bands for classification purposes. Because the target material spectral reflectance is so important to the performance of an active …


Optimal Atmospheric Compensation For Anisoplanatism In Adaptive-Optical Systems, Matthew R. Whiteley Sep 1998

Optimal Atmospheric Compensation For Anisoplanatism In Adaptive-Optical Systems, Matthew R. Whiteley

Theses and Dissertations

Anisoplanatism in adaptive optics (AO) systems is a performance-degrading effect that arises whenever light from the wave-front sensor beacon and light from the object of interest sample different volumes of optical turbulence. This effect occurs if there is either a spatial separation between the object and the beacon, or a spatial separation between the wave-front sensor and phase-compensation aperture, or if both types of separation are present in the AO system. Anisoplanatism results in an increased value of the aperture-averaged residual phase variance after AO compensation, which causes an exponential decrease in system performance. This dissertation offers a theoretical framework …


Linear Reconstruction Of Non-Stationary Image Ensembles Incorporating Blur And Noise Models, Stephen D. Ford Mar 1998

Linear Reconstruction Of Non-Stationary Image Ensembles Incorporating Blur And Noise Models, Stephen D. Ford

Theses and Dissertations

Two new linear reconstruction techniques are developed to improve the resolution of images collected by ground-based telescopes imaging through atmospheric turbulence. The classical approach involves the application of constrained least squares (CLS) to the deconvolution from wavefront sensing (DWFS) technique. The new algorithm incorporates blur and noise models to select the appropriate regularization constant automatically. In all cases examined, the Newton-Raphson minimization converged to a solution in less than 10 iterations. The non-iterative Bayesian approach involves the development of a new vector Wiener filter which is optimal with respect to mean square error (MSE) for a non-stationary object class degraded …


Regression Analysis Of Radar Measured Optical Turbulence With Synoptic Scale Meteorological Variables, Diana L. Hajek Mar 1998

Regression Analysis Of Radar Measured Optical Turbulence With Synoptic Scale Meteorological Variables, Diana L. Hajek

Theses and Dissertations

A key issue to the USAF's Airborne Laser (ABL) program is the ability to accurately predict the level of optical turbulence that the ABL will encounter at its flight levels. The optical turbulence must be characterized so that the range and range variation of the ABL can be determined. Gravity wave spectra resulting from frontal or jet stream passage are presumed to cause layers of optical turbulence; however, exact relationships between optical turbulence and synoptic scale meteorological phenomena are unclear. This study assesses the statistical relationship between optical turbulence and synoptic scale variables through multiple linear regression. The optical turbulence …


Microelectromechanical Optical Beam Steering Systems, David M. Burns Dec 1997

Microelectromechanical Optical Beam Steering Systems, David M. Burns

Theses and Dissertations

The development of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) has matured to the point where the fabrication of micron sized devices is feasible. State of the art MEMS construction processes now support the fabrication of novel optical devices that could not previously be built. This dissertation reports on the development of innovative micro optical devices such as Variable Blaze Gratings (VBGs) using state of the art MEMS construction processes. The principle application of the micro optical devices described in this dissertation is steering optical beams; however other applications such as spectral analysis are identified. Specific optical beam steering systems developed and characterized in …


Optimization Considerations For Adaptive Optics Digital Imagery Systems, Robert T. Brigantic Jun 1997

Optimization Considerations For Adaptive Optics Digital Imagery Systems, Robert T. Brigantic

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation had three objectives. The first objective was to develop image quality metrics that characterize Adaptive Optics System (AOS) performance. The second objective was to delineate control settings that maximize AOS performance. The third objective was to identify and characterize trade-offs between fully and partially compensated adaptive. For the first objective, three candidate image quality metrics were considered: the Strehl ratio, a novel metric that modifies the Strehl ratio by integrating the modulus of the average system optical transfer function to a 'noise-effective-cutoff' frequency at which some specified image spectrum signal-to-noise-ratio level is attained, and the noise-effective-cutoff frequency. It …


Evaluation And Application Of Space Telescope Aberration Sensing Using Phase Diversity, David J. Lee Apr 1997

Evaluation And Application Of Space Telescope Aberration Sensing Using Phase Diversity, David J. Lee

Theses and Dissertations

Due to mechanical aspects of fabrication, launch, and operational environment, space telescope optics can suffer from unforeseen aberrations, detracting from their intended diffraction-limited performance goals. This dissertation gives the results of simulation and theoretical studies designed to explore how wavefront aberration information for such "nearly diffraction-limited" telescopes can be estimated via the Gonsalves (least-squares) phase diversity technique. In traditional phase diversity, aberrations are estimated from two images—one conventional, focused image and one image that has been defocused by a known amount. These studies are original and significant in that this effort represents the first time the effects of photon noise …


Investigation Of The Optical Properties Of Ordered Semiconductor Materials, Jack E. Mccrae Jr. Jan 1997

Investigation Of The Optical Properties Of Ordered Semiconductor Materials, Jack E. Mccrae Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Optical studies have been conducted upon CdGeAs2 and ZnGeP2, two of the most promising semiconductors being developed for mid-infrared non-linear optics applications. These experiments included photoluminescence (PL) studies of both compounds as well as photoreflectance (PR) measurements upon CdGeAs2. In addition, Hall effect measurements were carried out upon CdGeAs2, to aid in interpretation of the optical data. PL was measured as a function of laser power, sample temperature, and crystal orientation for CdGeAs2. One broad weak peak near 0.38 eV, and another somewhat narrower and often far brighter peak near 0.57 …


Four-Wave Mixing And Optical Phase Conjugation In Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Devices, Gregory J. Vansuch Jan 1997

Four-Wave Mixing And Optical Phase Conjugation In Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Devices, Gregory J. Vansuch

Theses and Dissertations

Four-wave mixing (FWM), a nonlinear optical process, was investigated in resonant cavity light emitting diodes (RCLEDs) and vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) below lasing threshold. These semiconductor photonic devices consisted of an optical gain region of quantum wells sandwiched between two distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) mirrors. Pump and probe lasers were injected into the devices to generate FWM. The dependence of FWM on bias current, pump laser power, and spectral and spatial separation between pump and probe lasers was investigated experimentally. A computer model of FWM based on the wave and carrier density equations was developed and agreed well …


Modeling And Simulation Of Optical Characteristics Of Microelectromechanical Mirror Arrays, Peter C. Roberts Dec 1996

Modeling And Simulation Of Optical Characteristics Of Microelectromechanical Mirror Arrays, Peter C. Roberts

Theses and Dissertations

MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) micromirror devices can be used to control the phase of a propagating light wavefront, and in particular to correct aberrations that may be present in the wavefront, due to either atmospheric turbulence or any other type of fixed or time and space varying aberrations. In order to shorten the design cycle of MEMS micromirror devices, computer software is developed to create, from MEMS micromirror device design data, a numerical model of the MEMS device. The model is then used to compute the far field diffraction pattern of a wavefront reflected from the device, and to predict the …


Demonstrating Optical Aberration Correction With A Mems Micro-Mirror Device, Shaun R. Hick Dec 1996

Demonstrating Optical Aberration Correction With A Mems Micro-Mirror Device, Shaun R. Hick

Theses and Dissertations

This research conducted the first demonstrated use of a micro-electro-mechanical structure (MEMS) mirror array to correct a static optical aberration. A well-developed technique in adaptive optics imaging systems uses a deformable mirror to reflect the incident wave front to the imaging stage of the system. By matching the surface of the deformable mirror to the shape of the wave front phase distortion, the reflected wave front will be less aberrated before it is imaged. Typical adaptive optics systems use piezo-electric actuated deformable mirrors. This research used an electrostatically actuated, segmented mirror array, constructed by standard MEMS fabrication techniques, to investigate …


Deconvolution From Wavefront Sensing Using Optimal Wavefront Estimators, Scott R. Maethner Dec 1996

Deconvolution From Wavefront Sensing Using Optimal Wavefront Estimators, Scott R. Maethner

Theses and Dissertations

A cost effective method to improve the space surveillance mission performance of United States Air Force (USAF) ground-based telescopes is investigated and improved. A minimum variance wavefront estimation technique is used to improve Deconvolution from Wavefront Sensing (DWFS), a method to mitigate the effects of atmospheric turbulence on imaging systems that does not require expensive adaptive optics. Both least-squares and minimum variance wavefront phase estimation techniques are investigated, using both Gaussian and Zernike polynomial elementary functions. Imaging simulations and established performance metrics are used to evaluate these wavefront estimation techniques for a one-meter optical telescope. Performance metrics include the average …


Estimation Of Satellite Orientation From Space Surveillance Imagery Measured With An Adaptive Optics Telescope, Gregory E. Wood Dec 1996

Estimation Of Satellite Orientation From Space Surveillance Imagery Measured With An Adaptive Optics Telescope, Gregory E. Wood

Theses and Dissertations

The use of the matched filter to automatically estimate the pose of a Low Earth Orbiting satellite from imagery taken with an adaptive optics telescope is explored. This work represents the first effort to solve the satellite pose estimation problem while considering the broad range of atmospheric turbulence levels and target visual magnitudes that are encountered in ground based space surveillance operations. Several Algorithms are examined in an effort to determine the performance bounds on the matched filter for this application. Results are given over an extremely wide range of seeing conditions. These results are weighted based on historical data …


Design Of Gradient Index Optical Thin Films, Jeffrey J. Druessel Jun 1996

Design Of Gradient Index Optical Thin Films, Jeffrey J. Druessel

Theses and Dissertations

Gradient index thin films provide greater flexibility for the design of optical coatings than the more conventional 'layer' films. In addition, gradient index films have higher damage thresholds and better adhesion properties. This dissertation presents an enhancement to the existing inverse Fourier transform gradient index design method, and develops a new optimal design method for gradient index films using a generalized Fourier series approach. The inverse Fourier transform method is modified to include use of the phase of the index profile as a variable in rugate filter design. Use of an optimal phase function in Fourier-based filter designs reduces the …


Characterization Of Spatial And Temporal Anisotropy In Turbulent Mixing Layers Using Optical Techniques, Patrick J. Gardner May 1996

Characterization Of Spatial And Temporal Anisotropy In Turbulent Mixing Layers Using Optical Techniques, Patrick J. Gardner

Theses and Dissertations

The optical aberrations induced by mixing layers of dissimilar gases are recorded and analyzed in order to characterize the spatial and temporal properties of the flow. Laser light was propagated through a mixing layer of Helium and Nitrogen gas, having velocities of 8.5 m/sec and 1.5 m/sec, respectively. The light was propagated in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the mixing layer. The mixing layer was evaluated in two experimental regimes: free turbulent mixing, where the mixing layer spreads into the surrounding air; and channel flow, where the mixing layer is confined to a rectangular channel. The optical perturbations …


Linear And Non-Linear Preprocessing Of Wavefront Sensor Slope Measurements For Improved Adaptive Optics Performance, Dennis A. Montera Mar 1996

Linear And Non-Linear Preprocessing Of Wavefront Sensor Slope Measurements For Improved Adaptive Optics Performance, Dennis A. Montera

Theses and Dissertations

New methods for preprocessing wavefront sensor (WFS) slope measurements are presented. Methods are developed to improve the accuracy of WFS slope measurements, as well as estimating key atmospheric and system parameters from the slope signals. Both statistical and artificial neural network solutions are investigated. Also, new atmospheric models for generating slope and phase data with the proper spatial and temporal statistics are developed. The experiments in improving the accuracy of WFS slope measurements include reducing the WFS slope measurement error and compensating for adaptive optics system time delay through temporal slope prediction. The experiments in key parameter estimation include estimating …


Experimental Investigation And Computer Modeling Of Optical Switching In Distributed Bragg Reflector And Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser Structures, Richard J. Bagnell Dec 1995

Experimental Investigation And Computer Modeling Of Optical Switching In Distributed Bragg Reflector And Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser Structures, Richard J. Bagnell

Theses and Dissertations

The optical switching capabilities of Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) structures, including Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) are examined. Reflectivity switching is demonstrated using both thermal and carrier generated effects to alter the DBR/VCSEL layers' refractive indices. Optical bistability is demonstrated at room temperature, under CW photopumped excitation. The optical bistability hysteresis is controllable by spectral location of the pump on the stop band edge. In the VCSEL, reflective bistability is also evidenced; additionally, this bistability is accompanied by a bistability in the VCSEL lasing output intensity, spot size, and wavelength. Modeling of the DBR/VCSEL thermally induced bistability was accomplished …


Neutron Damage In Distributed Bragg Reflectors And Microcavity Lasers, Mark A. Suriano Dec 1995

Neutron Damage In Distributed Bragg Reflectors And Microcavity Lasers, Mark A. Suriano

Theses and Dissertations

Distributed Bragg Reflectors (DBRs) grown on a gallium-arsenide substrate for a solid state mirror and a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) were subjected to a neutron fluence to determine the sensitivity of the DBRs. The samples were irradiated at Ohio State University's 500 kW research reactor. Relative and absolute reflectance measurements were taken before and after each irradiation over a spectral band of 530 880 µm. Relative reflectance measurements showed that the irradiation did not cause any spectral shift over seven decades of neutron fluences. The reflectivity of the DBRs decreased from their initial measurements after being irradiated. The …


Micromirror Array Control Of A Phase-Locked Laser Diode Array, Carl J. Christensen Dec 1995

Micromirror Array Control Of A Phase-Locked Laser Diode Array, Carl J. Christensen

Theses and Dissertations

A ten element micromirror array has been designed, fabricated, and employed to control the far field irradiance pattern of a phase locked laser diode array. The laser array used in this experiment was a ten element, gain guided array lasing at a nominal wavelength of 828 nm and operating in the it out of phase supermode. The laser's near field irradiance was imaged onto a micromirror array, where the it phase differences between adjacent laser elements were corrected. This was accomplished by moving the micromirrors with individually applied voltages. The result was the desirable single lobed far field pattern, placing …


Maximum Likelihood Estimation Of Wave Front Slopes Using A Hartmann-Type Sensor, Scott A. Sallberg Dec 1995

Maximum Likelihood Estimation Of Wave Front Slopes Using A Hartmann-Type Sensor, Scott A. Sallberg

Theses and Dissertations

Current methods for estimating the wave front slope at the pupil of a telescope equipped with a Hartmann-type wave front sensor (H-WFS) are based on a simple centroid calculation of the intensity distributions (spots) recorded in each subaperture of the H-WFS. The centroid method does not include any knowledge concerning correlation properties of the slopes over the subapertures or the amount of light collected by the telescope and diverted to the H-WFS for wave front reconstruction purposes. This thesis devises a maximum likelihood (ML) estimation of the spot centroids by incorporating statistical knowledge of the spot shifts. The light level …


Characterization Of Atmospheric Turbulence Over Long Horizontal Paths Using Optical Slope Measurements, Eric E. Silbaugh Dec 1995

Characterization Of Atmospheric Turbulence Over Long Horizontal Paths Using Optical Slope Measurements, Eric E. Silbaugh

Theses and Dissertations

Atmospheric turbulence has long been recognized as one of the fundamental factors affecting optical systems operating through the atmosphere. Turbulence over vertical paths has been well characterized, both theoretically and experimentally. Much less is known about turbulence over long, horizontal paths. Perturbations of the wave front phase can be measured using a Hartmann wave front sensor (H-WFS). Theoretical expressions for the tilt removed structure function of the H-WFS slope measurements were derived and evaluated using quadrature. These slope structure functions are functions of the phase structure function. The Kolmogorov turbulence model was assumed. Simulated H-WFS slope measurements were generated using …


Computer-Aided Diagnosis Of Mammographic Masses, William E. Polakowski Dec 1995

Computer-Aided Diagnosis Of Mammographic Masses, William E. Polakowski

Theses and Dissertations

A new Model-Based Vision algorithm was developed to find possibly cancerous regions of interest (ROIs) in digitized mammograms and to correctly identify the malignant masses. This work has shown a sensitivity of 92 percent for locating malignant ROIs. The database contained 272 images (12 bit, 1OO microns) with 36 malignant and 53 benign mass images. Of the 53 biopsied benign cases, 74 percent were correctly classified. The Focus of Attention (segmentation) Module algorithm used a physiologically motivated Difference of Gaussians (DoG) filter to highlight mass-like regions in the mammogram. The Index Module labeled the regions by their hypothesized class: large …


Effects Of Neutron Radiation On Resonant Cavity Light-Emitting Diodes, Daniel S. Hinkel Dec 1995

Effects Of Neutron Radiation On Resonant Cavity Light-Emitting Diodes, Daniel S. Hinkel

Theses and Dissertations

Resonant Cavity Light Emitting Diodes (RCLEDs) were irradiated in Ohio State University's nuclear reactor to determine the effects of Neutron displacement damage. The RCLEDs were characterized both before and after irradiation by their current versus voltage curves (I-V curves) and external light power versus current curves (L-I curves). The I-V curves showed an increase in the "knee voltage" at a neutron fluence of 1.45x1017 neutrons/cm2. Logarithmic decreases in external light power and differential quantum efficiency were observed. Significant decreases in external light power were observed at neutron fluences greater than 5.1x1013 neutrons/cm2. Equations were …


Two-Wavelength Neodymium Based Lasers, Scott H. Mccracken Dec 1995

Two-Wavelength Neodymium Based Lasers, Scott H. Mccracken

Theses and Dissertations

A dual wavelength Q switched laser cavity has been successfully designed and assembled to evaluate the new neodymium (Nd) based materials. Initial characterization has been achieved for Nd:YAG and Nd:YLF. The results indicate that for a fixed pulse repetition frequency, the delay time can be used to adjust the relative energy between the 1.06 and 1.32 micrometer pulses. Any deficiency in the performance of one transition can be made up by performance in the other simply by changing the relative amount of time the population inversion is allowed to build up for each pulse. The best performance was obtained using …


Design, Fabrication And Characterization Of Micro Opto-Electro-Mechanical Systems, Darren E. Sene Dec 1995

Design, Fabrication And Characterization Of Micro Opto-Electro-Mechanical Systems, Darren E. Sene

Theses and Dissertations

Several micro-opto-electro-mechanical structures were designed using the Multi-User MEMS Process (MUMPS). Specific design techniques were investigated for improving the capabilities of elevating flip up structures. The integration of several flip up microoptical structures into a microoptical system was explored with emphasis on the development of a microinterferometer. The thermal effects on the Modulus of Elasticity were determined by detecting the resonant frequency for a square Flexure Beam Micromirror Device. The resonance of the device was found to match theory to within 0.1 % and the Modulus of Elasticity was found to decrease by 0.041 GPa/K from 290 to 450 K. …


Frame Selection Performance Limits For Statistical Image Reconstruction Of Adaptive Optics Compensated Images, Stephen D. Ford Dec 1994

Frame Selection Performance Limits For Statistical Image Reconstruction Of Adaptive Optics Compensated Images, Stephen D. Ford

Theses and Dissertations

The U.S. Air Force uses adaptive optics systems to collect images of extended objects beyond the atmosphere. These systems use wavefront sensors and deformable mirrors to compensate for atmospheric turbulence induced aberrations. Adaptive optics greatly enhance image quality; however, wavefront aberrations are not completely eliminated. Therefore, post-detection processing techniques are employed to further improve the compensated images. Typically, many short exposure images are collected, recentered to compensate for tilt, and then averaged to overcome randomness in the images and improve signal-to-noise ratio. Experience shows that some short exposure images in a data set are better than others. Frame selection exploits …


Flow Visualization Of A Turbulent Shear Flow Using An Optical Wavefront Sensor, Daniel W. Jewell Dec 1994

Flow Visualization Of A Turbulent Shear Flow Using An Optical Wavefront Sensor, Daniel W. Jewell

Theses and Dissertations

The research reported here investigated the use of a shearing interferometer (SI) wavefront sensor to determine the effects of shear-layer turbulence on an optical wavefront. A collimated helium-neon laser beam was propagated through a plane shear-layer produced by mixing helium and nitrogen at different velocities. Since the gases have different indices of refraction, the optical wavefront was distorted by different amounts by each gas. The SI measured the wavefront slope across the sampled area of the wavefront. The shear-layer was viewed from two orthogonal directions. This document contains shadow graphs, interference patterns imaged by each of the SI's six cameras, …