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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2007

Nonlinear Optics and Applications

Nonlinear optics is the result of laser beam interaction with materials and started with the advent of lasers in the early 1960s. The field is growing daily and plays a major role in emerging photonic technology. Nonlinear optics play a major role in many of the optical applications such as optical signal processing, optical computers, ultrafast switches, ultra-short pulsed lasers, sensors, laser amplifiers, and many others. This special review volume on Nonlinear Optics and Applications is intended for those who want to be aware of the most recent technology. This book presents a survey of the recent advances of nonlinear optical applications. Emphasis will be on novel devices and materials, switching technology, optical computing, and important experimental results. Recent developments in topics which are of historical interest to researchers, and in the same time of potential use in the fields of all-optical communication and computing technologies, are also included. Additionally, a few new related topics which might provoke discussion are presented. The book includes chapters on nonlinear optics and applications; the nonlinear Schrodinger and associated equations that model spatio-temporal propagation; the supercontinuum light source; wideband ultrashort pulse fiber laser sources; lattice fabrication as well as their linear and nonlinear light guiding properties; the second-order EO effect (Pockels), the third-order (Kerr) and thermo-optical effects in optical waveguides and their applications in optical communication; and, the effect of magnetic field and its role in nonlinear optics, among other chapters.

Abdeldayem, Hossin A.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Computer driven optical keratometer and method of evaluating the shape of the cornea

An apparatus and method for measuring the shape of the cornea utilize only one reticle to generate a pattern of rings projected onto the surface of a subject's eye. The reflected pattern is focused onto an imaging device such as a video camera and a computer compares the reflected pattern with a reference pattern stored in the computer's memory. The differences between the reflected and stored patterns are used to calculate the deformation of the cornea which may be useful for pre-and post-operative evaluation of the eye by surgeons.

Baroth, Edmund C.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Validity Using Pump-Probe Pulses to Determine the Optical Response of Niobate Crystals

A variety of niobate crystals have found their places in nonlinear optical applications as well as in laser devices. In recent years much attention has been paid to study the ultrafast optical response in a variety of photorefractive crystals such as KTa(1-x)Nb(x)O3 and KNbO3 crystals, glasses, semiconductors and polymers for applications in optical switching, information processing, optical computing, and all-optical device systems. Third-order optical nonlinearity is the most important property for realization of all-optical switching. Therefore experiments have been performed on the third order susceptibility using a variety of techniques such as the third-order harmonic generation, EFISH and degenerate four-wave mixing(DFWM). The latter has been conducted with a variety of pump wavelengths and with nanosecond, picosecond and femtosecond pulses. Niobate crystals, such as potassium niobate KNbO3, potassium tantalate niobate KTN family (KTa(1-x)Nb(x)O3), strontium barium niobate SBN (Sr(x)Ba(1-x)Nb2O6) and potassium-sodium niobate SBN (KNSBN) are attractive due to their photorefractive properties for application in optical storage and processing. The pulsed probe experiments performed on theses materials have suggested two types of time responses. These responses have been associated with an coherent response due to Chi(sup 3), and a long lived component due to excited state population. Recent study of DFWM on KNbO3 and KTN family reveals that the long lived component of those crystals depends on the crystal orientation. A slowly decaying signal is observable when the grating vector K(sub g) is not perpendicular to the C-axis of those photorefractive crystals', otherwise the optical response signal would be only a narrow coherent peak with FWHM equal to the cross-correlation width of the write beam pulses. Based on this understanding, we study the photodynamical process of a variety of niobate crystals using DFWM in a Kg perpindicular to C geometry with a ps-YAG: Nd laser operating at 532nm. However, the discrepancies in numerical estimations of Chi(sup 3) in these materials and other nonlinear optical media have resulted in a number of discussions. In order to better understand the photodynamical process of niobate crystals after an short pulse excitation we analyze the factors governing the coherent signal and present the DFWM spectra of niobate crystals.

Liu, Huimin↗
NASA NTRS2004

Computational Modeling of NEXT 2000-Hour Wear Test Results

Ion optics computational models are invaluable tools for the design of ion optics systems. In this study, a new computational model developed by an outside vendor for NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) is presented. This model is a gun code which has been modified to model the plasma sheaths both upstream and downstream of the ion optics. The model handles multiple species (e.g. singly and doubly-charged ions) and includes a charge-exchange model for erosion estimates. The model uses commercially available solid design and meshing software, allowing high flexibility in ion optics geometric configurations. This computational model is compared to experimental results from the NASA Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT) 2000-hour wear test, including over-focusing along the edge apertures, pit-and-groove erosion due to charge exchange, and beamlet distortion at the edge of the hole pattern.

Malone, Shane P.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Computing Temperatures In Optically Pumped Laser Rods

Computer program presents new model solving temperature-distribution problem for laser rods of finite length and calculates both radial and axial components of temperature distributions in these rods. Contains several self-checking schemes to prevent over-writing of memory blocks and to provide simple tracing of information in case of trouble. Written in Microsoft FORTRAN 77.

Farrukh, Usamah O.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Studies on distributed sensing and processing for the control of large flexible spacecraft

Technology is being developed to process signals from distributed sensors using distributed computations. These distributed sensors provide a new feedback capability for vibration control that has not been exploited. Additionally, the sensors proposed are of an optical and distributed nature and could be employed with known techniques of distributed optical computation (Fourier optics, etc.) to accomplish the control system functions of filtering and regulation in a distributed computer. This paper reviews a procedure for the analytic design of control systems for this application. For illustration, the procedure is applied to the problem of suppressing the vibrations of a simply supported beam. A simulator has been developed to study the effects of sensor and processing errors. An extensive study of the effects of these errors on estimation and regulation performance is presented.

Montgomery, Raymond C.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Control of flexible structures with distributed sensing and processing

Technology is being developed to process signals from distributed sensors using distributed computations. These distributed sensors provide a new feedback capability for vibration control that has not been exploited. Additionally, the sensors proposed are of an optical and distributed nature and could be employed with known techniques of distributed optical computation (Fourier optics, etc.) to accomplish the control system functions of filtering and regulation in a distributed computer. This paper extends the traditional digital, optimal estimation and control theory to include distributed sensing and processing for this application. The design model assumes a finite number of modes which make it amenable to empirical determination of the design model via familiar modal-test techniques. The sensors are assumed to be distributed, but a finite number of point actuators are used. The design process is illustrated by application to a Euler beam. A simulation of the beam is used to design an optimal vibration control system that uses a distributed deflection sensor and nine linear force actuators. Simulations are also used to study the influence of design and processing errors on the performance.

Ghosh, Dave↗
NASA NTRS1967

Computer program for optical systems ray tracing

Program traces rays of light through optical systems consisting of up to 65 different optical surfaces and computes the aberrations. For design purposes, paraxial tracings with astigmation and third order tracings are provided.

Ferguson, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Modeling Optics For Analyses Of Dynamics And Controls

Method of computing optical sensitivities of single- and multiple-element optical trains developed for analyses of dynamics of optoelectro-mechanical systems, including controlled optics (lenses, mirrors, prisms, and/or gratings mounted on electromechanical actuators) supported by flexible structure. Based on techniques of ray tracing and on matrix representation of each surface of each optical element.

Breckenridge, William C.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Optimum mirror shapes and supports for light weight mirrors subjected to self-weight

A parametric design study of light weight mirror shapes with various support conditions was performed utilizing the finite element program NASTRAN. Improvements in the mirror performance were made based on the following design criteria: (1) minimization of the optical surface wavefront variations, (2) minimization of the self-weight directly related to cost of manufacturing, and (3) optimal location of support points. A preprocessor to automatically generate a finite element model for each mirror geometry was developed in order to obtain the structural deformations systematically. Additionally, a postprocessor, which prepares an input data file for FRINGE (an optical computer code) was developed for generating the optical deflections that lead to the surface wavefront variations. Procedures and modeling techniques to achieve the optimum (the lightest and stiffest mirror shape due to self-weight) are addressed.

Cho, Myung K.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Optical Interconnection Via Computer-Generated Holograms

Method of free-space optical interconnection developed for data-processing applications like parallel optical computing, neural-network computing, and switching in optical communication networks. In method, multiple optical connections between multiple sources of light in one array and multiple photodetectors in another array made via computer-generated holograms in electrically addressed spatial light modulators (ESLMs). Offers potential advantages of massive parallelism, high space-bandwidth product, high time-bandwidth product, low power consumption, low cross talk, and low time skew. Also offers advantage of programmability with flexibility of reconfiguration, including variation of strengths of optical connections in real time.

Liu, Hua-Kuang↗
NASA NTRS1998

Computational Modeling of Semiconductor Dynamics at Femtosecond Time Scales

The Interchange No. NCC2-5149 deals with the emerging technology of photonic (or optoelectronic) integrated circuits (PICs or OEICs). In PICs, optical and electronic components are grown together on the same chip. To build such devices and subsystems, one needs to model the entire chip. PICs are useful for building components for integrated optical transmitters, integrated optical receivers, optical data storage systems, optical interconnects, and optical computers. For example, the current commercial rate for optical data transmission is 2.5 gigabits per second, whereas the use of shorter pulses to improve optical transmission rates would yield an increase of 400 to 1000 times. The improved optical data transmitters would be used in telecommunications networks and computer local-area networks. Also, these components can be applied to activities in space, such as satellite to satellite communications, when the data transmissions are made at optical frequencies. The research project consisted of developing accurate computer modeling of electromagnetic wave propagation in semiconductors. Such modeling is necessary for the successful development of PICs. More specifically, these computer codes would enable the modeling of such devices, including their subsystems, such as semiconductor lasers and semiconductor amplifiers in which there is femtosecond pulse propagation. Presently, there are no computer codes that could provide this modeling. Current codes do not solve the full vector, nonlinear, Maxwell's equations, which are required for these short pulses and also current codes do not solve the semiconductor Bloch equations, which are required to accurately describe the material's interaction with femtosecond pulses. The research performed under NCC2-5149 solves the combined Maxwell's and Bloch's equations.

Agrawal, Govind P.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Optical memories in digital computing

High capacity optical memories with relatively-high data-transfer rate and multiport simultaneous access capability may serve as basis for new computer architectures. Several computer structures that might profitably use memories are: a) simultaneous record-access system, b) simultaneously-shared memory computer system, and c) parallel digital processing structure.

Alford, C. O.↗
NASA NTRS1972

A computer program to evaluate optical systems

A computer program is used to evaluate a 25.4 cm X-ray telescope at a field angle of 20 minutes of arc by geometrical analysis. The object is regarded as a point source of electromagnetic radiation, and the optical surfaces are treated as boundary conditions in the solution of the electromagnetic wave propagation equation. The electric field distribution is then determined in the region of the image and the intensity distribution inferred. A comparison of wave analysis results and photographs taken through the telescope shows excellent agreement.

Innes, D.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Utilization of SAGE aerosol profiles in the analysis of Mauna Loa stratospheric lidar data

A systematic approach to analyzing lidar data collected at NOAA's Mauna Loa Observatory (MLO) was developed which relies on parameters derived from SAGE satellite extinction profile measurements to verify boundary conditions applied to analysis. The approach also provides a means of assessing the uncertainties associated with the various inputs, so that the accuracy of the analysis of the MLO lidar data is available. The stratosphere during the 1980 to 1981 period was only mildly perturbed and could be easily represented by the SAMII/SAGE background aerosol model. The MLO lidar observations collected during this period provided stratospheric optical depths with uncertainties ranging between 15% and 25%. Uncertainties in the aerosol optical model contribute errors of 3% to 4% in the computed optical depths. Most of the optical depth uncertainty is associated with the calibration assumption in which no marked improvement can be expected.

Fernald, F. G.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Properties and applications of photorefractive GaAs

Photorefractive semiconductors have the attractive features of fast response times and operation at near-infrared wavelengths. This has opened some new research opportunities in the field of photorefractive nonlinear optics which is significant for applications in real-time image processing and optical computing. This paper presents recent experimental demonstrations of several basic optical information processing techniques using photorefractive GaAs crystals. The results of these demonstrations illustrate that photorefractive compound semiconductors has a great potential as a new medium for light beam interaction based on the dynamic holographic principle.

Cheng, Li-Jen↗