Publications

Abstract not provided.

Abstract not provided.

A quantum optical approach is proposed and analyzed as a solution to the problem of detecting weak coherent radiation in the presence of a strong incoherent background. The approach is based on the extreme sensitivity of laser dynamical nonlinearities to the coherence of external perturbation. This sensitivity leads to dynamical phase transitions that may be employed for detecting the presence of external coherent radiation. Of particular interest are the transitions between stable and chaotic states of laser operation. Using a baseline scheme consisting of a detector laser operating with a Fabry-Perot cavity, we demonstrated significant qualitative and quantitative differences in the response of the detector laser to the intensity and coherence of the external signal. Bifurcation analysis revealed that considerable modification to the extension of chaotic regions is possible by tailoring active medium and optical resonator configurations. Our calculations showed that with semiconductor lasers, destabilization can occur with a coherent external signal intensity that is over six orders of magnitude smaller than the detector laser's intracavity intensity. Discrimination between coherent and incoherent external signal also looks promising because of the over four orders of magnitude difference in intensity required for inducing chaos-like behavior. These results suggest that the proposed approach may be useful in laser sensor applications, such as satellite Laser Threat Warning Receivers (LTWR).

Two-Axis Rotation Systems, or "goniometers," are used in diverse applications including telescope pointing, automotive headlamp testing, and display testing. There are three basic configurations in which a goniometer can be built depending on the orientation and order of the stages. Each configuration has a governing set of equations which convert motion between the system "native" coordinates to other base systems, such as direction cosines, optical field angles, or spherical-polar coordinates. In their simplest form, these equations neglect errors present in real systems. In this paper, a statistical treatment of error source propagation is developed which uses only tolerance data, such as can be obtained from the system mechanical drawings prior to fabrication. It is shown that certain error sources are fully correctable, partially correctable, or uncorrectable, depending upon the goniometer configuration and zeroing technique. The system error budget can be described by a root-sum-of-squares technique with weighting factors describing the sensitivity of each error source. This paper tabulates weighting factors at 67% (k=l) and 95% (k=2) confidence for various levels of maximum travel for each goniometer configuration. As a practical example, this paper works through an error budget used for the procurement of a system at Sandia National Laboratories.