When a pulse superposed on a cw background propagates through an erbium-doped fiber amplifier with a negative group velocity, either pulse broadening or pulse compression can be observed. These effects can be explained in terms of two competing mechanisms: gain recovery and pulse spectrum broadening. The distortion of the pulse shape caused by these effects depends on input pulse width, pump power, and background-to-pulse power ratio. With the proper choice of these three parameters, we can obtain significant pulse advancement with minimal pulse distortion.
We propose a new highly efficient organic dye, oligofluorene, which has great potential for lasing in cholesteric monomeric and glassy liquid crystal oligomers. We perform a detailed comparative experimental study of the laser characteristics of monomeric cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) doped with oligofluorene and a wellstudied dye, 4-(dicyanomethylene)-Z-methyl-6-(4-dimethylaminostryl)-4H-pyran (DCM), commonly used for lasing in CLCs. Oligofluorene-doped CLCs yield a total output energy in the transverse single-mode regime five times that of DCM-doped CLCs with superior temporal and spatial stability.
Long wave infrared (LWIR) optical systems are prone to defocus with changes in temperature. IR refractive materials are more thermally sensitive compared to conventional visible glass due to their larger therm-optic coefficients. LWIR systems can be designed to be passively athermal (little or no change to focus with varying temperatures). Chalcogenide glasses provide additional material choices for IR lens designers. In particular, AMTIR5 has been engineered so its therm-optic coefficient matches the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of aluminum, allowing for an athermal singlet. This paper explores the benefits of using engineered chalcogenide glass for color corrected, passively athermal systems.Initially, we present color corrected and passively athermal doublets that are designed with different materials and / or diffractive surfaces. Their thermal and color performance are cataloged for axial beams only. These are intended to be starting components, which readers may then insert into common design forms, such as Petzval, Double Gauss, Telephoto, and Inverse Telephoto.A F/1.3, 20° full field of view, aspheric Petzval lens design form is explored and the MTF is evaluated for -50°C to 85°C in an aluminum housing. From this design, we explore the tradeoffs between using chalcogenide versus crystalline materials, diffractive versus pure refractive surfaces, and engineered chalcogenide (AMTIR5) versus "catalog" materials.
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