A new optical implementation of the Radon-Wigner display for one-dimensional objects is presented, making use of the fractional Fourier transform approach. The proposed setup makes use of only two conventional refractive elements: a cylindrical lens and a varifocal lens. Although the exact magnifications cannot be achieved simultaneously for all the fractional transforms, an optimum design can be obtained through balancing the conflicting magnification requirements. Experimental results are obtained with a commercially available progressive addition lens. For comparison, computer simulations are also provided.

A novel optical switching technique based on two symmetrically coupled semiconductor optical amplifiers operating in reverse‐bias mode is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The device produces both noninverted and inverted hysteresis behavior with switching speed in MHz range. However, switch performance can be improved by implementing this technique in a photonic integrated circuit. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 52:2753–2759, 2010; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.25594

Capstone senior design is the culmination of a student's undergraduate engineering education that prepares them for engineering practice. In fact, any engineering degree program that pursues accreditation by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET must contain "a major design experience based on the knowledge and skills acquired in earlier course work and incorporating appropriate engineering standards and multiple realistic constraints." At Rose-Hulman, we offer an interdisciplinary Optical Engineering / Engineering Physics senior design curriculum that meets this requirement. Part of this curriculum is a two-course sequence where students work in teams on a design project leading to a functional prototype. The students begin work on their capstone project during the first week of their senior year. The courses are deliverable-driven and the students are held accountable for regular technical progress through weekly updates with their faculty advisor and mid-term design reviews. We have found that client-sponsored projects offer students an enriched engineering design experience as it ensures consideration of constraints and standards requirements similar to those that they will encounter as working engineers. Further, client-sponsored projects provide teams with an opportunity for regular customer interactions which help shape the product design. The process that we follow in both soliciting and helping to scope appropriate industry-related design projects will be described. In addition, an outline of the capstone course structure as well as methods used to hold teams accountable for technical milestones will be discussed. Illustrative examples of past projects will be provided.

We experimentally demonstrate optical switching in a Fabry-Perot saturable absorber using a pump-probe technique. The saturable absorbers are multiple quantum wells, 35 and 42 pairs of alternating layers of 7 nm thick compressively strained Ga 0.42 In 0.58 AsP. These quantum wells are separated by 8 nm thick InP barriers. The reflectivity of these samples as a function of the input optical power is theoretically and experimentally investigated. A switching rate of better than 20 MHz is observed. This optical switching is based on the mechanism of controlling the reflectivity of the Fabry-Perot saturable absorber, while operating at its resonant wavelength, by the pump power. Optical switching speed of 10 ns is possible.