Erin Fleet

Optical properties of a bio-inspired gradient refractive index polymer lens

The design, fabrication, and properties of one of a new class of gradient-index lenses are reported. The lens is an f/2.25 GRIN singlet based on a nanolayered polymer composite material, designed to correct for spherical aberration. The light gathering and focusing properties of the polymer lens are compared to a homogeneous BK7 glass singlet with a similar f-number. The modulation transfer function of the polymer GRIN lens exceeded that of the homogeneous glass lens at all spatial frequencies and was as much as 3 times better at 5 cyc/mm. The weight of the polymer lens was approximately an order of magnitude less than the homogeneous glass lens.

TOMBO sensor with scene-independent superresolution processing

One approach to flat sensor design is to use a lenslet array to form multiple subimages of a scene and then combine the subimages to recover a fully sampled image by using a superresolution algorithm. Previously, superresolution image assembly has been based on information derived from the observed scene. For lenslet arrays, we propose a new scene-independent approach based only on known imager properties in which relative subimage shifts are accurately estimated with a calibration procedure using point source imaging. Thus, the relative resolution enhancement provided by the scene-independent superresolution algorithm is impervious to changes in subimage content, contrast, sharpness, and noise.

Analysis and application of multiframe superresolution processing for conventional imaging systems and lenslet arrays

Low-cost compact sensors for ultrasmall systems are a pressing need in many new applications. One potential solution is a shallow aspect ratio system using a lenslet array to form multiple undersampled subimages of a scene on a single focal plane array, where processing techniques then produce an upsampled restored image. We have investigated the optimization and theoretical limits of the performance of such arrays. We have built a hardware simulator and developed algorithms to process imagery similar to that of a full lenslet imaging sensor, which allowed us to quickly test optical components, algorithms, and complete system designs for future lenslet imaging systems.

Designing manufacturable filters for a 16-band plenoptic camera using differential evolution

A 16-band plenoptic camera allows for the rapid exchange of filter sets via a 4x4 filter array on the lenss front aperture. This ability to change out filters allows for an operator to quickly adapt to different locales or threat intelligence. Typically, such a system incorporates a default set of 16 equally spaced at-topped filters. Knowing the operating theater or the likely targets of interest it becomes advantageous to tune the filters. We propose using a modified beta distribution to parameterize the different possible filters and differential evolution (DE) to search over the space of possible filter designs. The modified beta distribution allows us to jointly optimize the width, taper and wavelength center of each single- or multi-pass filter in the set over a number of evolutionary steps. Further, by constraining the function parameters we can develop solutions which are not just theoretical but manufacturable. We examine two independent tasks: general spectral sensing and target detection. In the general spectral sensing task we utilize the theory of compressive sensing (CS) and find filters that generate codings which minimize the CS reconstruction error based on a fixed spectral dictionary of endmembers. For the target detection task and a set of known targets, we train the filters to optimize the separation of the background and target signature. We compare our results to the default 16 at-topped non-overlapping filter set which comes with the plenoptic camera and full hyperspectral resolution data which was previously acquired.

Two-dimensional beam steering using a thermo-optic silicon photonic optical phased array

Abstract. Many components for free-space optical (FSO) communication systems have shrunken in size over the last decade. However, the steering systems have remained large and power hungry. Nonmechanical beam steering offers a path to reducing the size of these systems. Optical phased arrays can allow integrated beam steering elements. One of the most important aspects of an optical phased array technology is its scalability to a large number of elements. Silicon photonics can potentially offer this scalability using CMOS foundry techniques. A phased array that can steer in two dimensions using the thermo-optic effect is demonstrated. No wavelength tuning of the input laser is needed and the design allows a simple control system with only two inputs. A benchtop FSO link with the phased array in both transmit and receive mode is demonstrated.

New multiband IR imaging optics

We report new multispectral materials that transmit from 0.9 to < 12 µm in wavelength. These materials fill up the glass map for multispectral optics and vary in refractive index from 2.38 to 3.17. They show a large spread in dispersion (Abbe number) and offer some unique solutions for multispectral optics designs. One of the glasses developed is a very good candidate to replace Ge, as it has a combination of excellent properties, including high Abbe number in the LWIR, high index of 3.2, 60% lower dn/dT, and better thermal stability at working temperatures. Our results also provide a wider selection of optical materials to enable simpler achromat designs. For example, we have developed other glasses that have relatively high Abbe number in both the MWIR and LWIR regions, while our MILTRAN ceramic has low Abbe number in both regions. This makes for a very good combination of glasses and MILTRAN ceramic (analogous to crown and flint glasses in the visible) for MWIR + LWIR dual band imaging. We have designed preliminary optics for one such imager with f/2.5, 51 mm focal length and 22 degrees FOV using a spaced doublet of NRLs glass and MILTRAN ceramic. NRLs approach reduces the number of elements, weight, complexity and cost compared with the approach using traditional optics. Another important advantage of using NRL glasses in optics design is their negative or very low positive dn/dT, that makes it easier to athermalize the optical system.

Compact TOMBO Sensor with Scene-Independent Super-Resolution Processing

Flat sensors are an important goal of modern imaging system development. One solution is to use a lenslet array to form undersampled sub-images. Using a priori calibration, super-resolution algorithms can recover fully sampled images.

Interferometric microscopy of silicon photonic devices

Silicon photonics provides the ability to construct complex photonic circuits that act on the amplitude and phase of multiple optical channels. Many applications of silicon photonics depend on maintenance of optical coherence among the various waveguides and structures on the chip. Other applications can depend on the modal structures of the waveguides. All these application require the ability to characterize the amplitude and phase of individual optical channels. Fourier imaging with high numerical aperture microscope objectives has been used to image the intensity of individual channels of photonic structures in both real and Fourier space. In other work, holographic imaging of multimode fibers has allowed modal decomposition. In this work we use interferometric microscopy to image the amplitude and phase of a variety of silicon photonic structures. These include a multimode interference splitter and a multimode waveguide under various excitation conditions.

Multispectral optics designs using expanded glass map

We report new materials that transmit from 0.9 to > 14 μm in wavelength and fill up the glass map for multispectral optics having refractive index from 2.38 to 3.17. They show a large spread in dispersion (Abbe number) and offer some unique solutions for multispectral optics designs. The new IR glasses can be easily molded and also fused together to make bonded doublets. We present the benefits of these new materials through dual-band optics designs and compare to designs using currently available crystalline materials.

Rugged Optics for Multispectral Imaging Systems

We have developed several rugged materials for multiband applications covering the UV, visible, Shortwave-IR (SWIR), Midwave-IR (MWIR) and Longwave-IR (LWIR) wavelength regions. These materials include MILTRAN™ and IR glass which transmit in the SWIR, MWIR and LWIR. MILTRAN™ is > 3 times harder and stronger than ZnS and can provide rugged window or dome materials for broadband sensors. IR glass can be easily made in complex shapes. A combination of MILTRAN™ and IR glass can be used to make achromats for multispectral imaging systems.