Johan Öhgren

Silica Hybrid Sol−Gel Materials with Unusually High Concentration of Pt−Organic Molecular Guests: Studies of Luminescence and Nonlinear Absorption of Light

The development of new photonic materials is a key step toward improvement of existing optical devices and for the preparation of a new generation of systems. Therefore synthesis of photonic hybrid materials with a thorough understanding and control of the microstructure-to-properties relationships is crucial. In this perspective, a new preparation method based on fast gelation reactions using simple dispersion of dyes without strong covalent bonding between dye and matrix has been developed. This new sol-gel method is demonstrated through synthesis of monolithic siloxane-based hybrid materials highly doped by various platinum(II) acetylide derivatives. Concentrations of the chromophores as high as 400 mM were obtained and resulted in unprecedented optical power limiting (OPL) performance at 532 nm of the surface-polished solids. Static and time-resolved photoluminescence of the prepared hybrid materials were consistent with both OPL data and previous studies of similar Pt(II) compounds in solution. The impacts of the microstructure and the chemical composition of the matrix on the spectroscopic properties, are discussed.

Retrocommunication utilizing electroabsorption modulators and nonmechanical beam steering

A novel retrocommunication link utilizing reflective multiple quantum well (MQW) optical modulators and nonmechanical beam steering and tracking is demonstrated. Large aperture reflective MQW modulators using AlGaAs/GaAs are optimized and manufactured. The modulators exhibit a contrast ratio larger than 4:1 and a modulation bandwidth of 10 MHz. Nonmechanical beam steering and tracking are studied using nematic liquid crystal (NLC) spatial light modulators (SLMs). The communication link is comprised of a retromodulating array with four MQW modulators and a transceiver using a NLC SLM for beam steering and tracking. Transfer of audio, real-time image data and pseudorandom bit sequences over 100-m range while tracking the moving retromodulator is shown. The link is capable of transferring data at approximately 8 Mbps.

A novel free-space retrocommunication link

Retrocommunication is a new technique for asymmetric free-space optical communication that has attracted interest during recent years. Novel technologies such as multiple quantum well (MQW) optical modulators and non-mechanical laser beam steering and tracking have been studied for implementation in a retrocommunication link. Large and small aperture reflective AlGaAs/GaAs MQW modulators were optimised and fabricated. The modulators exhibit high contrast ratios (from 5 to 100) and high modulation rates (up to 16 Mbit/s). A retroreceiver consisting of four large aperture MQW modulators, associated optics and drive electronics was fabricated. Nematic liquid crystal spatial light modulators have been evaluated, characterised for beam steering and tracking and implemented in a transceiver. Small area MQW modulators, used in focal plane configurations, were studied for static communication links. Results from a novel retrocommunication link utilising a retroreceiver and non-mechanical laser beam steering and tracking will be presented. Bit rates of 8 Mbit/s were observed during non-mechanical tracking of a moving retroreceiver over 100 m range. The demonstrator system was capable of transferring audio-, real-time images or bit streams. The demonstrated principles show promising features for future low weight free-space communication links. Performance calculations including requirements for a retrocommunication link using MQW modulators and non-mechanical beam steering are discussed.

A high-speed modulated retro-reflector communication link with a transmissive modulator in a cat's eye optics arrangement

An optical communication link with a modulated retro-reflector in a cats eye optics arrangement has been evaluated. A transmissive multiple quantum well modulator with a modulation bandwidth in excess of 10 MHz was placed in a wide field-of-view cats eye optic system. A laser transceiver with one line and one broadband source around 1550 nm was used to interrogate the modulated retro-reflector and detect the reflected and modulated signal. Multi-level digital encoding was evaluated as a way to increase the information transfer rate in conditions with relatively high signal-to-noise ratio. The links were evaluated in indoor as well as outdoor conditions.

Using an eye-safe laser rangefinder to assist active and passive electro-optical sensor performance prediction in low visibility conditions

Abstract. Laser rangefinders are used in various electro-optical (EO) fire control systems. They often operate at eye-safe wavelengths around 1.55  μm, which extends their utility. The paper investigates the use of a modified eye-safe laser rangefinder at 1.55  μm to obtain information on atmospheric attenuation and couple that information to the performance of active and passive EO sensors with an emphasis of lower visibility conditions. Such information can be of great value both for estimating own sensor capabilities at a given moment as well as estimating the threat capability. One obvious example is ship defense where it is difficult to obtain visibility along variable and slant atmospheric paths, especially in darkness. The experimental equipment and the results from measurements of atmospheric backscatter along various atmospheric paths are presented. The backscatter curve is used to evaluate the extinction. These extinction values are compared with those deduced from a point visibility meter and from echo measurements against two similar nets positioned at two ranges from the sensor. TV and IR images of test targets along a 1.8 km path close to sea surface in the Baltic Sea were collected in parallel with the lidar. A weather station and a scintillometer collected weather and turbulence parameters. Results correlating the lidar attenuation with the imaging performance will be given.

Laser dazzling impacts on car driver performance

A growing problem for the Police and Security Forces has been to prevent potentially hostile individuals to pass a checkpoint, without using lethatl violence. Therefore the question has been if there is a laser or any other strong light source that could be used as a warning and dazzling device, without lethal or long term effects. To investigate the possibilities a field trial has been performed at a motor-racing track. A green CW laser with an irradiance on the eye of maximum 0.5 MPE, as defined by ICNIRP [1] and the ANZI standard [2], was used as a dazzle source. Ten drivers have been driving with dipped headlights through a course of three lines with orange cones. In every line there has been only one gate wide enough to pass without hitting the cones. The time through the course, the choice of gates and the number of cones hit have been measured. For every second trial drive through the track, the driver was exposed to the laser dazzler. The background illuminances ranged from a thousand lux in daylight to about ten millilux in darkness. The protective effect of the sun-visor of the car was investigated. The drives visual system was carefully examined before and after experimental driving and a few weeks after the experimental driving to verify that no pathological effects, that could potentially be induced by the laser exposure, pre-existed or occurred after the laser exposure. An analysis of variance for a within subjects design has been used for evaluation. It was found that green laser light can have an obvious warning effect in daylight. Dazzling does reduce the drivers ability to make judgments and manouver the car in twilight and darkness. A sun-visor can reduce the glare and give the driver an improved control, but that perception can be unjustified. No damage to the visual system was observed.

Wide-aperture GaAs/AlGaAs multiple quantum well electro-optic modulators

We present design and fabrication methods for surface normal monolithic amplitude modulators with an aperture up to 14 x 14 mm2, a contrast ratio of 6:1 and for low driving voltages (≤8 V). The modulators consist of undoped GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wells embedded in a Fabry-Perot (FP) resonance cavity grown by MOVPE. To improve the device performance the FP cavity, the period and thickness of the quantum well and doping concentration were optimised. Also, the dimension of the modulator were varied from 0.5 x 0.5 to 14 x 14 mm2. The results show that the yield of the modulators increases significantly when decreasing the size of the modulators. To remedy the low yield issue for wide aperture modulator, a pixelated approach was used to divide the mono pixel in a monolithic modulator into several pixels, for example from 4 to 48. The modulation speed of the modulators with different dimensions was characterised by electro-optic (EO) response measurements. The temporal optical response of the large modulators was satisfactory up to the order of MHz modulation frequency where the RC constant limited the performance. A few of the modulators with wide apertures are to be assembled into an optical link system for free-space communication.

Passive and active EO sensing of small surface vessels

The detection and classification of small surface targets at long ranges is a growing need for naval security. This paper will present an overview of a measurement campaign which took place in the Baltic Sea in November 2014. The purpose was to test active and passive EO sensors (10 different types) for the detection, tracking and identification of small sea targets. The passive sensors were covering the visual, SWIR, MWIR and LWIR regions. Active sensors operating at 1.5 μm collected data in 1D, 2D and 3D modes. Supplementary sensors included a weather station, a scintillometer, as well as sensors for positioning and attitude determination of the boats. Three boats in the class 4-9 meters were used as targets. After registration of the boats at close range they were sent out to 5-7 km distance from the sensor site. At the different ranges the target boats were directed to have different aspect angles relative to the direction of observation. Staff from IOSB Fraunhofer in Germany and from Selex (through DSTL) in UK took part in the tests beside FOI who was arranging the trials. A summary of the trial and examples of data and imagery will be presented.

Green light laser exposure at 532 nm near the exposure limit during a human volunteer vehicle driving task does not alter structure or function in the visual system

This study aimed to verify nonexistence of clinically important pathological effects to the visual system after exposure to 532 nm green laser light close to the exposure limit. The present medical surveillance of vision and visual health reported in this paper is the conjunction with a study of driver performance in the presence of 532 nm laser induced glare. The driving time varied between 25 and 55 s, depending on background luminance. The laser was on during the complete test drive. The peak corneal irradiance typically was 3.5 W·m−2 in one test drive. Considering a typical test drive, the typical time integrated corneal radiant exposure for one test drive was estimated to be 53 J·m−2. The number of test drives varied among drivers but was typically 50, thus resulting in a cumulative corneal exposure dose of approximately 2.7 kJ·m−2. Altogether, ten subjects were recruited according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. All ten subjects were examined for visual acuity, intraocular pressure, contrast se...

Passive and active EO sensing close to the sea surface

The present paper investigates the use of an eye-safe laser rangefinder at 1.5 μm and TV/IR imaging to obtain information on atmospheric properties at various paths close to the sea surface. On one day active/passive imaging NIR and SWIR systems were also used. The paper will describe the experimental equipment and the results from measurements of atmospheric backscatter as well as TV and IR images of test targets along a 1.8 km path close to the Baltic Sea. The site also contained a weather station and a scintillometer for logging weather and turbulence parameters. Results correlating the lidar attenuation with the imaging performance will be given and compared with models.