Jose M. Sasian

Five-stage free-space optical switching network with field-effect transistor self-electro-optic-effect-device smart-pixel arrays

The design, construction, and operational testing of a five-stage, fully interconnected 32 × 16 switching fabric by the use of smart-pixel (2, 1, 1) switching nodes are described. The arrays of switching nodes use monolithically integrated GaAs field-effect transistors, multiple-quantum-well p-i-n detectors, and self-electro-optic-device modulators. Each switching node incorporates 25 field-effect transistors and 17 p-i-n diodes to realize two differential optical receivers, the 2 × 1 node switching logic, a single-bit node control memory, and one differential optical transmitter. The five stages of node arrays are interconnected to form a two-dimensional banyan network by the use of Fourier-plane computer-generated holograms. System input and output are made by two-dimensional fiber-bundle matrices, and the system optical hardware design incorporates frequency-stabilized lasers, pupil-division beam combination, and a hybrid micro-macro lens for fiber-bundle imaging. Optomechanical packaging of the system ut lizes modular kinematic component positioning and active thermal control to enable simple rapid assembly. Two preliminary operational experiments are completed. In the first experiment, five stages are operated at 50 Mbits/s with 15 active inputs and outputs. The second experiment attempts to operate two stages of second-generation node arrays at 155 Mbits/s, with eight of the 15 active nodes functioning correctly along the straight switch-routing paths.

Optical Interconnections Using Microlens Arrays

Free-space interconnection of widely spaced pixels may be implemented using microlenses, rather than conventional imaging. Advantages, problems, and studies of system capacity are discussed.

Six-stage digital free-space optical switching network using symmetric self-electro-optic-effect devices

We describe the design and demonstration of an extended generalized shuffle interconnection network, centrally controlled by a personal computer. A banyan interconnection pattern is implemented by use of computer-generated Fourier holograms and custom metallization at each 32 × 32 switching node array. Each array of electrically controlled tristate symmetric self-electro-optic-effect devices has 10,240 optical pinouts and 32 electrical pinouts, and the six-stage system occupies a 9 in. × 12.5 in. (22.9 cm × 31.7 cm) area. Details of the architecture, optical and mechanical design, and system alignment and tolerancing are presented.

Experimental investigation of a free-space optical switching network by using symmetric self-electro-optic-effect devices.

A prototype digital free-space photonic switching fabric is demonstrated. It consists of three cascaded 16 x 8 arrays of symmetric self-electro-optic-effect devices that are used as logic gates that implement part of a multistage interconnection network. We discuss architecture, device tolerancing, optical system design, and optomechanical design. This optical circuit is successfully configured as a fully operational array of 32 independent 2 x 2 nodes and operates at 100 kHz.

Design of a wide-angle, lightweight head-mounted display using free-form optics tiling

We present a concept of a wide-angle, lightweight, optical see-through head-mounted display (HMD) using free-form optics tiling. Free-form optics tiling can potentially address several critical problems in existing tiled HMD designs that use rotationally symmetric optics. The optical design of our tiled optical see-through HMD achieves a field of view (FOV) of 56° × 45° and an angular resolution of 3.2 arcmin with two display channels. We demonstrate a proof-of-concept prototype and present some of its manufacturing details. The FOV can be further enlarged by tiling more display channels together at their bottom and side surfaces.

Depolarization of diffusely reflecting man-made objects

The polarization properties of light scattered or diffusely reflected from seven different man-made samples are studied. For each diffusely reflecting sample an in-plane Mueller matrix bidirectional reflectance distribution function is measured at a fixed bistatic angle using a Mueller matrix imaging polarimeter. The measured profile of depolarization index with changing scattering geometry for most samples is well approximated by an inverted Gaussian function. Depolarization is minimum for specular reflection and increases asymptotically in a Gaussian fashion as the angles of incidence and scatter increase. Parameters of the Gaussian profiles fitted to the depolarization data are used to compare samples. The dependence of depolarization on the incident polarization state is compared for each Stokes basis vector: horizontal, vertical, 45 degrees, 135 degrees, and right- and left-circular polarized light. Linear states exhibit similar depolarization profiles that typically differ in value by less than 0.06 (where 1.0 indicates complete depolarization). Circular polarization states are depolarized more than linear states for all samples tested, with the output degree of polarization reduced from that of linear states by as much as 0.15. The depolarization difference between linear and circular states varies significantly between samples.

Degree of polarization surfaces and maps for analysis of depolarization

The concept of degree of polarization surfaces is introduced as an aid to classifying the depolarization properties of Mueller matrices. Degree of polarization surfaces provide a visualization of the dependence of depolarization on incident polarization state. The surfaces result from a non-uniform contraction of the Poincaré sphere corresponding to the depolarization properties encoded in a Mueller matrix. For a given Mueller matrix, the degree of polarization surface is defined by moving each point on the unit Poincaré sphere radially inward until its distance from the origin equals the output state degree of polarization for the corresponding input state. Of the sixteen elements in a Mueller matrix, twelve contribute to the shape of the degree of polarization surface, yielding a complex family of surfaces. The surface shapes associated with the numerator and denominator of the degree of polarization function are analyzed separately. Protrusion of the numerator surface through the denominator surface at any point indicates non-physical Mueller matrices. Degree of polarization maps are plots of the degree of polarization on flat projections of the sphere. These maps reveal depolarization patterns in a manner well suited for quantifying the degree of polarization variations, making degree of polarization surfaces and maps valuable tools for categorizing and classifying the depolarization properties of Mueller matrices.

Lateral-shift variable aberration generators

We describe and analyze an optical device capable of generating tilt, defocus, astigmatism, coma, and spherical aberration wave-front deformation. This optical device consists of a pair of aspheric plates that produce aberrations by laterally shifting one plate relative to the other. The surface descriptions of these optical plates are provided, and their aberration-inducing properties are verified with ray-tracing software. In addition, we examine the versatility and the limitations of using variable aberration generators and provide insight into how aberrations may be controlled by a simple lateral shift. The device may find application in aberration control in lens systems that are nonrotationally symmetric.

Theory of sixth-order wave aberrations

A sixth-order theory of wave aberrations for axially symmetric systems is developed. Specific formulas for the sixth-order extrinsic and intrinsic wave aberration coefficients are given, as well as relations between pupil and image aberrations. Equations are developed for the wavefront propagation to the sixth order of approximation. The concept of the irradiance function is developed, and the second-order irradiance coefficients are found via conservation of flux at the pupils of the optical system and in terms of pupil aberrations. From purely geometrical considerations a generalized irradiance transport equation that describes irradiance changes in an optical system is derived. Confirming the aberration coefficients with real ray-tracing data was found to be indispensable.

Precise focal-length measurement technique with a reflective Fresnel-zone hologram

A new technique for precise focal-length measurement with a hologram is presented. This technique is widely applicable and is particularly useful for measuring large, slow lenses. In diffraction, the Fresnel-zone plate hologram emulates the reflective properties of a convex spherical mirror for use during transmission null tests of an optic by use of a phase-shifting interferometer. The hologram is written lithographically and therefore offers a higher degree of precision at a lower cost than its spherical mirror counterpart. A hologram offers the additional benefit of easy characterization by use of the same interferometer employed in examining the test optic. Better than +/-0.01% precision is achieved during measurement of a 9-m focal-length lens by use of a 150-mm aperture interferometer.