Harnessing Light

Harnessing Light
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 358
Release: 1998-09-25
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0309059917

Optical science and engineering affect almost every aspect of our lives. Millions of miles of optical fiber carry voice and data signals around the world. Lasers are used in surgery of the retina, kidneys, and heart. New high-efficiency light sources promise dramatic reductions in electricity consumption. Night-vision equipment and satellite surveillance are changing how wars are fought. Industry uses optical methods in everything from the production of computer chips to the construction of tunnels. Harnessing Light surveys this multitude of applications, as well as the status of the optics industry and of research and education in optics, and identifies actions that could enhance the field's contributions to society and facilitate its continued technical development.

Laser Radar

Laser Radar
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 321
Release: 2014-03-14
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0309302196

In today's world, the range of technologies with the potential to threaten the security of U.S. military forces is extremely broad. These include developments in explosive materials, sensors, control systems, robotics, satellite systems, and computing power, to name just a few. Such technologies have not only enhanced the capabilities of U.S. military forces, but also offer enhanced offensive capabilities to potential adversaries - either directly through the development of more sophisticated weapons, or more indirectly through opportunities for interrupting the function of defensive U.S. military systems. Passive and active electro-optical (EO) sensing technologies are prime examples. Laser Radar considers the potential of active EO technologies to create surprise; i.e., systems that use a source of visible or infrared light to interrogate a target in combination with sensitive detectors and processors to analyze the returned light. The addition of an interrogating light source to the system adds rich new phenomenologies that enable new capabilities to be explored. This report evaluates the fundamental, physical limits to active EO sensor technologies with potential military utility; identifies key technologies that may help overcome the impediments within a 5-10 year timeframe; considers the pros and cons of implementing each existing or emerging technology; and evaluates the potential uses of active EO sensing technologies, including 3D mapping and multi-discriminate laser radar technologies.

Polymer-Based Advanced Functional Composites for Optoelectronic and Energy Applications

Polymer-Based Advanced Functional Composites for Optoelectronic and Energy Applications
Author: Nithin Kundachira Subramani
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 376
Release: 2021-05-28
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0128185090

Polymer-Based Advanced Functional Composites for Optoelectronic and Energy Applications explains how polymer-based smart composites and nanocomposites can be prepared and utilized for novel optical, sensor and energy-related applications. The book begins with an introductory section on the fundamentals of smart polymer composites, including structure-property relationships and conjugated polymers. Other sections examine optical applications, including the use of polymer-based smart composites for luminescent solar concentrators, electro-chromic applications, light conversion applications, ultraviolet shielding applications, LED encapsulation applications, sensor applications, including gas-sensing, strain sensing, robotics and tactile sensors, with final sections covering energy-related applications, including energy harvesting, conversion, storage, vibrational energy harvesting, and more. This is an essential guide for researchers, scientists and advanced students in smart polymers and materials, polymer science, composites, nanocomposites, electronics and materials science. It is also a valuable book for scientists, R&D professionals and engineers working with products that could utilize smart polymer composites. - Provides thorough coverage of the latest pioneering research in the field of polymer-based smart composites - Offers an applications-oriented approach, enabling the reader to understand state-of-the-art optical, sensor and energy applications - Includes an in-depth introductory section, covering important aspects such as structure-property relationships and the role of conjugated polymers

Metal Oxide-Carbon Hybrid Materials

Metal Oxide-Carbon Hybrid Materials
Author: Muhammad Akram Chaudhry
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 590
Release: 2022-03-20
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0128227087

Metal Oxide–Carbon Hybrid Materials: Synthesis, Properties and Applications reviews the advances in the fabrication and application of metal oxide–carbon-based nanocomposite materials. Their unique properties make them ideal materials for gas-sensing, photonics, catalysis, opto-electronic, and energy-storage applications. In the first section, the historical background to the hybrid materials based on metal oxide–carbon and the hybridized metal oxide composites is provided. It also highlights several popular methods for the preparation of metal oxide–carbon composites through solid-state or solution-phase reactions, and extensively discusses the materials' properties. Fossil fuels and renewable energy sources cannot meet the ever-increasing energy demands of an industrialized and technology-driven global society. Therefore, the role of metal oxide–carbon composites in energy generation, hydrogen production, and storage devices, such as rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors, is of extreme importance. These problems are discussed in in the second section of the book. Rapid industrialization has resulted in serious environmental issues which in turn have caused serious health problems that require the immediate attention of researchers. In the third section, the use of metal oxide–carbon composites in water purification, photodegradation of industrial contaminants, and biomedical applications that can help to clean the environment and provide better healthcare solutions is described. The final section is devoted to the consideration of problems associated with the development of sensors for various applications. Numerous studies performed in this area have shown that the use of composites can significantly improve the operating parameters of such devices. Metal Oxide–Carbon Hybrid Materials: Synthesis, Properties and Applications presents a comprehensive review of the science related to metal oxide–carbon composites and how researchers are utilizing these materials to provide solutions to a large array of problems. - Reviews the fundamental properties and fabrication methods of metal-oxide–carbon composites - Discusses applications in energy, including energy generation, hydrogen production and storage, rechargeable batteries, and supercapacitors - Includes current and emerging applications in environmental remediation and sensing

Single-Frequency Fiber Lasers

Single-Frequency Fiber Lasers
Author: Zhongmin Yang
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 174
Release: 2019-02-19
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9811360804

This book gives a contemporary overview of the technologies of single-frequency fiber lasers. The development of single-frequency fiber lasers is one of the most significant achievements in the field of laser photonics over the past two decades. Owing to the crucial demands of a laser sources with highly stable single-frequency operation, narrow linewidth, low noise, scalable to high output power, compact and robustness structure, fiber lasers have been intensively studied since its introduction to the single-frequency laser community and they still continuously proceed to trigger the emergence of new technologies and applications. This book systematically demonstrates the single-frequency fiber laser technologies from fundamental principles to state-of-the-art progress. Details of selected typical applications of single-frequency fiber lasers are also given and discussed. The reader will acquire a good knowledge of the current situation within this important field.

Near-Earth Laser Communications

Near-Earth Laser Communications
Author: Hamid Hemmati
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 307
Release: 2018-10-03
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1351837311

Invented more than a hundred years ago by Alexander Graham Bell, the technology of free-space optical communications, or lasercom, has finally reached the level of maturity required to meet a growing demand for operational multi-giga-bit-per-second data rate systems communicating to and from aircrafts and satellites. Putting the emphasis on near-earth links, including air, LEO, MEO, and GEO orbits, Near-Earth Laser Communications presents a summary of important free-space laser communication subsystem challenges and discusses potential ways to overcome them. This comprehensive reference provides up-to-date information on component and subsystem technologies, fundamental limitations, and approaches to reach those limits. It covers basic concepts and state-of-the-art technologies, emphasizing device technology, implementation techniques, and system trades. The authors discuss hardware technologies and their applications, and also explore ongoing research activities and those planned for the near future. The analytical aspects of laser communication have been covered to a great extent in several books. However, a detailed approach to system design and development, including trades on subsystem choices and implications of the hardware selection for satellite and aircraft telecommunications, is missing. Highlighting key design variations and critical differences between them, this book distills decades’ worth of experience into a practical resource on hardware technologies.