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Mode-Locked Ramam Laser in H2 Pumped by a Mode-Locked External Cavity Diode Laser: Author: Xiong, Yihan; Date: 2007-08-15; Program: Physics; Abstract: In this thesis, a theory is first presented for a far-off resonance mode-locked Raman laser in H2 with high finesse cavity enhancement. The theoretical derivation for the mode-locked Raman laser is based on semiclasscial laser theory and time-dependent continuous wave (CW) Raman theory. Numerically calculated results, including the intracavity fields' amplitude and phase evolution and output Stokes power versus input pump power are discussed in three different regimes depending on the relationship between the coherence dephasing rate and the repetition rate of the mode-locked pump laser. Then...; Download File | View full details

Frequency Stabilization of an External Cavity Diode Laser Employing Digital Control: Author: Drollinger, Cy Taylor; Date: 2006-08-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: Optical signal processing can span across bandwidths of hundreds of GHz with resolutions in the kHz range. This can be done by using spectral hole burning materials. A limiting factor in the frequency resolution is the bandwidth of the laser driving the spectral hole burning material. Better control techniques of laser jitter will decrease laser line width and increase frequency resolution of optical processing. This thesis explores the digital control technique of inherent noise in an external cavity diode laser and the use of reconfigurable platform to prototype digital implementation....; Download File | View full details

Water vapor profiling using a compact widely tunable diode laser differential absorption lidar (DIAL): Author: Nehrir, Amin Reza; Date: 2008-12-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: Atmospheric water vapor is an important driver of cloud formation, precipitation, and cloud microphysical structure. Changes in the cloud microphysical structure due to the interaction of aerosols and water vapor can produce more reflective clouds, resulting in more incoming solar radiation being reflected back into space, leading to an overall negative radiative forcing. Water vapor also plays an important role in the atmospheric feedback process that acts to amplify the positive radiative forcing resulting from increasing levels of atmospheric CO2. In the troposphere, where the water vapor g...; Download File | View full details

Water Vapor Profiling using a Widely Tunable Amplified Diode Laser Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL): Author: Obland, Michael Drew; Date: 2007-05-15; Program: Physics; Abstract: Water vapor is one of he most significant constituents of the atmosphere because of its role in cloud formation, precipitation, and interactions with electromagnetic radiation, especially its absorption of longwave infrared radiation. Some details of the role of water and related feedback mechanisms in the Earth system need to be characterized better if local weather, global climate, and the water cycle are to be understood. Water vapor profiles are currently obtained with several remote sensing techniques, such as microwave radiometers, passive instruments like the Atmospheric Emitted Radianc...; Download File | View full details

Wingbeat Modulation Detection of Honey Bees using a Continuous Wave Laser System: Author: Scheppele, Ryan Hall; Date: 2006-08-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: Using operant conditioning, researchers at the University of Montana have developed a technique for training entire colonies of honeybees to actively seek out explosive devices. The problem with this method of detecting explosives is that bees are difficult to track due to their small size. In an experiment in 2003, it was shown that a pulsed laser system could be used to detect bees; unfortunately this pulsed laser lacked the ability to resolve wingbeat modulation in the backscattered light. This thesis describes the development of a monostatic, continuous-wave laser system capable of detecti...; Download File | View full details

Carbon dioxide sequestration monitoring and verification via laser based detection system in the 2 micron band: Author: Humphries, Seth David; Date: 2008-12-15; Program: Engineering; Abstract: Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is a known contributor to the green house gas effect. Emissions of CO2 are rising as the global demand for inexpensive energy is placated through the consumption and combustion of fossil fuels. Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) may provide a method to prevent CO2 from being exhausted to the atmosphere. The carbon may be captured after fossil fuel combustion in a power plant and then stored in a long term facility such as a deep geologic feature. The ability to verify the integrity of carbon storage at a location is key to the success of all CCS projects. A laser-based...; Download File | View full details

Thulium ions in a yttrium aluminum garnet host for quantum computing applications: material analysis and single qubit operations: Author: Zafarullah, Ijaz; Date: 2008-05-15; Program: Physics; Abstract: Rare-earth-doped crystals have been used for optical signal processing and storage applications. In this dissertation, their potential for quantum computing applications is explored. In one quantum computing scheme, information is stored in nuclear spin states and this information is then processed by using optical pulses through the coupling of these nuclear spin states to a common electronic level. To implement this scheme, nuclear spin states and coupling of these nuclear spin states to a common electronic level is required. Preliminary work in rare-earth materials like Pr3+ and Eu3+ has sh...; Download File | View full details