Optical Systems

TA principal Dr. Michael White’s past is firmly grounded in optics research; from atmosphere-probing lidar systems incorporating high-power solid-state and dye lasers, to tunable diode laser spectroscopy for natural gas surveying, to undersea sound velocity profiling with narrow-band green lasers, to angularly resolved Mie scattering measurements.  Similarly, TA has strong in-house capabilities for designing, fabricating, and testing optics-based systems.

TA has been instrumental in the design and modeling of next-generation laser-based fluid monitoring devices in collaboration with Physical Sciences Inc.  The Navy’s Autogrape fuel monitor and its portable incarnation, the PFCD, rely on high resolution Mie scattering sensors designed by TA personnel, who are named on the associated US patents.  TA has also worked with PSI on an Air Force program for precision evaluation of glass transmisivity for a hand-held jet engine diagnostic device.

As a subcontractor to the Navy Research Lab, TA has designed and modeled opto-mechanical systems for applying commercial NIR spectrometer components to Navy shipboard fuel monitoring.  Similarly, TA has investigated commercial imaging sensors for shipboard applications, matching resolution, dynamic range, zoom, and field-of view parameters to Navy specifications.