Optical amplifier for space applications.

We describe an optical amplifier designed to amplify a spatially sampled component of an optical wavefront to kilowatt average power. The goal is means for implementing a strategy of spatially segmenting a large aperture wavefront, amplifying the individual segments, maintaining the phase coherence of the segments by active means, and imaging the resultant amplified coherent field. Applications of interest are the transmission of space solar power over multi-megameter distances, as to distant spacecraft, or to remote sites with no preexisting power grid.

Simultaneous measurement of group delay and transmission of a one-dimensional photonic crystal.

We characterize both the group delay and the transmission of a layered semiconductor structure in a single easily interpreted plot. The data spans a 50 nm wide spectral range with 1.7 nanometer wavelength resolution, and a 1.