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The geometry and calibration of three-dimensional multi-beam laser scanning (MBLS) is more difficult than single-beam laser scanning, especially for a one laser emitter and multiple laser-echo detection within the same optical path and scanning with a two-axis-mirror. This paper focuses on the influence of the main systematic errors upon the geometric imagery of the MBLS, and presents a plane-based self-calibration method to improve the geometric positioning. First, the model for geometric imaging and systematic errors for the MBLS is presented, and the adjustment of the plane-based self-calibration is developed. Second, the influence of systematic errors upon geometric imagery of the MBLS is simulated and conducted to find the main errors. Third, a strong network configuration based on planar calibration is addressed and implemented, and the improvement of accuracy is examined via qualitative and quantitative analysis. The results show that the rangefinder offset, horizontal direction circle index and vertical circle index are the main systematic errors. The accuracy of distance is corrected from 29.94 cm to 2.86 cm with an improvement of 86.89% for the plane-based calibration, and validation indicates that this is corrected from 25.47 cm to 5.60 cm with an improvement of 88.25%.

Based on Duan's topological current theory, we propose a novel approach to study the topological properties of topological defects in a two-dimensional complex vector order parameter system. This method shows explicitly the fine topological structure of defects. The branch processes of defects in the vector order parameter system have also been investigated with this method.

Quantum technology establishes a foundation for secure communication via quantum key distribution (QKD). In the last two decades, the rapid development of QKD makes a global quantum communication network feasible. In order to construct this network, it is economical to consider small-sized and low-cost QKD payloads, which can be assembled on satellites with different sizes, such as space stations. Here we report an experimental demonstration of space-to-ground QKD using a small-sized payload, from Tiangong-2 space lab to Nanshan ground station. The 57.9-kg payload integrates a tracking system, a QKD transmitter along with modules for synchronization, and a laser communication transmitter. In the space lab, a 50 MHz vacuum + weak decoy-state optical source is sent through a reflective telescope with an aperture of 200 mm. On the ground station, a telescope with an aperture of 1200 mm collects the signal photons. A stable and high-transmittance communication channel is set up with a high-precision bidirectional tracking system, a polarization compensation module, and a synchronization system. When the quantum link is successfully established, we obtain a key rate over 100 bps with a communication distance up to 719 km. Together with our recent development of QKD in daylight, the present demonstration paves the way towards a practical satellite-constellation-based global quantum secure network with small-sized QKD payloads.

We have experimentally demonstrated a high power linearly polarized, dual wavelength frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) fiber laser with master-oscillator power-amplifier (MOPA) configuration, which is specially designed for simultaneous coherent distance and speed measurements. Two single longitudinal mode laser diodes working at 1550.12 and 1554.13 nm are employed as the seeds of the fiber MOPA. The wavelengths of the seeds are externally modulated by two acousto-optic frequency shifters (AOFSes) with a symmetrical sawtooth wave from 330–460 MHz in the frequency domain. The modulation periodicities for the two seeds are 26 and 26.3 μs, respectively, by which the distance ambiguity can be eliminated and therefore the detection range can be extended to a great extent. The seeds are then amplified independently to reduce their power differences during frequency modulation. After being coupled and boosted with three successive fiber amplifiers, an output power of 12.1 W is recorded from the FMCW laser with a power instability 18 dB and

We present the numerical results for the optimization of the pump-to-idler conversion efficiencies of nanosecond idler wavelength tunable cascaded optical parametric oscillators (OPO) in different wavelength tuning ranges, where the primary signals from the OPO process are recycled to enhance the pump-to-idler conversion efficiencies via the simultaneous difference frequency generation (DFG) process by monolithic aperiodically poled, magnesium oxide doped lithium niobate (APMgLN) crystals. The APMgLN crystals are designed with different chirp parameters for the DFG process to broaden their thermal acceptance bandwidths to different extents. The idler wavelength tuning of the cascaded OPO is realized by changing the temperature of the designed APMgLN crystal and the cascaded oscillation is achieved in a single pump pass singly resonant linear cavity. The pump-to-idler conversion efficiencies with respect to the pump pulse duration and ratio of OPO coefficient to DFG coefficient are calculated by numerically solving the coupled wave equations. The optimal working conditions of the tunable cascaded OPOs pumped by pulses with energies of 350 μJ and 700 μJ are compared to obtain the general rules of optimization. It is concluded that the optimization becomes the interplay between the ratio of OPO coefficient to DFG coefficient and the pump pulse duration when the idler wavelength tuning range and the pump pulse energy are fixed. Besides, higher pump pulse energy is beneficial for reaching higher optimal pump-to-idler conversion efficiency as long as the APMgLN crystal is optimized according to this pump condition. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first numerical analysis of idler wavelength tunable cascaded OPOs based on chirp-assisted APMgLN crystals.

We report our recent investigation on the conversion efficiency improvement of a PPMgLN-based single pump pass, singly resonant optical parametric oscillator (OPO) pumped by an acousto-optic Q-switched fiber MOPA. The impacts of the pump pulse duration and signal reflectivity on the pump-to-idler conversion efficiency were studied by numerically solving the coupled wave equations in the first place. The results revealed that longer pulse durations were beneficial to higher conversion efficiencies as long as the signal reflectivity of the OPO cavity was optimized accordingly. Experiments were carried out thereafter utilizing the optimal parameters obtained from the simulation. Idler powers of 4.7 and 3.81 W were achieved at 3.4 and 3.8 μm, respectively, under the highest pump power of 28 W with pump pulse duration of 240 ns. The experimental results were in good agreement with the calculated results. According to our simulation, higher conversion efficiency could be expected when such an OPO was pumped by pulses with even longer duration provided that the signal reflectivity of the output coupler was optimized under that pump condition.

Geometric correction without ground control points (GCPs) is a very important topic. Conventional airborne photogrammetry is difficult to implement in areas where the installation of GCPs is not available. The technical of integrated GPS/INS systems providing the positioning and attitude of airborne systems is a potential solution in such areas. This paper first states the principle of geometric correction based on a combination of GPS and INS then the error of the geometric correction of Pushbroom Hyperspectral Imager (PHI) without GCP was analysed, then a flight test was carried out in an area of Damxung, Tibet. The experiment result showed that the error at straight track was small, generally less than 1 pixel, while the maximum error at cross track direction, was close to 2 pixels. The results show that geometric correction of PHI without GCP enables a variety of mapping products to be generated from airborne navigation and imagery data.

YBaCuO, EuBaCuO and TlBaCaCuO superconductors have been prepared by solid-state reaction. The superconducting transition of the samples was measured by the four-point and mutual inductance methods. The zero-resistance temperature and onset of diamagnetism of the best TlBaCaCuO sample have reached 120 K and 117 K respectively. Their critical currents have been measured at zero and different magnetic fields in a temperature range of 63.5 K to 78 K. The highest Jc for a TlBaCaCuO sample in zero field at 78 K reached 1630 A cm-2. In low fields, their critical current density decreases sharply when the magnetic field is increased. The results show that superconducting weak links exist among superconducting grains in all the samples. But in higher magnetic fields, their critical current density slowly decreases with increasing field; this behaviour is roughly similar to that of the Nb3Sn superconducting material. The results of the measurement of lc at different temperatures shows that the lc is proportional to (Tc-T).