Aviation & Aerospace White Papers and Case Studies

  1. Increasing Profitability By Selecting The Right Glass Or Optics Provider 5/16/2014

    This article outlines the important characteristics that you should consider when partnering with a glass or optics provider. While manufacturing a quality product and ensuring timely delivery are vital, there are other differentiating aspects to consider when choosing a partner.

  2. A Look At Optical Ceramics For Infrared Applications 5/16/2014

    For most people, “infrared technology” calls to mind the night vision goggles from classic spy movies, providing blurry heat signature images of enemy guards on nighttime patrol. In reality, the scope of infrared technology has expanded well past night vision goggles to encompass a broad spectrum of sophisticated applications. Today, sensors around ship ports use night vision technology to keep an eye out after dark. Satellites use infrared technology to look out further into space. And these advanced sensors have distance capabilities far surpassing those movie goggles that saw to the other end of the room. Current infrared equipment can peer out for miles into the dark. 

  3. Material Selection With An Eye On Micromolding: A Comparison Study Of Materials 1/13/2014

    This study tackles one of the most important aspects of micro-molding — resin selection. This study shows how, in terms of micro-molding, picking resins based on data sheets can be misleading or confusing. It also provides a comprehensive analysis of different materials that can be used for the process.

  4. Effect of Grain Size on Microstructure, Properties, and Surface Roughness of Reaction Bonded SiC Ceramics 12/3/2013

    SiC based ceramics feature high specific stiffness, high thermal conductivity, and low CTE. Reaction bonded SiC ceramics feature the same characteristics, but also benefit from their large size and complex shape capability. The grain size of the SiC phase can largely affect the microstructure, properties, and surface roughness in reaction bonded SiC ceramics.

  5. Improved Modeling of Grid Structures on Optics 12/3/2013

    This white paper demonstrates the capability to model optical transmission, EMI attenuation, and diffraction effects of sub-mm grid structures on optics used in aerospace applications.

  6. Short Wave Infrared Enhances Machine Vision 10/23/2013

    SWIR (short wave infrared) imaging is especially useful for measuring, monitoring, and controlling the reliability and quality control aspects of manufacturing and industrial processes.

  7. HD Video — A Travel Log 3/12/2013

    Through the convergence of technologies, compact video camera design, improved optics, and video storage and transmission, high definition delivers incredibly diverse images from the depths of the sea to the edge of space and everywhere in between. During the past several years, the adoption of HD video formats for capture, display, and distribution has yielded imaging that offers superior clarity, resolution, and color details as never before. By Paul Dempster, Toshiba Imaging Systems Division

  8. Laser Pulse Train Amplification With PowerPULSE™ Modules 10/19/2011
    Many laser applications require very high peak powers at high repetition rates. The pulses are typically generated from mode-locked laser oscillators, fiber laser oscillators, or modulated CW fiber lasers. By G. Jay Doster, Ph.D. and Ryan Feeler, Ph.D., Northrop Grumman Cutting Edge Optronics
  9. Drogue Tracking Using 3D Flash LIDAR For Autonomous Aerial Refueling 8/26/2011
    Autonomous aerial refueling (AAR) is an important capability for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to increase its flying range and endurance without increasing its size. By Chao-I Chen and Roger Stettner, Advanced Scientific Concepts, Inc.
  10. Specialized Thin Film Optical Mirrors Enable VIRUS Spectrograph System In Dark Energy Experiment 8/15/2011

    PG&O designed and delivered specialized optical mirrors to Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin for use in building the first-of-its-kind VIRUS (Visible Integral-field Replicable Unit Spectrograph) instrument, a key part of the Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment, or HETDEX.