GEO 600 is a dual-recycled interferometric gravitational wave detector which uses advanced optical techniques to achieve its design sensitivity. The peak response of GEO is tunable over a range of frequencies within the detection band of the instrument. The accurate calibration of the detector is an essential step in preparing the data for distribution to the various analysis groups in the comm...

A new approach to near-infrared (NIR) spectropolarimetry is described, in which the properties of a noncollinear acousto-optical tunable filter (AOTF) made of an anisotropic crystal of TeO2 is employed to produce a novel instrument that precludes or reduces significantly the use of mechanical parts and simplifies the acquisition of optical rotation spectra of absorbing species in the NIR region...

We have developed a multichannel photon counting instrument for near infrared spatially resolved spectroscopy. The instrument uses two laser diodes at 780 and 830 nm. The two wavelengths are time multiplexed at a rate of 5 MHz for virtually simultaneous measurements at the two wavelengths. The photon pulses are then multiplexed with an optical switch so that the incident optical signals are dir...

The purpose of carrying out in-orbit calibration of the EUSO instrument requires a careful design of the optical setup to measure the performance of lenses and detectors during the EUSO lifetime. Several requirements drive the design, such as weight, power consumption and payload structure, as well as the need of decoupling the optical performance of the lenses from the responsivity of the foca...

In recent years, highly stable optical tweezers systems have enabled the characterization of the dynamics of molecular motors at very high resolution. However, the motion of many motors with angstrom-scale dynamics cannot be consistently resolved due to poor signal-to-noise ratio. Using an acousto-optic deflector to generate a "time-shared" dual-optical trap, we decreased low-frequency noise by...