System and method for remote sensing for a target

US10775537B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA · US

Inventors

• David G. MacDonnell · Yorktown, US
• Wenbo Sun · Yorktown, US
• Yongxiang Hu · Yorktown, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 20, 2018
• Grant date: Sep 15, 2020
• Expiry date: Mar 19, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2021/1793
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A remote sensing system includes a primary beam configured to carry orbital angular momentum and characterized by a mode number (m), with the mode number (m) being a non-zero integer. The primary beam is configured to be directed at a target. A photon sieve is configured to receive a secondary beam emanating from the target. The secondary beam at least partially includes a portion of the primary beam. The photon sieve includes a plurality of holes forming one or more respective spiral patterns. The quantity of the respective spiral patterns in the photon sieve corresponds to the mode number (m) of the primary beam. The plurality of holes may be configured to have a minimum diameter such that the minimum diameter is greater than a predefined wavelength of the primary beam. The respective spiral patterns extend between a respective first hole and a respective final hole.