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In some embodiments, the present invention provides an apparatus and process that includes control electronics that generate an electronic control signal; and a plurality of optically or electrically pumped semiconductor lasers, quantum-cascade lasers, optical parametric generators, or optical param

In some embodiments, the present invention provides an apparatus and process that includes control electronics that generate an electronic control signal; and a plurality of optically or electrically pumped semiconductor lasers, quantum-cascade lasers, optical parametric generators, or optical parametric oscillators, operatively coupled to the control electronics, that output an optical signal having a plurality of wavelengths, each wavelength having an output intensity that each of which is varied over time to simulate a combustion signature of a weapon. In some embodiments, the optical signal includes at least two different infrared wavelengths that are varied differently with time.

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1. An apparatus comprising: control electronics configured to generate a first electronic control signal and a second electronic control signal;a first laser system operatively coupled to the control electronics, configured to output a first optical signal having a first wavelength that has an outpu

1. An apparatus comprising: control electronics configured to generate a first electronic control signal and a second electronic control signal;a first laser system operatively coupled to the control electronics, configured to output a first optical signal having a first wavelength that has an output intensity that is varied over time based on the first electronic control signal, during a first time period, to simulate a first wavelength of a combustion signature;a second laser system operatively coupled to the control electronics, configured to output a second optical signal having a second wavelength, that is different than the first wavelength, and that has an output intensity that is varied over time based on the second electronic control signal, during the first time period, in a manner that is different than the intensity variation of the first wavelength, in order to simulate a second wavelength of the combustion signature; andan optical element optically coupled to the first laser system and the second laser system to receive the first and second optical signal, and configured to form a far-field output beam that includes the first optical signal and the second optical signal substantially coincident with one another, wherein the first optical signal and the second optical signal are bore-sighted to have a coincident beam in the far field, the beam having a substantially uniform top-hat spatial intensity profile. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first wavelength is an infrared wavelength that is in an atmospheric-transparency window, and wherein the second wavelength is an infrared wavelength that is longer than the first wavelength and wherein the intensity of the second wavelength is greater than the intensity of the first wavelength for at least some of the first time period. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first optical signal and the second optical signal is generated by an optically pumped semiconductor laser. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first optical signal and the second optical signal is generated by a quantum cascade laser. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a look-up table operably coupled to the control electronics, wherein the look-up table is configured to provide an intensity value for the first optical signal for each of a plurality of successive time units in the first time period, wherein the intensity value is used to control the output intensity of the first optical signal. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first optical signal's output intensity is varied with a non-zero time resolution of no more than two milliseconds. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a detector operatively coupled to the control electronics, wherein the detector is configured to detect an output response of a missile-warning system responsive to the first and second optical signals and to determine whether the output response is within a specification of correct output responses. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first wavelength of the first optical signal is at least 3.9 microns and no more than 4.1 microns and the second wavelength of the second optical signal is at least 4.5 microns and no more than 4.7 microns. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intensity of the first optical signal is modulated to have at least two local maximums within the first time period and the second optical signal is modulated to have at least two local maximums within the first time period. 10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the detector is configured to detect a countermeasure jamming signal generated by the missile-warning system in response to the first and second optical signals. 11. A method comprising: during a first time period, outputting a first optical signal having a first wavelength that has an output intensity that is varied over time to simulate a first wavelength of a combustion signature; andduring the first time period, outputting a second optical signal having a second wavelength, that is different than the first wavelength, and that has an output intensity that is varied over time in a manner that is different than the intensity variation of the first wavelength, in order to simulate a second wavelength of the combustion signature, wherein the first wavelength is an infrared wavelength that is in an atmospheric-transparency window, and wherein the second wavelength is an infrared wavelength that is longer than the first wavelength and wherein the intensity of the second wavelength is greater than the intensity of the first wavelength for at least some of the first time period. 12. A method comprising: during a first time period, outputting a first optical signal having a first wavelength that has an output intensity that is varied over time to simulate a first wavelength of a combustion signature;during the first time period, outputting a second optical signal having a second wavelength, that is different than the first wavelength, and that has an output intensity that is varied over time in a manner that is different than the intensity variation of the first wavelength, in order to simulate a second wavelength of the combustion signature; andbore-sighting the first optical signal and the second optical signal to have a coincident beam in the far field, the beam having a substantially uniform top-hat spatial intensity profile. 13. An apparatus comprising: means for outputting, during a first time period, a first optical signal having a first wavelength that has an output intensity that is varied over time to simulate a first wavelength of a combustion signature; andmeans for outputting, during the first time period, a second optical signal having a second wavelength, that is different than the first wavelength, and that has an output intensity that is varied over time in a manner that is different than the intensity variation of the first wavelength, in order to simulate a second wavelength of the combustion signature, wherein the first wavelength is an infrared wavelength that is in an atmospheric-transparency window, and wherein the second wavelength is an infrared wavelength that is longer than the first wavelength and wherein the intensity of the second wavelength is greater than the intensity of the first wavelength for at least some of the first time period. 14. An apparatus comprising: means for outputting, during a first time period, a first optical signal having a first wavelength that has an output intensity that is varied over time to simulate a first wavelength of a combustion signature;means for outputting, during the first time period, a second optical signal having a second wavelength, that is different than the first wavelength, and that has an output intensity that is varied over time in a manner that is different than the intensity variation of the first wavelength, in order to simulate a second wavelength of the combustion signature;means for bore-sighting the first optical signal and the second optical signal to have a coincident beam in the far field; andmeans for configuring the beam to have a substantially uniform top-hat spatial intensity profile.