Multiple laser optical feedback assisted cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy systems and methods
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Publication Number
US-10514299-B2
Publication Date
2019-12-24
Expiration Date
Abstract
Systems and methods for detecting trace gases utilize a resonance optical cavity and one, two or more coherent light sources coupled to the cavity through one or more cavity coupling mirrors, whereby two or more optical cavities may share the same gas volume.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a system for detecting two or more analyte species present in a gaseous or liquid medium by using a resonant optical cavity containing the medium and having a plurality of optical resonance cavity modes. Continuous wave lasers are scanned so that the mean optical frequency of each laser is adjustable over a range of frequencies, and each laser is responsive to optical feedback light emerging from the cavity. The system couples the laser light into the cavity via cavity coupling mirrors using mode matching optics.
For multi-analyte operation, the system includes a first laser and a second laser, with each laser coupled to the cavity such that the first path and the second path within the resonant optical cavity are different. The invention further uses at least one detector configured to measure the intensity of the intra-cavity optical power of light circulating in the cavity and to generate a signal representing the intra-cavity optical power. In the mode-locked configuration, the cavity modes are locked to one or more spectral absorption lines of the one or more analyte species presented in a defined first range of frequencies.
The invention also includes an intelligence module with control circuitry configured to assign frequencies for a cavity mode grid based on spectral absorption lines of the analyte species presented in the first range of frequencies. This enables assigning cavity mode-grid frequencies in relation to analyte absorption features. The overall approach combines optical feedback assisted cavity enhanced sensing with cavity-mode locking and frequency grid assignment to support detection of analyte species over different frequency ranges.
Claims Coverage
The partial content contains three independent claims addressing optical feedback assisted resonant cavity detection with two scanned continuous wave lasers, cavity-mode locking to spectral absorption lines, detector-based measurement of intra-cavity optical power, and in one claim assignment of a cavity mode grid by an intelligence module.
Optical feedback assisted dual-laser resonant cavity detection with distinct paths
A system with a resonant optical cavity containing the medium and having cavity coupling mirrors, and first and second scanned continuous wave lasers responsive to optical feedback light emerging from the cavity, where mode matching optics couple the first laser and the second laser to the cavity, the first path and the second path within the cavity being different, and at least one detector measures the intensity of the intra-cavity optical power and generates a signal representing the intra-cavity optical power.
Cavity modes locked to spectral absorption lines with dual scanned frequency ranges
A system with a resonant optical cavity containing the medium, first and second scanned continuous wave lasers with mean optical frequencies adjustable over first and second ranges of frequencies that are non identical, mode matching optics coupling each laser to the cavity via a cavity coupling mirror, and at least one detector measuring an intensity of intra-cavity optical power of light circulating in the cavity to generate a signal, wherein the cavity modes are locked to one or more spectral absorption lines of the analyte species presented in the first range of frequencies.
Cavity mode grid frequency assignment based on analyte absorption lines
A system with a resonant optical cavity containing the medium, first and second scanned continuous wave lasers with mean optical frequencies adjustable over first and second ranges of frequencies that are non identical, mode matching optics coupling each laser to the cavity via a cavity coupling mirror, at least one detector measuring an intensity of intra-cavity optical power and generating a signal, and an intelligence module with control circuitry configured to assign frequencies for a cavity mode grid based on spectral absorption lines of the analyte species presented in the first range of frequencies.
Across the independent claims, the core claim coverage centers on a resonant optical cavity containing a gaseous or liquid medium with cavity modes driven by two continuous wave, scanned lasers and responsive to optical feedback, combined with detector measurement of intra-cavity optical power and cavity-mode locking to analyte spectral absorption lines, with an intelligence module optionally assigning a cavity mode grid from analyte absorption lines.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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