Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-10527492-B2
Publication Date
2020-01-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
Systems and methods for controlling optical feedback in an optical system having a radiation source optically coupled via mode matching optics with a resonant optical cavity. The cavity includes at least two cavity mirrors, one of which is a cavity coupling mirror, and has a plurality of optical resonance cavity modes, wherein the radiation source emits a beam of continuous wave radiation and is capable of being scanned whereby a mean optical frequency of the continuous wave radiation beam is adjustable over a range of frequencies, wherein the radiation source is responsive to optical feedback radiation emerging from the cavity, and wherein the mode matching optics couples the beam of continuous wave radiation to the cavity via the cavity coupling mirror. The radiation source and the mode matching optics are aligned so that a mode fill ratio is reduced relative to a maximum mode fill ratio, wherein for the maximum mode-fill ratio the laser beam is coupled with a fundamental cavity mode.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a method of controlling optical feedback in an optical system having a radiation source optically coupled via mode matching optics with a resonant optical cavity having at least two cavity mirrors, one of which is a cavity coupling mirror. The resonant optical cavity has a plurality of optical resonance cavity modes, and the radiation source emits continuous wave radiation with a mean optical frequency adjustable by scanning over a range of frequencies.
The method controls an amount of the optical feedback radiation emerging from the resonant optical cavity by aligning the radiation source and the mode matching optics. A mode fill ratio of optical feedback spectral modes is reduced relative to a maximum mode fill ratio, where for the maximum mode-fill ratio the beam of continuous wave radiation is coupled with a fundamental cavity spatial mode.
The method includes aligning or setting a relative distance between the radiation source and a component of the mode matching optics to achieve the maximum mode fill ratio, and thereafter adjusting a shape of the optical feedback spectral modes by adjusting the relative distance between the radiation source and the component of the mode matching optics to attain the reduced mode fill ratio. An optical system and a gas analyzer are also provided, each using mode matching optics and an adjustment mechanism to adjust the relative position so as to reduce the mode fill ratio relative to the maximum mode fill ratio, with detectors configured to measure intra-cavity optical power and generate signals representing intracavity optical power intensity.
Claims Coverage
The provided set includes four independent claims directed to a method, an optical system, a gas analyzer, and another method. Across the independent claims, there are two core inventive themes: controlling optical feedback by reducing a mode fill ratio of optical feedback spectral modes relative to a maximum mode fill ratio; and achieving that reduced mode fill ratio by aligning or adjusting relative position or distance between the radiation source and mode matching optics components, where the maximum mode fill ratio corresponds to coupling the continuous-wave beam to a fundamental cavity spatial mode.
Reducing optical feedback mode fill ratio via alignment relative to maximum coupling
Aligning the radiation source and the mode matching optics so that a mode fill ratio of optical feedback spectral modes is reduced relative to a maximum mode fill ratio, wherein for the maximum mode-fill ratio the beam of continuous wave radiation is coupled with a fundamental cavity spatial mode.
Adjusting relative distance to change optical feedback spectral mode shape
Aligning or setting a relative distance between the radiation source and a component of the mode matching optics to achieve the maximum mode fill ratio, and thereafter adjusting a shape of the optical feedback spectral modes by adjusting the relative distance between the radiation source and the component of the mode matching optics to attain the reduced mode fill ratio and control an amount of the optical feedback radiation emerging from the resonant optical cavity towards the radiation source.
Optical system with adjustment mechanism and intra-cavity power detector
Providing an optical system with a resonant optical cavity and mode matching optics coupled via a cavity coupling mirror, where an adjustment mechanism adjusts a relative position between the radiation source and the mode matching optics such that a mode fill ratio of optical feedback spectral modes is reduced relative to a maximum mode fill ratio corresponding to coupling with a fundamental cavity spatial mode, and further including a detector configured to measure an intensity of an intra-cavity optical power of radiation circulating in the resonant optical cavity.
Gas analyzer using reduced mode-fill-ratio optical feedback control with detector signal
Providing a gas analyzer with a resonant optical cavity configured to receive a gaseous medium including one or more analyte species, a radiation source responsive to optical feedback radiation, mode matching optics coupled via a cavity coupling mirror, an adjustment mechanism that reduces a mode fill ratio of optical feedback spectral modes relative to a maximum mode fill ratio corresponding to coupling the continuous wave beam with a fundamental cavity spatial mode, and a detector configured to measure intensity of intracavity optical power and generate a signal representing the intracavity optical power.
Control method by adjusting feedback spectral mode shape through relative distance
Adjusting a shape of optical feedback spectral modes of the optical feedback radiation fed back to the radiation source from the resonant optical cavity by adjusting a relative distance between the radiation source and a component of the mode matching optics to attain a reduced mode-fill ratio relative to a maximum mode-fill ratio, and controlling an amount of the optical feedback radiation emerging from the resonant optical cavity towards the radiation source, wherein for the maximum mode-fill ratio the beam of continuous wave radiation is coupled with a fundamental cavity spatial mode.
Across the independent claims, optical feedback control is achieved by reducing a mode fill ratio of optical feedback spectral modes relative to a maximum mode fill ratio defined by coupling with a fundamental cavity spatial mode, with the reduction attained by aligning or adjusting relative distance or position between the radiation source and mode matching optics to shape the optical feedback spectral modes. The optical system and gas analyzer versions further include detectors configured to measure intracavity optical power and produce signals representing that power.
Stated Advantages
Controls an amount of optical feedback radiation emerging from the resonant optical cavity towards the radiation source.
Reduces a mode fill ratio of optical feedback spectral modes relative to a maximum mode fill ratio.
Controls the shape of optical feedback spectral modes by adjusting relative distance or position between the radiation source and mode matching optics.
Documented Applications
Gas analysis using a gas analyzer having a resonant optical cavity configured to receive a gaseous medium including one or more analyte species.
Optical feedback control in an optical system using a continuous-wave radiation source that is capable of being scanned over a range of mean optical frequencies.
Interested in licensing this patent?