Systems and methods for spatiotemporal control of a laser and applications of same
AssigneeUniversity of Rochester
InventorsDustin H. Froula, Terrance Kessler
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Abstract
Methods and systems are disclosed for using a chromatic lens system to provide a “flying focus”—i.e., an advanced focusing scheme enabling spatiotemporal control of a focal location. In a method, a photon beam is emitted from a source at a wavelength. The photon beam may have more than one wavelength. The photon beam is focused to a focal location using a chromatic lens system. The focal location is at a first longitudinal distance along an optical axis from the chromatic lens system. The wavelength of the photon beam is changed as a function of time to change the focal location as a function of time. The wavelength may be changed such that the focal location changes with a focal velocity.
Claims20
A method of spatiotemporally changing a focal location of a photon beam as a function of time, comprising:
- providing a photon beam emitted from a source wherein the photon beam has a wavelength (λ);
- focusing the photon beam to a focal location using a chromatic lens system, the focal location is at a first longitudinal distance (z) along an optical axis from the chromatic lens system;
- and
- changing the wavelength of the photon beam as a function of time to change the focal location as a function of time.
An apparatus for providing a flying focus, comprising:
- a photon beam source;
- a chromatic lens system configured to receive a photon beam from the photon beam source and focus the photon beam at a focal location;
- a controller configured to change a wavelength of the photon beam as a function of time to change the focal location as a function of time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.