Chirp Modulation-Based Detection of Chirped Laser Molecular Dispersion Spectra
AssigneeThe Trustees of Princeton University
InventorsGerard Wysocki, Michal Nikodem
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for detecting refractive index variations in a sample is disclosed. The apparatus includes a multi frequency laser source configured to generate a mixed laser beam having at least two optical frequencies. A sinusoidal function generator is configured to modulate the optical frequencies to generate a chirp-modulated mixed laser beam. The chirp-modulated mixed laser beam being configured to pass through the sample. A detector is configured to detect the chirp-modulated mixed beam. A signal processer is configured to process the detected chirp-modulated mixed beam to measure refractive index variations in the sample.
Claims22
An apparatus for detecting refractive index variations in a sample, the apparatus comprising:
- a multi frequency laser source configured to generate a mixed laser beam having at least two optical frequencies;
- a sinusoidal function generator configured to modulate the optical frequencies to generate a chirp-modulated mixed laser beam, the chirp-modulated mixed laser beam being configured to pass through the sample;
- a detector configured to detect the chirp-modulated mixed beam;
- and
- a signal processer configured to process the detected chirp-modulated mixed beam to measure refractive index variations in the sample.
Apparatus for detecting refractive index variations in a sample, the apparatus comprising:
- a multi frequency laser source configured to generate a mixed laser beam having at least two optical frequencies;
- a sinusoidal function generator configured to modulate the optical frequencies to generate a chirp-modulated mixed laser beam, the chirp-modulated mixed laser beam being configured to pass through the sample;
- a detector configured to detect the chirp-modulated mixed beam;
- a demodulator configured to demodulate the detected chirp-modulated mixed beam to generate a demodulated output;
- and
- a band pass filter configured to transmit only a fundamental frequency of the demodulated output or a plurality of harmonics from the demodulated output.
A method for detecting refractive index variations in a sample, the method comprising:
- generating a mixed laser beam having at least two optical frequencies;
- sinusoidally modulating the optical frequencies to generate a chirp-modulated mixed laser beam, the chirp-modulated mixed laser beam being configured to pass through the sample;
- detecting the chirp-modulated mixed beam;
- and
- signal processing the detected chirp-modulated mixed beam to measure refractive index variations in the sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.