Sub-doppler intermodulated laser-induced-fluorescence spectrometer
AssigneeArizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
InventorsDamian Kokkin, Timothy Steimle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Optical spectroscopy system and method possessing spectral selectivity sufficient to distinguish isotopic line of the metal of interest. Each of the light beams, counter-propagating through vial with vapor of the sample, has been originated from the same light output of the laser source and modulated at a corresponding judiciously-determined frequency. The light-output, in turn, possesses a carrier frequency and two side-band frequencies defined with respect to a mean value of excitation frequencies of isotopes in the vapor.
Claims10
An optical system for measuring fluorescence produced by isotopes, the system comprising:
- a frequency-tunable light source configured to generate light output that has a carrier frequency and first and second side-band frequencies;
- a system of reflectors positioned to direct first and second beams of light, formed from said light output and modulated at respectively-corresponding first and second modulation frequencies, to co-axially counter-propagate in a region of interest (ROI);
- and
- an optical detection unit configured to receive light emitted by a sample disposed across the first and second beams of light in the ROI.
A method for measuring fluorescence produced by isotopes, the method comprising:
- directing first and second portions of light output, produced by a frequency-tunable light source, towards one another to define first and second co-axially counter-propagating beams;
- receiving fluorescence, produced by a vapor-phase sample disposed across said first and second co-axially-propagating beams, with an optical detector to form optical data;
- and
- determining a spectral characteristic of a component of said sample based on said optical data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.