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US 4,784,450 AGranted
Apparatus for generating and amplifying new wavelengths of optical radiation
AssigneeHughes Aircraft Company
InventorsRavinder K. Jain, Knut Stenersen
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AssigneeHughes Aircraft Company
InventorsRavinder K. Jain, Knut Stenersen
Estimating the term…
Method and apparatus for the tunable generation of new wavelengths of optical radiation from input sources of predetermined wavelength. Optical radiation from a source (20), or sources, is launched into both the fast and slow axis of a birefringent optical waveguide (12) as pump waves. The pump waves generate new Stokes and anti-Stokes waves through enhanced four photon mixing processes. The Stokes wave is wavelength or frequency shifted from the pump wave by a small amount and exits the end of the optical waveguide (12) where it can be interfaced to various apparatus for utilization. The apparatus preferably employs polarization control means for controlling the polarization of optical radiation launched into the birefringent optical waveguide. The waveguide can also be an optical fiber or planar waveguide structure. The wavelength or radiation generated and output can be tuned by altering the birefringence of the waveguide.
A method of generating new wavelengths of optical radiation comprising:
A method of generating new wavelengths of optical radiation comprising:
A method of generating new wavelengths of optical radiation comprising the step of launching coherent optical radiation at a first frequency having a predetermined polarization into a birefringent optical waveguide having a predetermined birefringence and having a fast axis and a slow axis, said predetermined polarization being at an angle with respect to said fast axis or said slow axis so as to transfer a predetermined percentage of said optical radiation into both said slow axis and said fast axis, thereby generating new wavelengths of optical radiation frequency-shifted with respect to said first frequency by shifts as small as on the order of 20 cm.sup.-1.
An apparatus for the tunable generation of new wavelengths of optical radiation from at least one source of narrowband coherent optical radiation having at least one predetermined wavelength, comprising:
An apparatus for the tunable generation of new wavelengths of optical radiation from at least two input sources of narrowband coherent optical radiation having at least two predetermined wavelengths, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.