Interferometer with angled beam entry
OwnerTilman Pfau, Yuri Ovchinnikovinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An interferometer has an angled beam entry to a multimode waveguide that can be formed of parallel plane mirrors. The beam is input at a specified primary angle α so as to generate interference between populated modes. The primary angle preferably satisfies the condition α>arcsin(λ/d), where d is a width of the waveguide and λ is a wavelength of the primary beam. The interferometer can provide a small distance between transmission fringes and is useful for precise position measurements. The fringe positions are determined by wavelength, which permits use in spectrum analysis and the like. The waveguide can include an active optical material and be controlled, for example for switching between output channels.
Claims23
An interferometer comprising:
- at least one multimode waveguide,
- beam input means for inputting a primary beam at a specified primary angle α into the multimode waveguide so as to generate an interference between at least two populated modes of the multimode waveguide,
- at least one beam processing means for processing at least one secondary beam exiting the multimode waveguide, and,
- wherein the primary angle α satisfies the following condition:
- α>arcsin(λ/d)
- wherein d is a width of the waveguide and λ is a wavelength of the primary beam.
An interferometer according to claim
- wherein the primary beam is a primary light beam and the secondary beam is a secondary light beam,
- wherein the light processing means comprises two light output means and
- wherein a control light beam is inputted through a control beam input means for changing a refractive index of the multimode waveguide.
An interferometer comprising:
- at least one multimode waveguide,
- beam input means for inputting a primary beam at a specified primary angle α into the multimode waveguide so as to generate an interference between at least two populated modes of the multimode waveguide,
- at least one beam processing means for processing at least one secondary beam exiting the multimode waveguide;
- and,
- wherein the multimode waveguide comprises two substantially plane mirrors for at least partly reflecting a beam, wherein the primary beam is inputted at a first end face between the mirrors and the secondary beam exits the multimode waveguide from between the mirrors at a second end face thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.