Isotropically sensitive optical filter employing atomic resonance transitions

Patent · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:864018

Marling, John B ^[1]

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1. Livermore, CA

An ultra-high Q isotropically sensitive optical filter or optical detector employing atomic resonance transitions. More specifically, atomic resonance transitions utilized in conjunction with two optical bandpass filters provide an optical detector having a wide field of view (.about.2.pi. steradians) and very narrow acceptance bandwidth approaching 0.01 A. A light signal to be detected is transmitted through an outer bandpass filter into a resonantly absorbing atomic vapor, the excited atomic vapor then providing a fluorescence signal at a different wavelength which is transmitted through an inner bandpass filter. The outer and inner bandpass filters have no common transmission band, thereby resulting in complete blockage of all optical signals that are not resonantly shifted in wavelength by the intervening atomic vapor. Two embodiments are disclosed, one in which the light signal raises atoms contained in the atomic vapor from the ground state to an excited state from which fluorescence occurs, and the other in which a pump laser is used to raise the atoms in the ground state to a first excited state from which the light signal then is resonantly absorbed, thereby raising the atoms to a second excited state from which fluorescence occurs. A specific application is described in which an optical detector according to the present invention can be used as an underwater detector for light from an optical transmitter which could be located in an orbiting satellite.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4292526
• OSTI ID: 864018
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

isotropically
sensitive
optical
filter
employing
atomic
resonance
transitions
ultra-high
detector
specifically
utilized
conjunction
bandpass
filters
provide
wide
field
view
steradians
narrow
acceptance
bandwidth
approaching
01
light
signal
detected
transmitted
outer
resonantly
absorbing
vapor
excited
providing
fluorescence
wavelength
inner
common
transmission
band
resulting
complete
blockage
signals
shifted
intervening
embodiments
disclosed
raises
atoms
contained
ground
occurs
pump
laser
raise
absorbed
raising
specific
application
described
according
underwater
transmitter
located
orbiting
satellite
optical detector
optical signals
pump laser
pass filters
atomic vapor
bandpass filter
optical filter
optical signal
specific application
bandpass filters
light signal
pass filter
resonance transitions
atomic resonance
optical transmitter
optical bandpass
sensitive optical
detector employing
employing atomic
optical band
isotropically sensitive
/250/359/