skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Deflecting light into resonant cavities for spectroscopy

Abstract

Light is coupled into a cavity ring down spectroscopy (CRDS) resonant cavity using an acousto-optic modulator. The AOM allows in-coupling efficiencies in excess of 40%, which is two to three orders of magnitude higher than in conventional systems using a cavity mirror for in-coupling. The AOM shutoff time is shorter than the roundtrip time of the cavity. The higher light intensities lead to a reduction in shot noise, and allow the use of relatively insensitive but fast-responding detectors such as photovoltaic detectors. Other deflection devices such as electro-optic modulators or elements used in conventional Q-switching may be used instead of the AOM. The method is particularly useful in the mid-infrared, far-infrared, and ultraviolet wavelength ranges, for which moderately reflecting input mirrors are not widely available.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [1]
  1. Stanford, CA
  2. Harxheim, DE
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Stanford Univ., CA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
871873
Patent Number(s):
US 5815277
Assignee:
Board of Trustees of Leland Stanford Junior Univesity (Stanford, CA)
DOE Contract Number:  
FG03-92ER14304
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
deflecting; light; resonant; cavities; spectroscopy; coupled; cavity; crds; acousto-optic; modulator; aom; allows; in-coupling; efficiencies; excess; 40; magnitude; conventional; systems; mirror; shutoff; time; shorter; roundtrip; intensities; lead; reduction; shot; noise; allow; relatively; insensitive; fast-responding; detectors; photovoltaic; deflection; devices; electro-optic; modulators; elements; q-switching; method; particularly; useful; mid-infrared; far-infrared; ultraviolet; wavelength; ranges; moderately; reflecting; input; mirrors; widely; available; resonant cavities; light intensities; wavelength range; particularly useful; resonant cavity; ultraviolet wavelength; trip time; acousto-optic modulator; relatively insensitive; wavelength ranges; cavity mirror; electro-optic modulator; /356/

Citation Formats

Zare, Richard N, Martin, Juergen, and Paldus, Barbara A. Deflecting light into resonant cavities for spectroscopy. United States: N. p., 1998. Web.
Zare, Richard N, Martin, Juergen, & Paldus, Barbara A. Deflecting light into resonant cavities for spectroscopy. United States.
Zare, Richard N, Martin, Juergen, and Paldus, Barbara A. 1998. "Deflecting light into resonant cavities for spectroscopy". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/871873.
@article{osti_871873,
title = {Deflecting light into resonant cavities for spectroscopy},
author = {Zare, Richard N and Martin, Juergen and Paldus, Barbara A},
abstractNote = {Light is coupled into a cavity ring down spectroscopy (CRDS) resonant cavity using an acousto-optic modulator. The AOM allows in-coupling efficiencies in excess of 40%, which is two to three orders of magnitude higher than in conventional systems using a cavity mirror for in-coupling. The AOM shutoff time is shorter than the roundtrip time of the cavity. The higher light intensities lead to a reduction in shot noise, and allow the use of relatively insensitive but fast-responding detectors such as photovoltaic detectors. Other deflection devices such as electro-optic modulators or elements used in conventional Q-switching may be used instead of the AOM. The method is particularly useful in the mid-infrared, far-infrared, and ultraviolet wavelength ranges, for which moderately reflecting input mirrors are not widely available.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/871873}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1998},
month = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1998}
}

Works referenced in this record:

CW cavity ring down spectroscopy
journal, January 1997