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Title: Illumination frustums for photoconductive switches

Abstract

Methods and devices for illuminating a photoconductive switch consisting of an optically actuated photoconductive material situated between two electrodes are described. Light from a light source is coupled to an optical fiber, which is attached to a frustum, the other side of which is proximate to the photoconductive switch. Light from the optical fiber enters the frustum, spreads out, and enters the photoconductive switch via the top-side electrode. Some of the light is absorbed, while the remaining light reflects off the bottom-side electrode, travels back through the photoconductive switch, and any unabsorbed light reenters the frustum. The geometry of the frustum is configured such that most of the light reflects back into the switch itself with only a negligible fraction escaping from the optical fiber, which advantageously results in near total utilization of the light.

Inventors:
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1987038
Patent Number(s):
11555965
Application Number:
17/372,366
Assignee:
Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (Livermore, CA)
DOE Contract Number:  
AC52-07NA27344
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 07/09/2021
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Citation Formats

Rushford, Michael, Conway, Adam, Voss, Lars F., Schneider, Joseph D., Chang, Tammy, Chapin, Caitlin Anne, Lancaster, John Berns, Hawkins, Steve, and Khitrov, Victor Valeryevich. Illumination frustums for photoconductive switches. United States: N. p., 2023. Web.
Rushford, Michael, Conway, Adam, Voss, Lars F., Schneider, Joseph D., Chang, Tammy, Chapin, Caitlin Anne, Lancaster, John Berns, Hawkins, Steve, & Khitrov, Victor Valeryevich. Illumination frustums for photoconductive switches. United States.
Rushford, Michael, Conway, Adam, Voss, Lars F., Schneider, Joseph D., Chang, Tammy, Chapin, Caitlin Anne, Lancaster, John Berns, Hawkins, Steve, and Khitrov, Victor Valeryevich. Tue . "Illumination frustums for photoconductive switches". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1987038.
@article{osti_1987038,
title = {Illumination frustums for photoconductive switches},
author = {Rushford, Michael and Conway, Adam and Voss, Lars F. and Schneider, Joseph D. and Chang, Tammy and Chapin, Caitlin Anne and Lancaster, John Berns and Hawkins, Steve and Khitrov, Victor Valeryevich},
abstractNote = {Methods and devices for illuminating a photoconductive switch consisting of an optically actuated photoconductive material situated between two electrodes are described. Light from a light source is coupled to an optical fiber, which is attached to a frustum, the other side of which is proximate to the photoconductive switch. Light from the optical fiber enters the frustum, spreads out, and enters the photoconductive switch via the top-side electrode. Some of the light is absorbed, while the remaining light reflects off the bottom-side electrode, travels back through the photoconductive switch, and any unabsorbed light reenters the frustum. The geometry of the frustum is configured such that most of the light reflects back into the switch itself with only a negligible fraction escaping from the optical fiber, which advantageously results in near total utilization of the light.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2023},
month = {1}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Total internal reflection photoconductive switch
patent, January 2020


Switch for a light guide circuit
patent, September 1986


Fiber Optics Scan System
patent, June 1968


Reflective axicon systems and methods
patent, August 2012


Reflective Axicon Systems and Methods
patent-application, December 2010