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Title: Method and apparatus for simultaneously measuring a plurality of spectral wavelengths present in electromagnetic radiation

Abstract

An apparatus and method simultaneously measures a plurality of spectral wavelengths present in electromagnetic radiation. A modulatable birefringent optical element is employed to divide a polarized light beam into two components, thereby producing a phase difference in two resulting light beams such that the two beams can be made to interfere with one another when recombined, the interference pattern providing the wavelength information required for the analysis of the incident light. The interferometer thus created performs in a similar manner to a Michelson interferometer, but with no moving parts, and with a resolution dependent on the degree of phase shift introduced by the modulator.

Inventors:
 [1];  [1]
  1. Los Alamos, NM
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
867283
Patent Number(s):
4905169
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01J - MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRA-RED, VISIBLE OR ULTRA-VIOLET LIGHT
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01N - INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-36
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
method; apparatus; simultaneously; measuring; plurality; spectral; wavelengths; electromagnetic; radiation; measures; modulatable; birefringent; optical; element; employed; divide; polarized; light; beam; components; producing; phase; difference; resulting; beams; interfere; recombined; interference; pattern; providing; wavelength; information; required; analysis; incident; interferometer; created; performs; similar; manner; michelson; moving; resolution; dependent; degree; shift; introduced; modulator; simultaneously measuring; incident light; interference pattern; phase difference; polarized light; phase shift; optical element; electromagnetic radiation; light beam; light beams; spectral wavelengths; michelson interferometer; simultaneously measure; /356/

Citation Formats

Buican, Tudor N, and Martin, John C. Method and apparatus for simultaneously measuring a plurality of spectral wavelengths present in electromagnetic radiation. United States: N. p., 1990. Web.
Buican, Tudor N, & Martin, John C. Method and apparatus for simultaneously measuring a plurality of spectral wavelengths present in electromagnetic radiation. United States.
Buican, Tudor N, and Martin, John C. Mon . "Method and apparatus for simultaneously measuring a plurality of spectral wavelengths present in electromagnetic radiation". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/867283.
@article{osti_867283,
title = {Method and apparatus for simultaneously measuring a plurality of spectral wavelengths present in electromagnetic radiation},
author = {Buican, Tudor N and Martin, John C},
abstractNote = {An apparatus and method simultaneously measures a plurality of spectral wavelengths present in electromagnetic radiation. A modulatable birefringent optical element is employed to divide a polarized light beam into two components, thereby producing a phase difference in two resulting light beams such that the two beams can be made to interfere with one another when recombined, the interference pattern providing the wavelength information required for the analysis of the incident light. The interferometer thus created performs in a similar manner to a Michelson interferometer, but with no moving parts, and with a resolution dependent on the degree of phase shift introduced by the modulator.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990}
}