Light beam frequency comb generator

Patent · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:868558

Priatko, Gordon J ^[1]; Kaskey, Jeffrey A ^[2]

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1. Cupertino, CA
2. Livermore, CA

A light beam frequency comb generator uses an acousto-optic modulator to generate a plurality of light beams with frequencies which are uniformly separated and possess common noise and drift characteristics. A well collimated monochromatic input light beam is passed through this modulator to produce a set of both frequency shifted and unshifted optical beams. An optical system directs one or more frequency shifted beams along a path which is parallel to the path of the input light beam such that the frequency shifted beams are made incident on the modulator proximate to but separated from the point of incidence of the input light beam. After the beam is thus returned to and passed through the modulator repeatedly, a plurality of mutually parallel beams are generated which are frequency-shifted different numbers of times and possess common noise and drift characteristics.

• 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 5166822
• OSTI ID: 868558
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

light
beam
frequency
comb
generator
acousto-optic
modulator
generate
plurality
beams
frequencies
uniformly
separated
possess
common
noise
drift
characteristics
collimated
monochromatic
input
passed
produce
set
shifted
unshifted
optical
directs
path
parallel
incident
proximate
incidence
returned
repeatedly
mutually
generated
frequency-shifted
times
parallel beams
frequency shift
optical beam
input light
light beam
light beams
beam frequency
acousto-optic modulator
optical beams
comb generator
frequency comb
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