US4980566A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ultrashort pulse multichannel infrared spectrometer apparatus and method for obtaining ultrafast time resolution spectral data
Assignee: United States Department of Commerce
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Filing: 1989-08-02
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Granted: 1990-12-25
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Expires: 2009-08-02
Abstract
Abstract A simple, compact optical spectrometer employs solid-state nonlinear crystals for obtaining broadband multichannel infrared spectra with picosecond or femtosecond time resolution. Spectrally broad infrared pulses are produced by difference frequency mixing in a first LiIO 3 crystal between the second harmonic of a picosecond Nd +3 :YAG laser and broadband output of a synchronously pumped dye laser, and a resultant broadband IR pulse is upconverted by a second LiIO 3 crystal to yield a blue visible pulse which is dispersed by a 0.25 meter spectrograph onto a multichannel vidicon or reticon detector to obtain four wavenumber resolution single-shot transient infrared spectra of a sample. The present invention enables rapid acquisition of ultrashort time infrared spectra over a broadly tunable spectral range (in the mid to near infrared) at minimal cost and by a simple but versatile optical system employing readily available components.
Inventors
- 👤 Edwin J. Heilweil
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 10:23
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/35; G02F1/353; G02F1/3534; G01; G01J; G01J3/00; G01J3/28; G01J3/2889
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
Apparatus for obtaining spectrographic data with ultrafast time and high spectral resolution, comprising: means for generating a visible pulse output at a predetermined narrowband high frequency; means for receiving a portion of said pulse output and generating a corresponding tunable broadband visible output; means for orthogonally polarizing, collimating and combining said visible pulse and said broadband output to generate a broadband infrared (BBIR) probing pulse; means for beamsplitting said probing pulse into a polarized infrared output and a visible pulsed output; means for transmitting said polarized infrared output to probe a sample, to thereby generate a corresponding broadband infrared signal characterized by said sample; and means for overlapping said characterized broadband infrared signal with said visible pulsed output to generate a visible broadband spectral signal providing data relating to the probed sample.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
Apparatus for obtaining spectrographic data with ultrafast time and high spectral resolution, comprising: means for generating a visible pulse output at a predetermined narrowband high frequency; means for receiving a portion of said pulse output and generating a corresponding tunable broadband visible output; means for orthogonally polarizing, collimating and combining said visible pulse and said broadband output to generate a broadband infrared (BBIR) probing pulse; means for beamsplitting said probing pulse into a polarized infrared output and a visible pulsed output; means for transmitting said polarized infrared output to probe a sample, to thereby generate a corresponding broadband infrared signal characterized by said sample; and means for overlapping said characterized broadband infrared signal with said visible pulsed output to generate a visible broadband spectral signal providing data relating to the probed sample.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said means for generating a visible pulse comprises a picosecond laser source.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said means for generating a visible pulse comprises a femtosecond laser source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said means for generating said broadband visible output comprises a pumped dye laser capable of providing single high power broadband visible pulses in the picosecond to femtosecond range.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means for downconverting said combined visible pulse and said broadband output to provide a phasematched broadband infrared output to generate said broadband infrared probing pulse in a nonlinear crystal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said means for beamsplitting said probing pulse comprises a silicon wafer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said means for transmitting transmits said polarized infrared output through a sample to thereby generate said corresponding broadband infrared signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said means for transmitting transmits said polarized infrared output and reflects the same from a sample to thereby generate said corresponding broadband infrared signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said means for overlapping said characterized signal with said visible pulse comprises a second silicon wafer and a nonlinear crystal sum frequency generator to generate the broadband visible spectral signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means for processing said visible spectral signal into spectrographic data characterizing said probed sample.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
168 words
Apparatus for obtaining spectrographic data with ultrafastime and high spectral resolution, comprising: a laser beam source for generating a visible pulse output at a predetermined narrowband high frequency in the picosecond to femtosecond range; a pumped dye laser source adapted to receive a portion of said visible pulse output and for generating a broadband output comprising single high power broadband visible pulses in the picosecond to femtosecond range; means for orthogonally polarizing, collimating and overlapping said visible pulse output and said broadband output to provide a phasematched broadband infrared output to generate a probing pulse; a beamsplitter for beamsplitting said probing pulse into a polarized, infrared output and a visible pulsed output; means for focusing and reflecting said polarized infrared output to a sample to thereby generate a corresponding broadband infrared signal characterized by said sample; a linear sum frequency generator for converting the characterized signal into a visible broadband spectral signal; and means for processing said visible spectral signal into spectrographic data characterizing the probed sample signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
168 words
Apparatus for obtaining spectrographic data with ultrafastime and high spectral resolution, comprising: a laser beam source for generating a visible pulse output at a predetermined narrowband high frequency in the picosecond to femtosecond range; a pumped dye laser source adapted to receive a portion of said visible pulse output and for generating a broadband output comprising single high power broadband visible pulses in the picosecond to femtosecond range; means for orthogonally polarizing, collimating and overlapping said visible pulse output and said broadband output to provide a phasematched broadband infrared output to generate a probing pulse; a beamsplitter for beamsplitting said probing pulse into a polarized, infrared output and a visible pulsed output; means for focusing and reflecting said polarized infrared output to a sample to thereby generate a corresponding broadband infrared signal characterized by said sample; a linear sum frequency generator for converting the characterized signal into a visible broadband spectral signal; and means for processing said visible spectral signal into spectrographic data characterizing the probed sample signal.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for obtaining broadband multichannel infrared spectra with resolution in the picosecond to femtosecond range of time resolution, comprising the steps of: generating a pulse output in the visible spectrum at a predetermined narrowband high-pulse frequency; receiving a portion of said pulse output and generating a tunable broadband output therefrom; orthogonally polarizing and collimating said pulse output and said broadband output to generate a focused broadband infrared (BBIR) probing pulse; downconverting and beamsplitting said probing pulse into a polarized infrared output and a visible pulsed output; transmitting said polarized broadband infrared output to probe a sample and focusing a resultant corresponding broadband signal characterized by said sample; and overlapping said characterized infrared signal with said visible pulsed output to generate a visible spectral signal providing data on said probed sample.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for obtaining broadband multichannel infrared spectra with resolution in the picosecond to femtosecond range of time resolution, comprising the steps of: generating a pulse output in the visible spectrum at a predetermined narrowband high-pulse frequency; receiving a portion of said pulse output and generating a tunable broadband output therefrom; orthogonally polarizing and collimating said pulse output and said broadband output to generate a focused broadband infrared (BBIR) probing pulse; downconverting and beamsplitting said probing pulse into a polarized infrared output and a visible pulsed output; transmitting said polarized broadband infrared output to probe a sample and focusing a resultant corresponding broadband signal characterized by said sample; and overlapping said characterized infrared signal with said visible pulsed output to generate a visible spectral signal providing data on said probed sample.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 12, comprising the further step of: amplifying and frequency-modulating said pulse output after said step of generating the same and before said step of generating a tunable broadband output therefrom.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein: said high pulse frequency of said pulse output is selected to be in the picosecond to femtosecond range.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein: said step of transmitting said polarized broadband infrared output to probe a sample includes the step of transmitting said polarized broadband infrared output through said sample for obtaining said resultant corresponding broadband visible signal therefrom.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein: said step of transmitting said polarized infrared output to probe a sample comprises the step of reflecting said polarized infrared output from a selected portion of said sample and utilizing a corresponding reflected infrared output to generate said resultant corresponding broadband visible signal characterized by said sample.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein: the reflected broadband infrared output containing sample information is upconverted to a visible broadband signal by means of a nonlinear mixing crystal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein: the transmitted broadband infrared output containing sample information is upconverted to a visible broadband signal by means of a nonlinear mixing crystal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 12, comprising the further step of: receiving said visible spectral signal providing data on said probe sample at a spectrograph for generating a spectral analysis output thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 12, comprising the further step of: processing said visible spectral signal containing sample data repeatedly to thereby generate time averaged data indicative of a condition of said sample.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-12-24 | 1994-06-25 | 1994-12-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-12-24 | 1998-06-25 | 1998-12-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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