Abstract:
Technologies are generally described for techniques useful in an interferometer system. In some examples, a system may include a first waveguide effective to propagate a first wave in a first mode. In some examples, the system may include a second waveguide effective to, in response to the first wave, propagate second and third waves in second and third modes, respectively. In some examples, the second waveguide may be effective to reflect the second and third waves off a reflection surface to produce first, second, third and fourth reflected waves. In some examples, the second waveguide may be effective to propagate the first and third reflected waves in the second mode and propagate the second and fourth reflected waves in the third mode.
Abstract:
A beam monitor for a high-output laser has a beam intensity detection means which detects localized beam intensity in the cross section of a high intensity laser beam, and a characteristic calculation means for calculating the beam characteristics of a laser beam based on the localized beam intensity detected by the beam intensity detection means.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for performing a modal decomposition of a laser beam are disclosed. The method includes the steps of performing a measurement to determine the second moment beam size (w) and beam propagation factor (M2) of the laser beam, and inferring the scale factor (wO) of the optimal basis set of the laser beam from the second moment beam size and the beam propagation factor, from the relationship: wO = w/M2. An optimal decomposition is performing using the scale factor wO to obtain an optimal mode set of adapted size. The apparatus includes a spatial light modulator arranged for complex amplitude modulation of an incident laser beam, and imaging means arranged to direct the incident laser beam onto the spatial light modulator. A Fourier transforming lens is arranged to receive a laser beam reflected from the spatial light modulator. A detector is placed a distance of one focal length away from the Fourier transforming lens for monitoring a diffraction pattern of the laser beam reflected from the spatial light modulator and passing through the Fourier transforming lens. The apparatus performs an optical Fourier transform on the laser beam reflected from the spatial light modulator and determines the phases of unknown modes of the laser beam, to perform a modal decomposition of the laser beam.
Abstract:
The invention concerns a method for characterizing mode group properties of multimodal light traveling through an optical component, comprising: providing a Mode Group Separating optical fiber in an optical path between a light source and said optical component; launching reference pulses of light with a wavelength λt from said light source through said Mode Group Separating optical fiber into said optical component at discrete intervals between a core center and a core radius of said fiber. The Mode Group Separating optical fiber is a multimode fiber with an α-profile graded index core with an α-value chosen such that said fiber satisfies the following criterion at the wavelength λt: Δτ · L Δ T REF > 4 where: Δτ is a time delay difference between consecutive mode groups; L is a length of said fiber; ΔTREF is a Full Width at Quarter Maximum of said reference pulses.
Abstract:
The subject matter disclosed herein pertains to a method for screening drugs using second-harmonic generation microscopy. The tissue is scanned with a pulsed laser light which has an excitation wavelength. At least some of microtubules within the tissue produce generated light with a second-harmonic wavelength that is half the excitation wavelength. A microtubule pattern within the tissue is determined based on an analysis of the generated second-harmonic wavelength.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for determining the quality of a multimode laser beam (10). In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a lens (32) for creating a transformed or imaged waist from the input beam. The location of the transformed beam waist and its diameter are then determined. These steps can be carried out by chopping the beam using a rotating hub (34) having apertures (36,38) for selectively passing the beam. Preferably, one of the apertures has a pair of 45.degree. knife edges (40,42). The transmission of the beam past the knife edge is monitored by a detector (30). In operation, the lens focal position is varied while the transmission of the beam past the knife edge is monitored in order to locate and measure the diameter of the transformed waist. The diameter of the beam at one other known location is measured. A processor then calculates beam quality by fitting these measurements to a mathematical model. Once the quality of the beam is calculated, the location of the original beam waist and its diameter can be derived. Once all of the beam parameters are derived, the propagation characteristics of the beam can be predicted. In one embodiment of the subject invention, the device includes a blocking member (602) having a knife edge (604) disposed perpendicularly to one of the knife edges of the apertures carried on the hub. The blocking member is translated in discrete steps for each revolution of the hub. The measurement of the power transmitted past the knife edge and blocking member can be used to generate a two-dimensional pixel map of beam intensity.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for determining the quality of a multimode laser beam (10). In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a lens (32) for creating a transformed or imaged waist from the input beam. The location of the transformed beam waist and its diameter are then determined. These steps can be carried out by chopping the beam using a rotating hub (34) having apertures (36, 38) for seletively passing the beam. Preferably, one of the appertures has a pair of 45.degree. knife edges (40, 42). The transmission of the beam past the knife edge is monitored by a detector (30). In operation, the lens focal position is varied while the transmission of the beam past the knife edge is monitored in order to locate and measure the diameter of the transformed waist. The diameter of the beam at one other known location is measured. A processor then calculates beam quality by fitting these measurements to a mathematical model. Once the quality of the beam is calculated, the location of the original beam waist and its diameter can be derived. Once all of the beam parameters are derived, the propagation characteristics of the beam can be predicted. In the preferred embodiment, the lens is defined by a doublet (533, 535) designed to minimize spherical aberration. In addition, the spacing between the lens pair is varied to minimize the net aberration at the operating wavelength of the laser.
Abstract:
A photodetector produces an output signal in response to irradiation by an optical beam from a pulled laser. A delay unit delays the output signal for a period corresponding to one-half of one cycle of a beat frequency generated by interaction of two frequency components in the optical beam corresponding to two predetermined longitudinal modes of operation of the laser. A differential mixer subtractively combines the output of the photodetector with the output of the delay unit, to produce an output signal having the main profile of the laser pulses suppressed, and the beat frequency component, if present, amplified. A resonant circuit and amplifier may be provided to further amplify the beat frequency component. The output of the amplifier is integrated to produce a DC signal having a magnitude which corresponds to the amplitude of the beat frequency component. The DC signal is compared with a threshold value to discriminate between single and multi-mode operation of the laser. An optical shutter may be closed in response to sensed multi-longitudinal mode operation to block the laser beam and protect equipment which would otherwise be damaged thereby.