Abstract:
A system for near infrared spectroscopy includes a controller that automates selection of light intensities for one or more light sources. The system may stepwise increase or decrease a current driving a light source until a signal received at a light detector is within a desired range. The system may maintain closed loop control over the intensity of a light source after the intensity has been set. The closed loop control may be based on a signal from a second light detector that senses light from the light source. Current/intensity settings may be established for each of multiple light detectors. In response to selection of a light detector, the corresponding current may be delivered to drive the light source.
Abstract:
A method for performing sub-micron optical spectroscopy, using a heated SPM probe and far-field collection optics is described. The enhanced emission characteristics at a sharp heated tip constitute a highly localized wideband IR source. Thus the IR absorption and emission properties of a sample surface adjacent can be observed and measured in the farfield even though the interaction region is sub-micron in scale. . . . providing spatial resolution mapping of sample composition.
Abstract:
A method of sensing a process utilizing a sensing apparatus consisting of more than one diode laser having select lasing frequencies, a multiplexer optically coupled to the outputs of the diode lasers with the multiplexer being further optically coupled to a pitch side optical fiber. Multiplexed laser light is transmitted through the pitch side optical fiber to a pitch optic operatively associated with a process chamber which may be a combustion chamber or the boiler of a coal or gas fired power plant. The pitch optic is oriented to project multiplexed laser output through the process chamber. Also operatively oriented with the process chamber is a catch optic in optical communication with the pitch optic to receive the multiplexed laser output projected through the process chamber. The catch optic is optically coupled to an optical fiber which transmits the multiplexed laser output to a demultiplexer. The demultiplexer demultiplexes the laser light and optically couples the select lasing frequencies of light to a detector with the detector being sensitive to one of the select lasing frequencies.
Abstract:
A diode laser spectroscopy gas sensing apparatus having a diode laser with a select lasing frequency, a pitch optic coupled to the diode laser with the pitch optic being operatively associated with a process chamber and oriented to project laser light along a projection beam through the process chamber. This embodiment additionally includes a catch optic in optical communication with the pitch optic to receive the laser light projected through the process chamber and an optical fiber optically coupled to the catch optic. In addition, the catch optic is operatively associated with a catch side alignment mechanism which provides for the alignment of the catch optic with respect to the projection beam to increase a quantity of laser light received by the catch optic from the pitch optic and coupled to the optical fiber and a detector sensitive to the select lasing frequency optically coupled to the optical fiber. The catch side alignment mechanism may consist of means to tilt the catch optic along a first axis and a second axis orthogonal to the first axis with both the first and second axes being approximately orthogonal to the projection beam.
Abstract:
A pitch side optical system for use in diode laser spectroscopy consisting of more than one diode laser having select lasing frequencies with each diode laser being coupled to an end of a distinct input optical fiber. The pitch side optical system further consists of a multiplexer optically coupled to the other end of less than all of the input optical fibers with the multiplexer outputting multiplexed laser light to a pitch side optical fiber. The pitch side optical system further consists of a coupler optically coupled to the far end of the pitch side optical fiber and the far end of an unmultiplexed input optical fiber with the coupler combining the multiplexed laser light and the unmultiplexed laser light and outputting the combined light to a transmission optical fiber. Typically, the coupler is located near the combustion process. The pitch side optical system further consists of a pitch optic coupled to the transmission optical fiber. Typically, all optical fibers used in the pitch side optical system are single mode optical fibers.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus are described for driving a modulated radiation source (which can be, for example, an infrared light source). The method affects the power driving a light source in such as way so as to minimize the warm-up time of the source. The apparatus permits feedback control of a light source to specified powers or temperatures. Disclosed embodiments can improve source performance and lifetime and decrease the operating costs of the source.
Abstract:
A compact laser spectrometer according to the present invention includes a plurality of semiconductor lasers comprising a plurality of semiconductor gain medium compositions emitting a plurality of radiation components originating from an area having a maximum transverse dimension that is smaller than a minimum feature size of a sample. A broadband optical detector detects a diffuse reflectance. In one preferred embodiment of this invention the plurality of semiconductor lasers consists of Fabry-Perot edge-emitting lasers arranged around the perimeter of a cylindrical submount with a substantially circular cross-section. The plurality of radiation components is directly coupled to a multi-mode optical fiber, which presents radiation to a sample. In another preferred embodiment a linear array of Fabry-Perot edge-emitting lasers is directly coupled to a multi-mode fiber. In still another preferred embodiment, a two-dimensional array of vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers is directly coupled to a multi-mode optical fiber.
Abstract:
A gas sensor having a base, a light source having a lamp body, the light source being carried by the base, a first reflector associated with the light source, a detector for detecting the intensity of the light source, and a lampholder for play-free and immobile securing of the lamp body is disclosed.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an infrared modulator for spectrometer. It comprises a light source (1), a beam splitter (2) for splitting the light from the source into two beams, a first plane mirror (4) for directing the light of the first beam, a second plane mirror (5) for directing the light of the second beam, a first cube corner mirror (7) for turning the light back to the first plane mirror (4), and a second cube corner mirror (6) for turning the light back to the second plane mirror (5). The first and second cube corner mirrors (6, 7) are arranged on a common optic axis to reflect into opposite directions and movable back and forth in the direction of said optic axis. According to the invention, the beam splitter (3) and the first and second plane mirrors (4, 5) are supported by the same support structure formed by one uniform material piece.
Abstract:
A thermal emitter device includes a cavity structure that comprises an active medium for allowing thermal emissions to occur. A photonic crystal structure is positioned on one side of the cavity structure. The photonic crystal structure comprises alternating layers of high index and low index materials and acts as a first mirror for the cavity structure. A highly reflective mirror structure is positioned on another side of the cavity structure and acting as both the high-temperature source of radiation and a second mirror for the cavity structure.