US3842372A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Extremely fast gaseous stark field light modulators and q-switched laser for the infrared wavelength region
Assignee: Data Optics Corp
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Filing: 1972-08-22
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Granted: 1974-10-15
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Expires: 1992-08-22
Abstract
Abstract An infrared light intensity modulator utilizing the electrooptical Stark effect at high modulating frequencies in molecular gases having non-linear molecules with permanent dipole moments. Modulating frequencies greater than 0.5 MHz are obtainable for the first time. A D.C. bias field superimposed on the modulating field enhances the Stark effect and changes the frequency of the modulated output. Also, a cell utilizing this Stark effect is used as an active electrooptical element in a laser cavity to form a novel Q-switched laser to produce high energy laser pulses of short duration.
Inventors
- 👤 Y Pao
- 👤 P Claspy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 05:31
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/10; H01S3/106; H01S3/107; B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/08; B23K26/0823; G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/17; G02F1/174; H01S3/1061; H01S3/11; H01S3/1123; H01S3/115
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A Stark effect infrared light gas modulator for intensity modulating a substantially monochromatic infrared light beam at a frequency greater than 0.5 MHz comprising: a. a volume of molecular gas having non-linear molecules with permanent dipole moments, said gas having a pressure-broadened natural absorption line, b. means for directing through said volume of gas an infrared light beam, and c. means for exciting said gas with a varying electric field having a frequency greater than 0.5 MHz and no greater than the pressure-broadened bandwidth of the natural absorption line, whereby the intensity of said light beam is modulated by said electric field, and the intensity modulation is non-dispersive and is linear with respect to the strength of said field.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A Stark effect infrared light gas modulator for intensity modulating a substantially monochromatic infrared light beam at a frequency greater than 0.5 MHz comprising: a. a volume of molecular gas having non-linear molecules with permanent dipole moments, said gas having a pressure-broadened natural absorption line, b. means for directing through said volume of gas an infrared light beam, and c. means for exciting said gas with a varying electric field having a frequency greater than 0.5 MHz and no greater than the pressure-broadened bandwidth of the natural absorption line, whereby the intensity of said light beam is modulated by said electric field, and the intensity modulation is non-dispersive and is linear with respect to the strength of said field.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A Stark effect infrared light modulator as defined in claim 1 wherein said varying electric field is alternating, and said intensity of said light beam is modulated at a frequency equal to twice the frequency of said electric field.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A Stark effect infrared light modulator as defined in claim 1 wherein said varying electric field is unidirectional so that the intensity of said light beam is modulated at the frequency of said field.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A Stark effect infrared light modulator as defined in claim 3 wherein said varying electric field is in the form of pulses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
A Stark effect infrared light modulator as defined in claim 1 wherein said varying electric field is alternating and further comprising means for exciting said gas with a D.C. bias electric field so that the composite electric field applied to said gas is unidirectional, whereby said infrared light beam is modulated at the frequency of said alternating electric field.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A Stark effect infrared light modulator as defined in claim 1 further comprising a laser cavity including a laser for producing said infrared light beam, said volume of gas being located in said cavity in the path of said light beam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A Stark effect infrared light modulator as defined in claim 6 wherein said laser is a CO2 laseR.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A Stark effect infrared light modulator as defined in claim 7 wherein said gas is 1,1 difluoroethylene.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A Stark effect infrared light modulator as defined in claim 7 wherein said gas is 1,1'' difluoroethane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A Stark effect infrared light modulator as defined in claim 7 wherein said gas is vinyl chloride.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
121 words
A Stark effect tunable absorber comprising: a. a volume of molecular gas having non-linear molecules with permanent dipole moments, said gas having a pressure-broadened natural absorption line, and b. means for exciting said gas with a varying electric field having a frequency greater than the bandwidth of said natural absorption line to form a plurality of split absorption lines having a frequency separation equal to the frequency of the exciting field, so that each of said split lines varies in absorption at said frequency and harmonics thereof and the absorber is tuned in accordance with the exciting field frequency, whereby the ratio of the variations in absorption to the means absorption of each said split line is less than one percent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
121 words
A Stark effect tunable absorber comprising: a. a volume of molecular gas having non-linear molecules with permanent dipole moments, said gas having a pressure-broadened natural absorption line, and b. means for exciting said gas with a varying electric field having a frequency greater than the bandwidth of said natural absorption line to form a plurality of split absorption lines having a frequency separation equal to the frequency of the exciting field, so that each of said split lines varies in absorption at said frequency and harmonics thereof and the absorber is tuned in accordance with the exciting field frequency, whereby the ratio of the variations in absorption to the means absorption of each said split line is less than one percent.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
114 words
The method of intensity modulating a substantially monochromatic infrared light beam at a frequency greater than 0.5 MHz comprising the steps of: a. providing a volume of molecular gas having non-linear molecules with permanent dipole moments, said gas having a pressure-broadened natural absorption line; b. directing through said volume of gas an infrared light beam; and c. exciting said gas with a varying electric field having a frequency greater than 0.5 MHz and no greater than the bandwidth of the pressure-broadened natural absorption line, whereby the intensity of said light beam is modulated by said electric field and the intensity modulation is non-dispersive and is linear with respect to the strength of said field.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
114 words
The method of intensity modulating a substantially monochromatic infrared light beam at a frequency greater than 0.5 MHz comprising the steps of: a. providing a volume of molecular gas having non-linear molecules with permanent dipole moments, said gas having a pressure-broadened natural absorption line; b. directing through said volume of gas an infrared light beam; and c. exciting said gas with a varying electric field having a frequency greater than 0.5 MHz and no greater than the bandwidth of the pressure-broadened natural absorption line, whereby the intensity of said light beam is modulated by said electric field and the intensity modulation is non-dispersive and is linear with respect to the strength of said field.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method as defined in claim 12, wherein said varying electric field is alternating, and further comprising the step of exciting said gas with a D.C. bias electric field so that the composite electric field applied to said gas is unidirectional, whereby said infrared light beam is modulated at the frequency of said alternating electric field.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
112 words
The method of tuning a Stark effect absorber which includes a volume of molecular gas having non-linear molecules with permanent dipole elements and having a pressure-broadened natural absorption line, the method comprising the steps of: exciting said gas with an alternating electric field having a frequency greater than the bandwidth of said natural absorption line to form a plurality of split absorption lines having a frequency spacing equal to the exciting frequency so that each said split absorption line varies in absorption at the exciting frequency and harmonics thereof, whereby the ratio of the variations in absorption to the mean absorption of each said split absorption line is less than one percent.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
112 words
The method of tuning a Stark effect absorber which includes a volume of molecular gas having non-linear molecules with permanent dipole elements and having a pressure-broadened natural absorption line, the method comprising the steps of: exciting said gas with an alternating electric field having a frequency greater than the bandwidth of said natural absorption line to form a plurality of split absorption lines having a frequency spacing equal to the exciting frequency so that each said split absorption line varies in absorption at the exciting frequency and harmonics thereof, whereby the ratio of the variations in absorption to the mean absorption of each said split absorption line is less than one percent.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |