US4012699A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Amplifying characteristics of a cavity-enclosed nonlinear medium
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1975-03-28
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Granted: 1977-03-15
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Expires: 1995-03-28
Abstract
Abstract A device is disclosed which is capable of amplifying optical signals. The absorptive and dispersive properties of a cavity-enclosed nonlinear medium are combined with the transmission properties of the cavity to yield an input-output characteristic curve that displays gain or bistability.
Inventors
- 👤 Hyatt McDonald Gibbs
- 👤 Samuel Leverte McCall, Jr.
- 👤 Thirumalai Nallan Chakravarthy Venkatesan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 12:38
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/35; G02F1/3523; G02F1/01; G02F1/21; G02F3/00; G02F3/02; G02F3/024
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of amplifying variations in an optical signal of a given wavelength comprising introducing light of the given wavelength into a cavity formed by at least two surfaces that reflect light of the given wavelength, and which surfaces are separated at least in part by a positive-temperature nonlinear medium fixing the cavity and medium characteristics such that the dispersive properties of the medium dominate or are equal to the absorptive properties of the medium at the given wavelength and such that there is a single valued relationship between the intensities of the incident and transmitted signals which exhibits gain, and extracting the amplified signal from said cavity.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of amplifying variations in an optical signal of a given wavelength comprising introducing light of the given wavelength into a cavity formed by at least two surfaces that reflect light of the given wavelength, and which surfaces are separated at least in part by a positive-temperature nonlinear medium fixing the cavity and medium characteristics such that the dispersive properties of the medium dominate or are equal to the absorptive properties of the medium at the given wavelength and such that there is a single valued relationship between the intensities of the incident and transmitted signals which exhibits gain, and extracting the amplified signal from said cavity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 where the cavity and medium characteristics are determined by combining the intracavity equations ##EQU15##with the cavity boundary conditions, to yield a single-valued input-output characteristic curve that exhibits gain.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 2 where the cavity is a Fabry-Perot cavity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2 where the light wavelength is greater than 4500 Angstroms and less than or equal to 7500 Angstroms.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2 where the light wavelength is greater than 7500 Angstroms and less than or equal to 25 microns.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2 where the light wavelength is greater than 500 Angstroms and less than or equal to 4500 Angstroms.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 2 where the wavelength is such that the medium has a value of |n 2 |>10.sup. -13 cm 2 /statvolt 2 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 2 where the medium conditions are fixed by introducing additional light beams into the cavity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 7 where the medium is Na.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 9 where the Na pressure is 6±0.5 × 10.sup. -4 Torr, the frequency of the incident light is equal to that of the F = 1 transition of the Na D 2 line minus 100 MHz, and the temperature is 185°±20° C.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 7 where the nonlinear medium is a solid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 11 where the medium is InSb.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
118 words
A device to amplify variations in optical signals of a given wavelength comprising a cavity formed by at least two surfaces that reflect light of the given wavelength together with means for introducing light into, and extracting light from, the cavity and which surfaces are separated at least in part by a positive-temperature nonlinear medium, which separation is of such a value and which medium is maintained under such conditions, that the dispersive properties of the medium dominate or are equal to the absorptive properties at the given wavelength, and such that there is a single valued relationship between the intensity of the signal of said wavelength impinging on and emitted by the said device that displays gain.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
118 words
A device to amplify variations in optical signals of a given wavelength comprising a cavity formed by at least two surfaces that reflect light of the given wavelength together with means for introducing light into, and extracting light from, the cavity and which surfaces are separated at least in part by a positive-temperature nonlinear medium, which separation is of such a value and which medium is maintained under such conditions, that the dispersive properties of the medium dominate or are equal to the absorptive properties at the given wavelength, and such that there is a single valued relationship between the intensity of the signal of said wavelength impinging on and emitted by the said device that displays gain.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 13 where the cavity and medium characteristics are determined by combining the intracavity equations ##EQU16##with the cavity boundary conditions, to yield a single valued input-output characteristic curve that exhibits gain.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 14 where the cavity is a Fabry-Perot cavity.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 14 where the light wavelength is greater than 4500 Angstroms and less than or equal to 7500 Angstroms.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 14 where the light wavelength is greater than 7500 Angstoms and less than or equal to 25 microns.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 14 where the light wavelength is greater than 500 Angstroms and less than or equal to 4500 Angstroms.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 14 where the medium, at the said wavelength, has a value of |n 2 |> 10.sup. -13 cm 2 statvolt 2 .
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 14 where the medium conditions are fixed by introducing additional light beams into the cavity.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
10 words
The device of claim 19 where the medium is Na.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
46 words
The device of claim 21 where the Na pressure is 6±0.5 × 10.sup. -4 Torr, the frequency of the incident light is equal to that of the F = 1 transition of the Na D 2 line minus 100 MHz and the temperature is 185°±20° C.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 19 where the nonlinear medium is a solid.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
10 words
The device of claim 23 where the medium is InSb.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
131 words
A device to treat optical signals of a given wavelength, and whose input-output characteristic curve displays a region of bistability comprising a cavity formed by at least two surfaces that reflect light of the given wavelength, together with means for introducing light into, and extracting light from, the cavity, and which cavity is at least partially filled with a nonlinear medium of |n 2 |> 10.sup. -13 cm 2 statvolt 2 , which, at the given wavelength, has dispersive properties that dominate or are equal to its absorptive properties, and which medium is maintained under such conditions, that when light of the given wavelength is introduced into the said cavity a bistable relationship exists between the intensity of the signal of said wavelength impinging on, and emitted by, the said device.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
131 words
A device to treat optical signals of a given wavelength, and whose input-output characteristic curve displays a region of bistability comprising a cavity formed by at least two surfaces that reflect light of the given wavelength, together with means for introducing light into, and extracting light from, the cavity, and which cavity is at least partially filled with a nonlinear medium of |n 2 |> 10.sup. -13 cm 2 statvolt 2 , which, at the given wavelength, has dispersive properties that dominate or are equal to its absorptive properties, and which medium is maintained under such conditions, that when light of the given wavelength is introduced into the said cavity a bistable relationship exists between the intensity of the signal of said wavelength impinging on, and emitted by, the said device.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 25 where the cavity and medium characteristics are determined by combining the intracavity equations ##EQU17##with the cavity boundary conditions, to yield an input-output characteristic curve with a region of bistability.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 26 where the cavity is a Fabry-Perot cavity.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 26 where the light wavelength is greater than 4500 Angstroms and less than 7500 Angstroms.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 26 where the light wavelength is greater than 7500 Angstroms and less than 25 microns.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 26 where the light wavelength is greater than 500 Angstroms and less than 4500 Angstroms.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 26 where the medium conditions are fixed by introducing additional light beams into the cavity.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 26 where the medium is a solid.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of switching an optical signal from one power level to another comprising introducing light of the given wavelength into a cavity formed by at least two surfaces that reflect light of the given wavelength, and which surfaces are separated at least in part by a positive temperature nonlinear medium of |n 2 |> 10.sup. -13 cm 2 /statvolt 2 which, at the given wavelength, has dispersive properties that dominate or are equal to its absorptive properties fixing the cavity and medium characteristics such that there is a dual valued relationship between the intensities of the incident and transmitted signals, and extracting the switched signal from said cavity.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of switching an optical signal from one power level to another comprising introducing light of the given wavelength into a cavity formed by at least two surfaces that reflect light of the given wavelength, and which surfaces are separated at least in part by a positive temperature nonlinear medium of |n 2 |> 10.sup. -13 cm 2 /statvolt 2 which, at the given wavelength, has dispersive properties that dominate or are equal to its absorptive properties fixing the cavity and medium characteristics such that there is a dual valued relationship between the intensities of the incident and transmitted signals, and extracting the switched signal from said cavity.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 33 where the cavity and medium characteristics are determined by combining the intracavity equations ##EQU18##with the cavity boundary conditions, to yield a dual-valued input-output characteristic curve.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method claim 34 where the cavity is a Fabry-Perot cavity.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 34 where the light wavelength is greater than 4500 Angstroms and less than 7500 Angstroms.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 34 where the light wavelength is greater than 7500 Angstroms and less than 25 microns.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 34 where the light wavelength is greater than 500 Anstroms and less than 4500 Angstroms.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 34 where the medium conditions are fixed by introducing additional light beams into the cavity.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 34 wherein the medium is Na.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 40 where the Na pressure is 1±0.5 × 10.sup. -4 Torrs, the frequency of the incident light is equal to that of the F = 2 transition of the Na D 2 line plus 150 MHz, and the temperature is 195°±20° C.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 34 where the nonlinear medium is a solid.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 42 where the medium is InSb.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3610731A
Cited
US3813605A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-03-14 | 1980-09-13 | 1981-03-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-14 | 1984-09-13 | 1985-03-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-14 | 1988-09-13 | 1989-03-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |