US5253103A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nonlinear optics utilizing composite optical material architectures for providing enhanced nonlinear susceptibility
Assignee: University of Rochester
•
Filing: 1992-01-29
•
Granted: 1993-10-12
•
Expires: 2012-01-29
Abstract
Abstract Nonlinear optical systems are provided which exhibit an enhanced nonlinear response to applied optical radiation. These systems are useful for processing radiation by nonlinear optical interactions, for example harmonic generation, mixing (sum and difference frequency generation), parametric oscillation, intensity dependent refractive index effects (focusing or lens formation) and perform various photonic functions (electro-optics). The systems utilize a materials system with an architecture in which inclusion components are distributed in a host component (preferably homogeneously). The host component has an optical response which varies nonlinearly with the amplitude of the optical field produced by the radiation applied to the composite material. The inclusion component is preferably particles which are less than a wavelength of the applied radiation in maximum dimension (diameter when the particles are spherical and length of major axis when the particles are generally ellipsoidal). Neighboring particles are also preferably separated by the less than a wavelength. These dimensions and separation of the particles reduce scattering effects. The particles may respond only linearly to the intensity of the radiation, but preferably have a nonlinear response. Even where the particles are nonabsorbing, because of the nonlinear response of the host, the system possesses a nonlinear susceptibility larger than any of its components. Such enhanced susceptibility increases the efficiency of nonlinear optical interactions and improves the performance of nonlinear optical systems such as those mentioned above.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert W. Boyd
- 👤 John E. Sipe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 18:10
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/35; G02F1/355; G02F1/361; G02F1/3615; G02F1/3551
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 81
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A system for processing optical radiation to provide nonlinear response which is a function of the intensity of said radiation which comprises a body of composite material having a host material component and an inclusion material component, at least said host having an optical response which varies nonlinearly with the amplitude of an optical field applied to said body, and means for applying an optical field to said body of sufficient intensity to induce said nonlinear response, said nonlinear response of said body to said field being defined by a nonlinear susceptibility greater than the susceptibility of either of said components thereof.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
A system for processing optical radiation to provide nonlinear response which is a function of the intensity of said radiation which comprises a body of composite material having a host material component and an inclusion material component, at least said host having an optical response which varies nonlinearly with the amplitude of an optical field applied to said body, and means for applying an optical field to said body of sufficient intensity to induce said nonlinear response, said nonlinear response of said body to said field being defined by a nonlinear susceptibility greater than the susceptibility of either of said components thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said inclusion material also possesses nonlinear optical susceptibility.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said inclusion material possesses substantially only linear optical susceptibility.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said inclusions are particles having maximum dimension less than a wavelength of said optical radiation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system according to claim 4 wherein said particles are generally spherical.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system according to claim 4 wherein the distance between those of said particles which are adjacent each other is less than a wavelength.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said host and inclusion components are both optically isotropic.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system according to claim 7 wherein said body is macroscopically isotropic.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said susceptibility is the third order nonlinear susceptibility.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 2 wherein said host and inclusion components both possess third order nonlinear susceptibility.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said host and said inclusion components are nonabsorptive of said optical radiation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said host and inclusion components both transmissive of said optical radiation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said body is in the path of said radiation, said radiation is a beam of optical energy and said body provides means responsive to said beam for generating optical radiation at a harmonic of the frequency of said beam.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system according to claim 13 wherein said harmonic is the second harmonic.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system according to claim 13 wherein said harmonic is the third harmonic.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein means are provided for applying to said body said radiation from a plurality of laser beams each of a different frequency to produce radiation which is equal to the sum and difference of said different frequencies upon mixing interactions of said radiation of said beams in said body.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said applying means applies said radiation as a beam of laser light of sufficient intensity to change the refractive index of said body as a function of the intensity of said beam.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system according to claim 17 wherein said body defines a lens which focuses said radiation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said body is disposed in a resonant cavity and said radiation is applied to said body to induce output radiation by parametric oscillation at a frequency different from the frequency of said applied radiation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said inclusions are distributed homogenously in said host.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said host material is homogenous and said inclusions are particles of size less than the wavelength of said radiation distributed generally uniformly in said body with a fill fraction (fraction of volume of said body containing said inclusions) up to 1.0.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said inclusion component comprises particles about 50 Angstroms in maximum dimension.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system according to claim 22 wherein said particles are a materials selected from the group consisting of titania, diamond, semiconductive microcrystallites and said host is a material selected from the group consisting of carbon disulfide, polymers and porous glass filled with material possessing nonlinear susceptibility.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system according to claim 23 wherein said polymer is polydiacetylene.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system according to claim 23 wherein said semiconductive microcrystallites are cadmium sulfide material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of the optical field dielectric constants of the inclusion component to the host component is greater than one, and the refractive indices of said components substantially differ.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
103 words
The method for processing optical radiation to provide nonlinear response which is a function of the intensity of said radiation which comprises propagating said radiation into a body of composite material having a host material component and an inclusion material component, at least said host having an optical response which varies nonlinearly with the amplitude of an optical field applied to said body due to said radiation, and said field having sufficient intensity to induce said nonlinear response, said nonlinear response of said body to said field being defined by a nonlinear susceptibility greater than the susceptibility of either of said components thereof.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
103 words
The method for processing optical radiation to provide nonlinear response which is a function of the intensity of said radiation which comprises propagating said radiation into a body of composite material having a host material component and an inclusion material component, at least said host having an optical response which varies nonlinearly with the amplitude of an optical field applied to said body due to said radiation, and said field having sufficient intensity to induce said nonlinear response, said nonlinear response of said body to said field being defined by a nonlinear susceptibility greater than the susceptibility of either of said components thereof.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 27 wherein said inclusion material also possesses nonlinear optical susceptibility.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 27 wherein said inclusion material possesses substantially only linear optical susceptibility.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 27 wherein said inclusions are particles having maximum dimension less than a wavelength of said optical radiation.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 30 wherein said particles are generally spherical.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 30 wherein the distance between those of said particles which are adjacent each other is less than a wavelength.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 27 wherein said host and inclusion components are both optically isotropic.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 33 wherein said body is macroscopically isotropic.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 27 wherein said susceptibility is the third order nonlinear susceptibility.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 28 wherein said host and inclusion components both possess third order nonlinear susceptibility.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 27 wherein said host and said inclusion components are nonabsorptive of said optical radiation.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 27 wherein said host and inclusion components both transmissive of said optical radiation.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method according to claim 27 wherein said propagating step is carried out with body in the path of said radiation, said radiation is a beam of optical energy, and generating optical radiation at a harmonic of the frequency of said beam in response to said beam.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 39 wherein said harmonic is the second harmonic.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 39 wherein said harmonic is the third harmonic.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method according to claim 27 wherein said propagating step is carried out by generating said radiation from a plurality of laser beams each of a different frequency, and producing output radiation which is equal to the sum and difference of said different frequencies upon mixing interactions of said radiation of said beams in said body.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method according to claim 27 wherein said propagating step is carried out by applying said radiation to said body as a beam of laser light of sufficient intensity to change the refractive index of said body as a function of the intensity of said beam.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 43 further comprising forming a lens which focuses said radiation due to the change of the refractive index of said body.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of locating said body in a resonant cavity, and generating output radiation by parametric oscillation at a frequency different from the frequency of said applied radiation propagated in said body.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 27 wherein said inclusions are distributed homogenously in said host.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method according to claim 27 wherein said host material is homogenous and said inclusions are particles of size less than the wavelength of said radiation distributed generally uniformly in said body with a fill fraction (fraction of volume of said body containing said inclusions) up to 1.0.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 27 wherein said inclusions are particles about 50 angstroms in maximum dimension.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method according to claim 48 wherein said particles are a materials selected from the group consisting of titania, diamond, semiconductive microcrystallites and said host is a material selected from the group consisting of carbon disulfide, polymers and porous glass filled with material possessing nonlinear susceptibility.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method according to claim 49 wherein said polymer is polydiacetylene.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 49 wherein said semiconductive microcrystallites are cadmium sulfide material.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 27 wherein the ratio of the optical field dielectric constants of the inclusion component to the host component is greater than one, and their refractive indices are substantially different.
Claim 55
Independent Claim
93 words
A device for processing optical radiation which provides a nonlinear response which is a function of the intensity of said radiation which comprises a body of composite material having a host material component and an inclusion material component, at least said host having an optical response which varies nonlinearly with the amplitude of an optical field applied to said body of sufficient intensity to induce said nonlinear response, said nonlinear response of said body to said field being defined by a nonlinear susceptibility greater than the susceptibility of either of said components thereof.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
93 words
A device for processing optical radiation which provides a nonlinear response which is a function of the intensity of said radiation which comprises a body of composite material having a host material component and an inclusion material component, at least said host having an optical response which varies nonlinearly with the amplitude of an optical field applied to said body of sufficient intensity to induce said nonlinear response, said nonlinear response of said body to said field being defined by a nonlinear susceptibility greater than the susceptibility of either of said components thereof.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device according to claim 53 wherein said inclusion material also possesses nonlinear optical susceptibility.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device according to claim 53 wherein said inclusion material possesses substantially only linear optical susceptibility.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device according to claim 53 wherein said inclusions are particles having maximum dimension less than a wavelength of said optical radiation.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device according to claim 56 wherein said particles are generally spherical.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device according to claim 56 wherein the distance between those of said particles which are adjacent each other is less than a wavelength.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device according to claim 53 wherein said host and inclusion components are both optically isotropic.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device according to claim 59 wherein said body is macroscopically isotropic.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device according to claim 53 wherein said susceptibility is the third order nonlinear susceptibility.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device according to claim 54 wherein said host and inclusion components both possess third order nonlinear susceptibility.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device according to claim 53 wherein said host and said inclusion components are nonabsorptive of said optical radiation.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device according to claim 53 wherein said host and inclusion components both are transmissive of said optical radiation.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
46 words
The device according to claim 53 wherein said body is in the path of said radiation, said radiation is a beam of optical energy and said body provides means responsive to said beam for generating optical radiation at a harmonic of the frequency of said beam.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device according to claim 65 wherein said harmonic is the second harmonic.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device according to claim 65 wherein said harmonic is the third harmonic.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device according to claim 53 wherein radiation is provided by a plurality of laser beams each of a different frequency to produce radiation which is equal to the sum and difference of said different frequencies upon mixing interactions of said radiation of said beams in said body.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device according to claim 53 wherein said radiation is a beam of laser light of sufficient intensity to change the refractive index of said body as a function of the intensity of said beam.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device according to claim 69 wherein said body defines a lens which focuses said radiation.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device according to claim 53 wherein said body is disposed in a resonant cavity and said radiation is applied to said body to induce output radiation by parametric oscillation at a frequency different from the frequency of said applied radiation.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device according to claim 53 wherein said inclusions are distributed homogenously in said host.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device according to claim 53 wherein said host material is homogenous and said inclusions are particles of size less than the wavelength of said radiation distributed generally uniformly in said body with a fill fraction (fraction of volume of said body containing said inclusions) up to 1.0.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device according to claim 53 wherein said inclusion component comprises particles about 50 Angstroms in maximum dimension.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
46 words
The device according to claim 73 wherein said particles are a materials selected from the group consisting of titania, diamond, semiconductive microcrystallites and said host is a material selected from the group consisting of carbon disulfide, polymers and porous glass filled with material possessing nonlinear susceptibility.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device according to claim 75 wherein said polymer is polydiacetylene.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device according to claim 75 wherein said semiconductive microcrystallites are cadmium sulfide material.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device according to claim 53 wherein the ratio of the optical field dielectric constants of the inclusion component to the host component is greater than one, and the refractive indices of said components differ by about one.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4240048A
Cited
US4448485A
Cited
US4624872A
Cited
US4929392A
Cited
US4759820A
Cited
US4761059A
Cited
US4714838A
Cited
US4943145A
Cited
US4756598A
Cited
US4839536A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-10-11 | 1997-04-12 | 1997-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-10-11 | 2001-04-12 | 2001-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-10-11 | 2005-04-12 | 2005-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |