A circularly polarized light generator device
By designing a circularly polarized light generator with a standardized optical path, the problems of lack of unified standards and insufficient wavelength adjustment capability in existing technologies are solved, achieving high efficiency and accuracy in photoelectric detection, and making it suitable for compact and real-time detection scenarios.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SHENZHEN TECH UNIV
- Filing Date
- 2025-07-07
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-23
Smart Images
Figure CN224399679U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of optical technology, and in particular to a circularly polarized light generator device. Background Technology
[0002] Circularly polarized light (CPL) has significant application value in photonics fields such as encrypted communication, quantum computing, satellite communication, bioimaging, and multi-channel data processing. Left-circularly polarized light (LCPL) and right-circularly polarized light (RCPL) can be used as independent channels to transmit information, doubling the data transmission rate compared to unpolarized light. The development of CPL-based communication relies on high-performance circularly polarized photodetectors and CPL sources. Chiral materials can directly distinguish between left- and right-circularly polarized light without additional optical components, making chiral circularly polarized photodetectors and light sources highly promising for applications in integrated and flexible devices. However, existing circularly polarized light detection devices and methods have some technical shortcomings: firstly, there is no standardized process for building circularly polarized light generators, directly resulting in a lack of unified quantitative standards for key parameters such as intensity and spot size of chiral lasers used for photodetection, thus affecting the accuracy and reliability of subsequent photodetection. On the other hand, traditional methods of generating circularly polarized light rely on the combination of multiple optical components, which is not only cumbersome to operate and requires high alignment, but also results in a large system size and low integration, making it difficult to meet the miniaturization and integration needs of modern optical equipment. These problems severely restrict the practical application and development of circularly polarized light in fields such as integrated optoelectronic devices and real-time detection. Utility Model Content
[0003] The main technical problem addressed by the embodiments of this application is that the existing technology lacks a standard circularly polarized light generator device construction process, has insufficient wavelength adjustment capability, and has a complex detection scheme structure, which affects photoelectric detection.
[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, one technical solution adopted in this application is: providing a circularly polarized light generator device, the circularly polarized light generator device being used to generate circularly polarized light of different wavelengths, including: a collimator, a linear polarizer, and a first waveplate with a preset phase delay; the collimator is fixed to a first coaxial plate, the linear polarizer is fixed to a third coaxial plate, and the first waveplate is fixed to a fourth coaxial plate; the first coaxial plate is connected to the third coaxial plate via a fifth connecting rod of a fifth length, and the third coaxial plate is connected to the fourth coaxial plate via a third connecting rod of a third length; the laser generated by an external laser passes sequentially through the center point of the collimator, the linear polarizer, and the first waveplate.
[0005] Optionally, the circularly polarized light generator device further includes an attenuator; the attenuator is fixed to a second coaxial plate; the first coaxial plate is connected to the second coaxial plate via a first connecting rod of a first length, and the second coaxial plate is then connected to the third coaxial plate via a second connecting rod of a second length; the laser generated by the external laser passes sequentially through the collimator, the attenuator, the linear polarizer, and the center point of the first waveplate.
[0006] Optionally, the preset phase delay is λ / 4.
[0007] Optionally, the operating wavelength of the linear polarizer is in the range of 400 nanometers to 1700 nanometers.
[0008] Optionally, the operating wavelength of the waveplate with the preset phase delay is in the range of 266 nanometers to 1650 nanometers.
[0009] Optionally, the collimator operates in the wavelength range of 405 nm to 1550 nm.
[0010] Optionally, the output spot diameter of the collimator ranges from 5.0 mm to 6.9 mm.
[0011] Optionally, the aperture of the linear polarizer is 21.5 mm.
[0012] Optionally, the aperture of the waveplate with the preset phase delay is 10 mm or 20 mm.
[0013] The aforementioned circularly polarized light generator device is used to generate circularly polarized light of different wavelengths. It includes: a collimator, a linear polarizer, and a first waveplate with a preset phase delay. The collimator is fixed to a first coaxial plate, the linear polarizer is fixed to a third coaxial plate, and the first waveplate is fixed to a fourth coaxial plate. The first coaxial plate is connected to the third coaxial plate via a fifth connecting rod of fifth length, and the third coaxial plate is connected to the fourth coaxial plate via a third connecting rod of third length. Laser light generated by an external laser passes sequentially through the center points of the collimator, the linear polarizer, and the first waveplate. This circularly polarized light generator device adopts a standardized construction method, effectively reducing interference from irrelevant variables during the testing process, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the test results. It has the ability to flexibly introduce different types of lasers, achieving adjustable wavelengths for photoelectric detection, and can generate circularly polarized light of multiple wavelengths. Simultaneously, the device combines the optical selectivity of chiral materials with photoelectric detection technology, enabling chiral photodetectors to directly distinguish the rotation direction of circularly polarized light without the need for traditional complex optical components. This makes it particularly suitable for compact, real-time detection scenarios, greatly improving the convenience and efficiency of detection. Attached Figure Description
[0014] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. These illustrations do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements having the same reference numerals in the drawings are denoted as similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings are not to be limited by scale.
[0015] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the circularly polarized light generator device provided in the embodiments of this application.
[0016] Figure 2 This is another perspective view of the circularly polarized light generator device provided in the embodiments of this application.
[0017] Figure 3 This is a comparison of light and dark separation when left-handed / right-handed circularly polarized light is generated by the circularly polarized light generator device provided in this application and irradiates the photoconductive detector L-penicillamine-PbS.
[0018] Figure 4 This is a comparison of light and dark separation when left-handed / right-handed circularly polarized light is generated by the circularly polarized light generator device provided in this application and irradiates the photoconductive detector D-penicillamine-PbS.
[0019] Figure 5 This is a comparison of light and dark separation of the L-penicillamine-PbS photoconductive detector under non-polarized light irradiation provided in the embodiments of this application.
[0020] Figure 6 This is a comparison of light and dark separation of the D-penicillamine-PbS photoconductive detector under non-polarized light irradiation provided in the embodiments of this application.
[0021] The labels in the attached diagram have the following meanings: 1-collimator; 2-attenuator; 3-linear polarizer; 4-first waveplate; 11-first coaxial plate; 21-second coaxial plate; 31-third coaxial plate; 41-fourth coaxial plate; 12-first connecting rod; 22-second connecting rod; 32-third connecting rod; 52-fifth connecting rod. Detailed Implementation
[0022] To facilitate understanding of this utility model, a more complete description will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Preferred embodiments of this utility model are shown in the drawings. However, this utility model can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a more thorough and complete understanding of the disclosure of this utility model.
[0023] It should be noted that when a component is said to be "fixed to" another component, it can be directly on the other component or it can be centered on the other component. When a component is said to be "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or it may be centered on the other component.
[0024] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention.
[0025] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the circularly polarized light generator device provided in the embodiments of this application, as shown below. Figure 1 As shown, the circularly polarized light generator device is used to generate circularly polarized light of different wavelengths, including: a collimator 1, a linear polarizer 3, and a first waveplate 4 with a preset phase delay.
[0026] The collimator 1 is fixed to the first coaxial plate 11, the linear polarizer 3 is fixed to the third coaxial plate 31, and the first waveplate 4 is fixed to the fourth coaxial plate 41. The first coaxial plate 11 is connected to the third coaxial plate 31 via a fifth connecting rod 52 of fifth length, and the third coaxial plate 31 is connected to the fourth coaxial plate 41 via a third connecting rod 32 of third length. The laser generated by the external laser passes sequentially through the center points of the collimator 1, the linear polarizer 3, and the first waveplate 4.
[0027] The aforementioned circularly polarized light generator device, through the coordinated design of the collimator 1, the linear polarizer 3, and the first waveplate 4 with a preset phase delay, can generate circularly polarized light of corresponding wavelengths for lasers of different wavelengths (e.g., 405nm, 1310nm, etc.). The collimator 1 collimates the laser beam and adjusts the output spot size to ensure uniform distribution of light energy. The linear polarizer 3 converts unpolarized light into linearly polarized light. The first waveplate 4, through a specific phase delay (e.g., 1 / 4 wavelength), creates a phase difference in the linearly polarized light, thereby converting it into left-handed or right-handed circularly polarized light. The standardized optical path design of the above embodiment solves the problem of the lack of a unified standard in the construction of circularly polarized light generators in the prior art, providing a stable and repeatable test light source for chiral photodetectors.
[0028] As an alternative implementation method, please continue reading. Figure 2 , Figure 2 This is another perspective view of the circularly polarized light generator device provided in the embodiments of this application. (See image below.) Figure 2As shown, the circularly polarized light generator device further includes an attenuator 2, which is fixed to a second coaxial plate 21. The first coaxial plate 11 is connected to the second coaxial plate 21 via a first connecting rod 12 of a first length, and the second coaxial plate 21 is then connected to the third coaxial plate 31 via a second connecting rod 22 of a second length. The laser generated by the external laser passes sequentially through the center points of the collimator 1, the attenuator 2, the linear polarizer 3, and the first waveplate 4.
[0029] The laser light, after being focused by the collimator 1, has a high energy density. If it is directly incident on components such as the linear polarizer 3 and the first waveplate 4, long-term high-energy irradiation may cause damage to the component films or performance degradation. The attenuator 2 reduces the light spot intensity by absorbing or reflecting some of the light energy, protecting the stability and lifespan of subsequent optical components, ensuring long-term stable operation of the device, and solving the problem of component damage caused by uncontrollable light source energy in the prior art.
[0030] As an optional implementation, the preset phase delay is 1 / 4 wavelength, meaning the first waveplate 4 is a 1 / 4 waveplate, and the preset fixed angle of the first waveplate 4 is ±45°. In this case, when unpolarized light generated by an external laser is first converted into linearly polarized light by the linear polarizer 2, and then incident on the 1 / 4 waveplate with a fixed angle of ±45°, the two orthogonal polarization components of the linearly polarized light will generate a λ / 4 phase difference. After synthesis, they form left-hand circularly polarized light (LCPL) or right-hand circularly polarized light (RCPL), providing a standardized circularly polarized light test source for chiral photodetectors.
[0031] The first waveplate 4 is designed to match the wavelength with a fixed angle (±45°) to ensure that the rotation direction (left-handed / right-handed) and purity of the circularly polarized light are controllable. This solves the problem of the lack of standards in the construction of circularly polarized light generators in the prior art and provides a unified test light source for chiral photodetectors.
[0032] As an optional implementation, the linear polarizer operates in the range of 400 nm to 1700 nm, covering the wavelength range of 400 nm (blue light) to 1700 nm (near-infrared light), and can be matched with various lasers (e.g., 405 nm visible light laser, 1310 nm infrared laser, etc.), so that the linear polarizer 3 can efficiently convert unpolarized light of the corresponding wavelength into linearly polarized light, providing a basic polarization source for the subsequent generation of circularly polarized light by the first waveplate 4 (e.g., 1 / 4 waveplate).
[0033] In existing technologies, circularly polarized light generators often suffer from narrow wavelength ranges due to the linear polarizers, limiting their compatibility to a single light source (e.g., supporting only visible or near-infrared light). This solution, however, utilizes a wide wavelength range of 400-1700nm to simultaneously meet the generation requirements of circularly polarized light across different wavelength bands, including ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared. Furthermore, it eliminates the need for frequent replacement of the linear polarizer, ensuring compatibility with laser sources of different wavelengths and reducing the complexity and cost of device setup. The high polarization extinction ratio (i.e., the ability to suppress non-target polarized light) of the linear polarizer within the 400-1700nm range ensures high purity of the generated linearly polarized light at each wavelength, thereby maximizing the differentiation of the rotation direction (LCPL / RCPL) of the subsequent circularly polarized light.
[0034] As an optional implementation, the waveplate with the preset phase delay operates in the range of 266 nm to 1650 nm. Traditional waveplates, due to their narrow wavelength adaptation range (e.g., only covering visible light), cannot accurately generate a λ / 4 phase difference in the near-infrared band, such as 1310 nm, resulting in disordered circular polarization or insufficient purity of the light. This application, through a 266-1650 nm wavelength design, enables the waveplate to maintain a stable phase delay capability in the near-infrared band. Furthermore, in conjunction with a coaxial plate-connector structure (e.g., the third connector 32 connects the linear polarizer 3 and the first waveplate 4), a compact near-infrared optical path module is formed, reducing its size compared to traditional multi-component combination schemes, making it suitable for integrated photoelectric detection equipment (e.g., portable near-infrared circular polarization detectors).
[0035] As an optional implementation, the collimator operates in the wavelength range of 405 nm to 1550 nm.
[0036] As another alternative implementation, the collimator has an output spot diameter ranging from 5.0 mm to 6.9 mm.
[0037] For lasers of different wavelengths (e.g., 1310nm, 405nm), the collimator 1 converts the diverging laser beam into parallel light through an optical lens group and adjusts the spot diameter to a specific size (e.g., 6.6mm for 1310nm, 5.0mm for 405nm) to ensure uniform energy distribution of the beam. This provides a stable incident light source for the subsequent linear polarizer 3 (e.g., operating range 400-700nm and 700-1700nm) and the first waveplate 4 (e.g., operating range 405nm, 1100-1650mm). The operating wavelength and spot diameter of the collimator 1 must match the parameters of the laser, the linear polarizer 3, and the first waveplate 4 to adapt to the optical path transmission in the ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared band.
[0038] As an optional implementation, the light-transmitting aperture of the linear polarizer is 21.5 mm.
[0039] As an optional implementation, the aperture of the waveplate with the preset phase delay is 10 mm or 20 mm.
[0040] In the circularly polarized light generator device, the aperture of the linear polarizer 3 (21.5 mm) is designed to be different from that of the first waveplate 4 (e.g., a quarter-wave plate, 10 mm). This is primarily based on considerations of optical path energy transmission efficiency, differences in component functions, and system integration requirements. The 21.5 mm aperture of the linear polarizer 3 needs to be adapted to different spot diameters output by the collimator (e.g., a 6.6 mm spot from a 1310 nm collimator and a 5.0 mm spot from a 405 nm collimator) to ensure that collimated beams of different wavelengths can be fully incident, avoiding light energy loss due to an excessively small aperture. For example, the 6.6 mm spot from the 1310 nm collimator needs to be fully received by the linear polarizer to ensure a polarization conversion efficiency of at least 90%. The first waveplate 4 (10mm aperture) serves as a subsequent element, and its aperture only needs to be large enough to allow the collimated light spot to pass through. A 10mm aperture is sufficient to cover light spots of 6.6mm (1310nm) and 5.0mm (405nm). The smaller aperture also reduces the material cost and processing difficulty of optical elements, while reducing stray light interference. Although the linear polarizer 3 uses a larger aperture (21.5mm), it increases the cost to some extent, but it avoids the need to customize polarizers for different light spots, enabling a single device to be compatible with multi-wavelength detection. The 10mm aperture of the first waveplate 4 is miniaturized and combined with a coaxial plate-connector structure (such as the third connector 32), making the optical path module smaller than the traditional solution (all large aperture elements), suitable for compact photoelectric detection equipment.
[0041] In addition, this application also uses the circularly polarized light generator device in the above embodiments to generate left-handed / right-handed circularly polarized light, and then uses the generated left-handed / right-handed circularly polarized light to irradiate a photoconductive device for testing. This allows for obtaining different test results for LCPL / RCPL from photoconductive devices with different polarities. For example, the photoconductive detector L- / D-penicillamine-PbS is used. The photoconductive detector is essentially similar to a photoresistor. When light irradiates the active layer, as long as the energy of the photons is sufficient to excite the quantum dots, the generated photogenerated carriers will cause a change in the carrier density of the material, thereby altering the electrical signal. When the device is working, the current and voltage of the photoconductive tube have a linear relationship, as shown in the following formula: Where I is the device current, S is the channel cross-sectional area, L is the channel length, V is the applied voltage, and σ is the material conductivity. Because the illumination conditions change (left-handed circularly polarized light LCPL, right-handed circularly polarized light RCPL, and dark environment), the generated photogenerated carrier density also changes, thus distinguishing the electrical signals. In the dark environment, the photogenerated carrier density can be considered to be zero.
[0042] As an example, please refer to Figure 3 , Figure 3 This is a comparison of the light and dark separation of the photoconductive detector L-penicillamine-PbS irradiated by left-handed / right-handed circularly polarized light generated by the circularly polarized light generator device provided in this application embodiment. The horizontal axis (Voltage (V)) represents the voltage applied across the photoconductive device, with the unit being volts (V), reflecting the voltage variation and used to observe the response characteristics of the device under different voltages. The vertical axis (Current (A)) represents the current generated by the photoconductive device, with the unit being amperes (A), reflecting the changes in photogenerated carriers generated in the active layer of the device under corresponding voltages and different illumination conditions (left-handed circularly polarized light LCPL, right-handed circularly polarized light RCPL, and dark environment), thereby causing changes in the electrical signal. Figure 3 As shown, the photoconductive detector L-penicillamine-PbS achieved a light-dark separation of 2.8 μA under LCPL irradiation; the photoconductive detector L-penicillamine-PbS achieved a light-dark separation of 2.13 μA under RCPL irradiation.
[0043] As another example, please refer to Figure 4 , Figure 4 This is a comparison of the light and dark separation of a D-penicillamine-PbS photoconductor detector irradiated by left-handed / right-handed circularly polarized light generated by the circularly polarized light generator device provided in this application embodiment. The horizontal axis (Voltage (V)) represents the voltage applied across the photoconductor device, measured in volts (V), reflecting voltage variations and used to observe the device's response characteristics under different voltages. The vertical axis (Current (A)) represents the current generated by the photoconductor device, measured in amperes (A), reflecting the changes in photogenerated carriers generated in the device's active layer under corresponding voltages and different illumination conditions (left-handed circularly polarized light LCPL, right-handed circularly polarized light RCPL, and dark environment), thereby causing changes in the electrical signal. Figure 4 As shown, the photoconductive detector D-penicillamine-PbS achieved a light-dark separation of 1.87 μA under LCPL irradiation; and the photoconductive detector D-penicillamine-PbS achieved a light-dark separation of 2.3 μA under RCPL irradiation.
[0044] As an example, please refer to Figure 5 , Figure 5This is a comparison of light and dark separation of the L-penicillamine-PbS photoconductive detector under unpolarized light illumination provided in an embodiment of this application. The horizontal axis (Voltage (V)) represents the voltage applied across the photoconductive device, measured in volts (V), reflecting voltage variations and used to observe the device's response characteristics under different voltages. The vertical axis (Current (A)) represents the current generated by the photoconductive device, measured in amperes (A), reflecting the changes in photogenerated carriers generated in the device's active layer under corresponding voltages and different illumination conditions (left-handed circularly polarized light LCPL, right-handed circularly polarized light RCPL, and dark environment), thereby causing changes in the electrical signal. Figure 5 As shown, under unpolarized light irradiation, the light-dark separation of the L-penicillamine-PbS photoconductive device reaches 0.6 μA.
[0045] As an example, please refer to Figure 6 , Figure 6 This is a comparison of light and dark separation of the D-penicillamine-PbS photoconductive detector under unpolarized light illumination provided in this application embodiment. The horizontal axis (Voltage (V)) represents the voltage applied across the photoconductive device, measured in volts (V), reflecting voltage variations and used to observe the device's response characteristics under different voltages. The vertical axis (Current (A)) represents the current generated by the photoconductive device, measured in amperes (A), reflecting the changes in photogenerated carriers generated in the device's active layer under corresponding voltages and different illumination conditions (left-handed circularly polarized light LCPL, right-handed circularly polarized light RCPL, and dark environment), thereby causing changes in the electrical signal. Figure 6 As shown, under unpolarized light illumination, the light-dark separation of the D-penicillamine-PbS photoconductive device is 0.57 μA. According to... Figure 5 and Figure 6 The comparison results show that devices with different spin characteristics have little difference in light-dark separation under unpolarized light.
[0046] Among them, according to the above Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6The comparative experimental results show that chiral detectors exhibit significant differences in their responses to circularly polarized light with different rotation directions. This verifies that the circularly polarized light generator device in the above embodiments can effectively support the direct differentiation of the rotation direction of circularly polarized light in chiral materials, solving the problem of the inability to identify rotation direction in traditional unpolarized light detection. Compared with circularly polarized light scenarios, the response difference under circularly polarized light illumination is increased by 4-5 times, proving that the LCPL / RCPL generated by the circularly polarized light generator device in the above embodiments can significantly enhance the detection sensitivity and specificity of chiral detectors, highlighting the necessity of circularly polarized light detection in differentiating the optical responses of chiral materials. In the experiment, the light-dark separation data of different chiral photodetectors were stable and consistent with the device design principle (linear polarizer + 1 / 4 waveplate generating circularly polarized light). This indicates that the circularly polarized light generator device in the above embodiments, through standardized optical path construction, can eliminate the influence of variables such as unstable light sources and inconsistent optical paths in traditional testing, providing a repeatable and comparable quantitative testing standard for chiral photodetectors.
[0047] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.
[0048] The above embodiments only illustrate preferred implementations of this utility model, and their descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, but they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the utility model patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this utility model, and these all fall within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model patent should be determined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A circularly polarized light generator device, characterized in that, The circularly polarized light generator device is used to generate circularly polarized light of different wavelengths, and includes: a collimator, a linear polarizer, and a first waveplate with a preset phase delay. The collimator is fixed to the first coaxial plate, the linear polarizer is fixed to the third coaxial plate, and the first waveplate is fixed to the fourth coaxial plate. The first coaxial plate is connected to the third coaxial plate via a fifth connecting rod of fifth length, and the third coaxial plate is connected to the fourth coaxial plate via a third connecting rod of third length; The laser generated by the external laser passes sequentially through the collimator, the linear polarizer, and the center point of the first waveplate.
2. The circularly polarized light generator device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The circularly polarized light generator device also includes an attenuator; The attenuator is fixed to the second coaxial plate; The first coaxial plate is connected to the second coaxial plate via a first connecting rod of a first length, and the second coaxial plate is then connected to the third coaxial plate via a second connecting rod of a second length. The laser generated by the external laser passes sequentially through the collimator, the attenuator, the linear polarizer, and the center point of the first waveplate.
3. The circularly polarized light generator device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The preset phase delay is λ / 4.
4. The circularly polarized light generator device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The linear polarizer operates in the range of 400 nm to 1700 nm.
5. The circularly polarized light generator device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The waveplate with the preset phase delay has an operating wavelength in the range of 266 nanometers to 1650 nanometers.
6. The circularly polarized light generator device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The collimator operates in the wavelength range of 405 nm to 1550 nm.
7. The circularly polarized light generator device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The collimator has an output spot diameter ranging from 5.0 mm to 6.9 mm.
8. The circularly polarized light generator device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The optical aperture of the linear polarizer is 21.5 mm.
9. The circularly polarized light generator device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The aperture of the waveplate with the preset phase delay is 10 mm or 20 mm.