Birefringent Crystal SPIDER Device for Stable Pulse Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spectral phase interference devices suffer from low stability and compactness due to complex configurations.
Innovation Solution
A spectral phase interference device with a simplified structure, utilizing a beam splitter, pulse retarder, half-wave plate, birefringent crystal, broadband quarter-wave plate, polarizing beam splitter, focusing lens, and sum-frequency pulse generator to generate and measure pulse pairs, reducing the need for multiple optical elements and enhancing stability and compactness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional SPIDER device configuration is used, then measurement capability is achieved, but device complexity increases and stability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pulse pair generation function and pulse stretching function into a single birefringent crystal component. The crystal simultaneously generates orthogonal polarization components with different group velocities, eliminating the need for separate pulse stretchers and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The birefringent crystal serves multiple functions: it acts as both the pulse pair generator and the pulse stretcher. By exploiting birefringence, it creates time-delayed pulse pairs with different polarizations while also providing the necessary group velocity dispersion, thereby reducing the number of components needed
2Reliability
If multiple optical elements are used for pulse pair generation, then pulse pair generation is achieved, but device compactness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple optical functions into the birefringent crystal, which simultaneously generates pulse pairs and provides group velocity dispersion. This integration dramatically reduces the number of optical elements required and compactes the device structure while maintaining measurement stability
3Measurement precision
If conventional pulse disperser and optical pulse mixer are used, then spectral phase interference is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates redundant optical elements from the conventional SPIDER configuration. By using the birefringent crystal to directly generate pulse pairs with inherent time delay and polarization separation, it removes the need for separate pulse dispersers and optical pulse mixers, reducing complexity while preserving spectral phase measurement capability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution significantly simplifies the device structure, enhancing stability and compactness while maintaining effective measurement capabilities for ultra-short pulse lasers.
Implementation Method 1
said birefringent crystal is configured to allow said delayed reflected pulse to generate pulse pair to be measured with a relative time delay
Implementation Method 2
said half-wave plate is configured to adjust a polarization direction of said chirped pulse that is incident to a polarizing beam splitter after transmitting through said half-wave plate
Implementation Method 3
said broadband quarter-wave plate is configured to adjust said pulse pair to be measured to allow relative phases of the two sub-pulses in said pulse pair to be measured to generate phase difference it in the pulse pair to be measured
Implementation Method 4
said sum-frequency pulse generator is configured to subject said focused pulse to sum-frequency conversion to generate a sum-frequency pulse pair that is incident to a spectrometer
Implementation Method 5
a beam splitter configured to split a pulse to be measured into a reflected pulse and a transmitted pulse
Data Source
AI summary
The present application provides a spectral phase interference device and system for addressing the problem of low stability and compactness with prior art spectral phase interference devices. In the device or system provided in the present application, the optical element for generating the pulse pair to be measured consists of only a birefringent crystal and the adjustment of two-step phase shift is also completed by only a broadband quarter-wave plate. Therefore, wide application of optical elements such as pulse stretchers, retarders, optical splitters and mirrors as in prior art devices is avoided, thereby significantly simplifying the overall device's structure and resulting in enhanced stability and compactness at the same time.