Optical Assembly Suppressing Parasitic Etalon Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical frequency monitors face measurement inaccuracies due to internal optical frequency reflections and parasitic etalon responses in detectors, which result in ripple amplitudes greater than 1%, making precise frequency measurements over a 5 THz range challenging.
Innovation Solution
An optical assembly comprising a first etalon, a second etalon, and an optical element that de-collimates a collimated light beam, minimizing or eliminating parasitic etalon responses by distributing the optical phase, thereby reducing reflections and resonance responses within the second etalon.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a collimated light beam is transmitted through multiple etalons for frequency monitoring, then measurement range and functionality are improved, but parasitic etalon responses and ripple amplitudes increase, degrading measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
A lens is introduced as an intermediary optical element between the first etalon and the second etalon. This lens receives the collimated light beam from the first etalon and transforms it into a de-collimated light beam before it enters the second etalon. The lens acts as a mediator that modifies the beam characteristics to suppress parasitic etalon responses while maintaining the frequency monitoring functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical parameter of the light beam (collimation state) is changed by the lens. The collimated beam is transformed into a de-collimated beam, altering the beam's wavefront curvature and propagation characteristics. This parameter change suppresses the parasitic etalon response in the second etalon, enabling precise frequency measurements.
2Measurement precision
If a lens is added to de-collimate the light beam between etalons, then parasitic etalon responses are suppressed and measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single lens is introduced as an intermediary optical element between the first etalon and the second etalon. This lens receives the collimated light beam from the first etalon and transforms it into a de-collimated light beam before it enters the second etalon. The lens acts as a mediator that modifies the beam characteristics to suppress parasitic etalon responses while maintaining the frequency monitoring functionality.
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
This configuration suppresses ripple amplitudes to less than 1%, enabling frequency measurements with precision greater than or equal to 1 GHz, improving the accuracy of optical frequency monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
the optical element is configured to receive the collimated light beam, to change the collimated light beam to a de-collimated light beam
Implementation Method 2
the first etalon is configured to transmit a collimated light beam from an input surface of the first etalon to an output surface of the first etalon
Data Source
AI summary
In some implementations, an optical assembly includes a first etalon, a second etalon, and an optical element disposed between the first etalon and the second etalon. The first etalon is configured to transmit a collimated light beam from an input surface of the first etalon to an output surface of the first etalon, and to allow the collimated light beam to propagate from an output surface of the first etalon to the optical element. The optical element is configured to receive the collimated light beam, to change the collimated light beam to a de-collimated light beam, and to allow the de-collimated light beam to propagate from the optical element to an input surface of the second etalon. The second etalon is configured to transmit the de-collimated light beam from the input surface of the second etalon to an output surface of the second etalon.