Polychromatic Photon Beam Generation via Synchronous Electric Field Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices for generating spatially coherent and polychromatic laser sources, such as micro-structured optical fibers and nonlinear crystals, face limitations in achieving high output energies, wavelength range, and synchronization of secondary photons, making them unsuitable for applications like multiplex CARS micro-spectroscopy.
Innovation Solution
A device with control means that generates a synchronous electric field in a nonlinear crystal to induce phase mismatch, allowing for the conversion of primary photons into a super-continuum with wavelengths spanning from far ultraviolet to far infrared, while minimizing group velocity variations, using a combination of pulsed or continuous laser sources, nonlinear crystals, and electro-optical effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If microstructured optical fibers are used to generate supercontinuum, then spectral width and light-matter interaction are improved, but output energy is limited due to small core diameter and material damage threshold
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a nonlinear crystal as an intermediary medium to replace microstructured optical fibers. The crystal allows high-energy laser beams to pass through without reaching the damage threshold that limits fiber-based systems, while still enabling supercontinuum generation through nonlinear optical effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the generating medium from optical fibers with small core diameters to nonlinear crystals with larger interaction volumes. This parameter change allows higher input energies to be used without material damage, directly increasing output energy while maintaining spectral width.
2Reliability
If nonlinear crystals are used instead of microstructured optical fibers, then damage threshold is improved, but phase-matching precision requirements increase and wavelength range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic control of the electric field applied to the nonlinear crystal to adjust phase-matching conditions in real-time. This dynamic approach replaces static precision alignment requirements with adjustable electrical control, allowing the system to adapt phase-matching to different wavelengths and reducing manufacturing precision constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses electro-optic effects to dynamically change the refractive index parameters of the nonlinear crystal through applied electric fields. This allows continuous adjustment of phase-matching conditions across different wavelengths, expanding the achievable wavelength range while maintaining reliable operation below damage thresholds.
3Device complexity
If conventional laser sources are used without electric field control, then device complexity is reduced, but temporal synchronization of photons with different wavelengths deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control where the applied electric field is synchronized with the input laser pulses. This feedback mechanism ensures that phase-matching conditions are optimized at the correct temporal moments, maintaining temporal synchronization of photons with different wavelengths while managing device complexity through coordinated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic application of electric fields synchronized with the pulsed laser input. This periodic action ensures that phase-matching conditions are repeatedly optimized at the correct phase, maintaining temporal synchronization across different wavelengths through rhythmic coordination rather than continuous complex control.
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
Enables the generation of a super-continuum with high power spectral density and coherence, allowing for broader wavelength coverage and adaptability of the spectral profile, suitable for applications like multiplex CARS and other biophotonics and imaging techniques.
Implementation Method 1
at least one nonlinear crystal (CN) arranged to produce an output beam (FS) comprising secondary photons with several 'secondary' wavelengths from the primary photons
Implementation Method 2
These sources are created from a light-matter interaction using nonlinear effects
Implementation Method 3
control means (MC) arranged to generate in the nonlinear crystal (CN) at least one electric field synchronous with the input beam (FE) and capable of inducing in the latter a phase mismatch by an electro-optical effect
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A generating device (DG) comprises: ⋅ a pulse laser source (SL) providing primary photons having at least one wavelength, ⋅ shaping means (MM) acting on the primary photons to provide an input beam, ⋅ a nonlinear crystal (CN), and ⋅ control means (MC) generating, in the nonlinear crystal (CN), at least one electric field that is synchronous with the input beam and suitable for inducing a phase mismatching in the nonlinear crystal (CN) through an electro-optical effect, in order to convert the primary photons of the input beam into secondary photons having wavelengths belonging to a supercontinuum.