Time-Response Measurement With Common-Axis Pump-Probe Pulses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing time-resolved spectroscopic measurement methods require precise spatial and temporal optical adjustments to align the irradiation positions of pump and probe light, making the measurement process complicated.
Innovation Solution
A time response measurement apparatus and method that uses a pulse formation unit to generate pulsed light with different wavelengths on a common optical axis, an attenuation unit to attenuate pump light more than probe light, and a waveform measurement unit to measure temporal waveforms, simplifying the measurement process by aligning all light paths on a single axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If pump light and probe light are incident on the sample with inclined optical axes to enable detection, then the photodetector can detect only the probe light without detecting the pump light, but the irradiation positions of pump light and probe light cannot be aligned, requiring micrometer-order spatial and temporal optical adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the measurement process into separate steps: first measuring the temporal waveform of pump light alone, then measuring the temporal waveform of probe light alone, and finally measuring the temporal waveform of both lights combined. This segmentation allows the system to achieve the benefits of inclined optical axes for detection while eliminating the need for precise spatial and temporal alignment between pump and probe light irradiation positions.
2Ease of operation
If the optical axis of pump light is inclined with respect to the optical axis of probe light, then the photodetector can detect only the probe light, but precise spatial and temporal optical adjustment is required to align irradiation positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the measurement into three separate measurements: pump light only, probe light only, and both lights combined. This allows the system to maintain inclined optical axes for easy detection while avoiding the complexity of aligning pump and probe light irradiation positions, as each measurement is performed independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary measurements of pump light and probe light temporal waveforms separately before performing the combined measurement. This preliminary action allows the system to characterize each light source independently, eliminating the need for precise alignment between them while maintaining the detection capability provided by inclined optical axes.
3Device complexity
If pump light and probe light are measured simultaneously on the same optical axis, then spatial and temporal alignment is simplified, but the pump light signal cannot be effectively attenuated to isolate the probe light signal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the measurement process into separate temporal measurements: first measuring pump light, then probe light, then both combined. This segmentation allows the system to use the same optical axis for all measurements (simplifying alignment) while maintaining the ability to isolate signals through temporal separation and mathematical processing of the measured waveforms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary measurements of pump light and probe light separately before the combined measurement. This allows the system to pre-characterize each signal and use this information to accurately isolate the probe light signal from the combined measurement, even though both lights travel through the same optical axis.
4Device complexity
If the same optical axis is used for pump light and probe light, then spatial alignment is eliminated, but both pump light and probe light are detected simultaneously making signal separation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the measurement process into three separate temporal measurements: pump light only, probe light only, and both combined. This segmentation allows the system to use the same optical axis for all measurements (eliminating alignment requirements) while maintaining signal separation capability through temporal separation and mathematical processing of the waveform data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary separate measurements of pump light and probe light temporal waveforms before the combined measurement. This preliminary action provides the basis for mathematically separating the signals in the combined measurement, allowing accurate signal separation even though both lights travel through the same optical axis without alignment requirements.
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
Simplifies the measurement process by eliminating the need for precise spatial and temporal optical adjustments, allowing for accurate evaluation of the time response within a sample through the analysis of temporal waveforms.
Implementation Method 1
an attenuation unit (4) that transmits first pulsed light (PL1), second pulsed light (PL2), and third pulsed light (PL3) output from the sample arranged on the optical axis after being incident on the sample, with an attenuation rate of the attenuation unit with respect to the pump light being larger than an attenuation rate of the attenuation unit with respect to the probe light
Data Source
AI summary
A time response measurement apparatus includes a pulse formation unit, an attenuation unit, a waveform measurement unit, and an analysis unit. The pulse formation unit generates first pulsed light including a wavelength of pump light, second pulsed light including a wavelength of probe light, and third pulsed light including the wavelength of the pump light and the wavelength of the probe light, on a common optical axis. The attenuation unit transmits the first pulsed light, the second pulsed light, and the third pulsed light output from a sample arranged on the optical axis after being incident on the sample. An attenuation rate for the pump light is larger than an attenuation rate for the probe light. The analysis unit obtains a time response of the sample based on temporal waveforms of the first pulsed light, the second pulsed light, and the third pulsed light having passed through the attenuation unit.