Abstract:
A photoacoustic ozone detector includes an acoustic chamber, an ultraviolet light source, and a detector to detect audio signals. The acoustic chamber has an inlet for receiving a gas mixture containing ozone and an outlet for removing the gas mixture from the chamber. The ultraviolet light source generates ultraviolet light having wavelengths shorter than 400 nm, and the ultraviolet light is modulated at a modulation frequency substantially equal to a resonant frequency of the acoustic chamber. The ultraviolet light source is positioned relative to the acoustic chamber so that the ultraviolet light passes through the gas mixture in the acoustic chamber. The detector detects an audio signal in the acoustic chamber having a frequency substantially equal to the modulation frequency of the ultraviolet light. A signal processor generates an output indicative of a concentration of the ozone in the gas mixture based on the detected audio signal.
Abstract:
A method for imaging a sample is described. The sample is characterized by a limit on incident optical energy absorbed over a given time period. The method includes providing at least one input optical wave that includes pulses that each have a full-width half-maximum time duration of more than 100 picoseconds and a pulse energy sufficiently large such that a sufficient number of consecutive pulses absorbed by the sample would exceed the limit. The method also includes directing the input optical wave to focus on a first portion of the sample; detecting energy from an output optical wave generated from a nonlinear optical interaction in the first portion of the sample with the input optical wave; and generating a representation of the first portion of the sample based on the detected energy from the output optical wave.
Abstract:
A method for imaging a sample is described. The sample is characterized by a limit on incident optical energy absorbed over a given time period. The method includes providing at least one input optical wave that includes pulses that each have a full-width half-maximum time duration of more than 100 picoseconds and a pulse energy sufficiently large such that a sufficient number of consecutive pulses absorbed by the sample would exceed the limit. The method also includes directing the input optical wave to focus on a first portion of the sample; detecting energy from an output optical wave generated from a nonlinear optical interaction in the first portion of the sample with the input optical wave; and generating a representation of the first portion of the sample based on the detected energy from the output optical wave.
Abstract:
A photoacoustic ozone detector includes an acoustic chamber, an ultraviolet light source, and a detector to detect audio signals. The acoustic chamber has an inlet for receiving a gas mixture containing ozone and an outlet for removing the gas mixture from the chamber. The ultraviolet light source generates ultraviolet light having wavelengths shorter than 400 nm, and the ultraviolet light is modulated at a modulation frequency substantially equal to a resonant frequency of the acoustic chamber. The ultraviolet light source is positioned relative to the acoustic chamber so that the ultraviolet light passes through the gas mixture in the acoustic chamber. The detector detects an audio signal in the acoustic chamber having a frequency substantially equal to the modulation frequency of the ultraviolet light. A signal processor generates an output indicative of a concentration of the ozone in the gas mixture based on the detected audio signal.
Abstract:
A novel optical parametric oscillator (OPO) directs pulsed optical energy at a first wavelength towards a nonlinear crystal using a wavelength-selective isolation mirror which substantially reflects incident optical energy at the first wavelength, but is substantially transparent to optical energy at a second wavelength. In response to the pulsed optical energy, the nonlinear crystal generates a beam of optical energy at a second wavelength. The beam of generated optical energy is reinforced using an OPO cavity that is formed by the isolation mirror, a diffraction grating, a highly reflecting mirror, and a tuning mirror. The highly reflecting mirror and the tuning mirror provide high reflectivity at the second wavelength. The tuning mirror, positioned so as to at least partially face the diffraction grating, provides an optional wavelength tuning mechanism when the wavelength of the generated optical energy needs to be changed or adjusted. The diffraction grating reflects at least a portion of the beam of generated optical energy out of the OPO cavity as the zeroth order of the diffraction grating. The pump beam passes once through nonlinear crystal, strikes the diffraction grating at an angle of incidence of approximately 87 to 89.5 degrees, and is reflected out of the OPO cavity along with the generated optical energy. An optical filter deflects the pump beam that is reflected out of the OPO cavity, but is substantially transparent to the beam of generated optical energy. An iris aperture, positioned beyond the optical filter, spatially selects the center portion of the beam of generated optical energy from the OPO cavity. The center portion of the beam has a desired narrow bandwidth for use in any of a variety of system applications, so as to provide a broadly tunable, narrow-bandwidth source of pulsed optical radiation.