Methods and apparatuses for measuring optical radiation

US11073421B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy · US

Inventors

• Marcel W. Pruessner · Chevy Chase Section Five, US
• Doewon Park · Herndon, US
• Todd H. Stievater · Arlington, US
• Dmitry A. Kozak · Berwyn Heights, US
• William S. Rabinovich · Silver Spring, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 9, 2019
• Grant date: Jul 27, 2021
• Expiry date: Aug 9, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01J2003/423
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Optical detectors and methods of forming them are provided. The detector includes: a controller, pump and probe laser generators that generate modulated pump laser and probe lasers, respectively, a microring cavity that receives the lasers, a microbridge, and a photodetector. The microring cavity includes covered and exposed portions. The microbridge is suspended above the exposed portion and interacts with an evanescent optical field. The wavelength and modulated power of the pump laser are controlled to generate the evanescent optical field that excites the microbridge to resonance. The microbridge absorbs optical radiation which changes the resonance frequency proportionately. The probe laser is modulated in proportion to a vibration amplitude of the microbridge to form a modulated probe laser which is provided to the photodetector. The controller receives data from the photodetector, determines a change in resonance frequency, and calculates the amount of absorbed radiation from the change in resonance frequency.