Thermo-optic refractometry
US11333601B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 14, 2021 |
| Grant date | May 17, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 14, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2021/432
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method of determining a refractive index of a material sample comprises removably mounting the material sample into a sample holder having a thermal control mechanism, a thermal expansion compensation mechanism, and a rotation mechanism; projecting a laser beam into the material sample, wherein the material sample has a predetermined orientation and temperature, wherein the material sample has parallel sides defining parallel planes for entry and exit of the laser beam into and out of the material sample; collecting a refracted laser beam from the material sample, and determining the refractive index for the material sample at the predetermined temperature. The laser beam may be a visible laser and/or an infrared laser. The thermal control mechanism comprises a thermal controller coupled to an induction coil apparatus and a temperature sensor. The sample holder comprises a refractory metal consisting of one or more of a niobium/molybdenum alloy and a tantalum/tungsten alloy.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.