Nonlinear optical apparatus using fabry-perot resonators
US4221472A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 28, 1978 |
| Grant date | Sep 9, 1980 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 28, 1998 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/213
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical apparatus which provides a nonlinear characteristic between input and output amplitude levels is disclosed. A single frequency linearly polarized single mode light beam having amplitude variations that are to be acted upon is coupled to a Fabry-Perot interferometer (10) having two mirrored ends (11 and 12) and substantially filled with an electrooptic material (13) having electrodes (14 and 15). A beam splitter (21) is positioned and oriented so as to deflect optical energy that is reflected from the cavity into a photodetector circuit (22 and 23) whose output voltage is applied to the electrodes of the electrooptic material. Adjustment of the cavity length provides a wide range of nonlinear characteristics including some that permit the apparatus to be used as a bistable memory element and others which permit the device to be used as a clipper for all input power levels below a predetermined threshold level.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.