Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for generating coherent radiation

US4780876A · kind A · utility

11Cited by
2References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 5, 1987
Grant dateOct 25, 1988
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 5, 2007

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01S3/302
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus for generating relatively narrow linewidth radiation, for example having a 1 MHz linewidth. The apparatus comprises a source of relatively broad linewidth, coherent radiation such as a semiconductor laser (1) generating optical radiation having a linewidth of 10 MHz. The broad linewidth radiation is injected into a waveguide ring (5), the characteristics of the radiation and the form of the waveguide ring (5) being such that stimulated Brillouin scattering occurs in use to generate the relatively narrow linewidth of the order of kHz, coherent wave travelling in an opposite direction to the broad linewidth radiation. A directional coupler (3) between the source (1) and the waveguide ring (5) separates the narrow linewidth wave from the injected radiation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.