Optical cooling of solids
US5615558A · kind A · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 25, 1995 |
| Grant date | Apr 1, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 25, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25B23/003
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A device and method for laser cooling of a solid to extremely low temperature is disclosed, the device including an active cooling structure having a high purity surface passivated direct band gap semiconductor crystal of less than about 3 microns thick and a transparent hemispherical body in optical contact with the crystal. The crystal is itself cooled when illuminated with a laser beam tuned to a frequency no greater than the band gap edge frequency of the crystal. Cooling is caused by emission of photons of higher energy than photons entering the crystal, the additional energy being accounted for by process of absorption of thermal phonons from the crystal lattice.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.