Using crystalline materials to control the thermo-optic behavior of an optical path

US6486999B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Agere Systems Inc. · US

Inventors

• David Alan Ackerman · Hopewell, US
• Richard B. Bylsma · Ada, US
• Robert L. Hartman · Hackettstown, US
• Glen Robert Kowach · Fanwood, US
• Malcolm E. Lines · Millington, US
• Lynn F. Schneemeyer · Westfield, US
• Thomas L. Koch · Califon, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 15, 2000
• Grant date: Nov 26, 2002
• Expiry date: Mar 15, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01S5/125
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The thermo-optic behavior of an optical path over a range of temperatures &Dgr;T is controlled by determining a figure-of-merit (FOM) for the optical path and including in the path a body of crystalline material that enables the conditions specified by the FOM to be satisfied. The crystalline material is highly transparent at a wavelength &lgr; of radiation propagating in the path, and it has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and a refractive index n such that the CTE and dn/dT are mutually adapted to satisfy the FOM over the range &Dgr;T. In one embodiment, the CTE and dn/dT of an etalon compensate one another so as to perform frequency discrimination that is essentially temperature insensitive over the range &Dgr;T. In a preferred embodiment of the optical etalon the crystalline material comprises LiCaAlF6.