Battelle Memorial Institute

Mark C Phillips

Matthew S Taubman

Bruce E Bernacki

A toroidal optical device can include a ring mirror defining a toroidal optical cavity symmetric about an axis and an optical coupler situated inside the toroidal optical cavity. The optical coupler can be situated to direct an input light first received from outside the toroidal optical cavity propagating inside the toroidal optical cavity, to multiply reflect from the ring mirror inside the toroidal optical cavity. A method includes producing one or more additional ring mirrors defining a toroidal optical cavity symmetric about a sagittal axis using a first ring mirror as a master form, and affixing an optical coupler inside the optical cavity to at least one of the one or more additional ring mirrors.

Toroidal multipass absorption device

Systems and methods are disclosed that provide a direct indication of the presence and concentration of an analyte within the external cavity of a laser device that employ the compliance voltage across the laser device. The systems can provide stabilization of the laser wavelength. The systems and methods can obviate the need for an external optical detector, an external gas cell, or other sensing region and reduce the complexity and size of the sensing configuration.

Chemical detection and laser wavelength stabilization employing spectroscopic absorption via laser compliance voltage sensing

A method is disclosed for power normalization of spectroscopic signatures obtained from laser based chemical sensors that employs the compliance voltage across a quantum cascade laser device within an external cavity laser. The method obviates the need for a dedicated optical detector used specifically for power normalization purposes. A method is also disclosed that employs the compliance voltage developed across the laser device within an external cavity semiconductor laser to power-stabilize the laser mode of the semiconductor laser by adjusting drive current to the laser such that the output optical power from the external cavity semiconductor laser remains constant.

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Kennewick, WA, United States of America

Mark C Phillips