Method and Apparatus for Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This patent describes an improved method and device for cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS), a precise technique to measure how much a specific substance inside an optical cavity absorbs light. The novelty lies in generating a broadband, coherent light pulse by passing intense laser radiation through a nonlinear optical medium, thereby significantly broadening the light's spectral range. This allows the system to sensitively and rapidly detect and characterize the absorption spectrum of unknown or trace substances in gases, liquids, or solids, over a much wider wavelength range than conventional CRDS systems.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Environmental monitoring, such as real-time air quality analysis and detection of pollutants at trace levels.
• Process monitoring in semiconductor manufacturing to detect trace impurities in inert gases.
• Quality control and transparency assessment of optical fibers for telecommunications.
• Chemical analysis and identification of unknown substances in laboratory or industrial settings.
• Medical diagnostics, for detecting trace bio-markers via analysis of breath or fluids.
• Detection and monitoring of hazardous or explosive materials.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Allows highly sensitive spectroscopy over a very broad wavelength range using a single, broadband coherent light pulse.
• Improves detection limits for trace substances compared to conventional CRDS systems.
• Enables rapid, simultaneous measurement of absorption at multiple wavelengths, reducing analysis time and increasing throughput.
• Expands the range of substances that can be measured, including unknown or unexpected analytes, without the need for prior knowledge of their spectral properties.
• Supports heterodyne detection, which significantly enhances measurement sensitivity, especially with low-power light sources.
• Reduces instrument complexity and potential measurement errors associated with wavelength scanning or tuning in traditional systems.
• Offers flexible integration into various scientific, industrial, and environmental applications.

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and device for cavity ringdown spectroscopy. The object of the present invention is to provide a device and a method for cavity ringdown spectroscopy for determining absorption characteristics of the medium located inside a cavity at maximum sensitivity over a very broad wavelength range. The idea of the invention is to operate the method of cavity ringdown spectroscopy based on a broad-band, coherent light pulse. Such a broad-band, coherent light pulse can be achieved by irradiating sufficiently intense laser radiation onto a non-linear optical medium, wherein a broadening of the pulse spectrum is achieved due to the nonlinear interactions between the light pulse and the optical medium.