External Cavity Laser Unit Incorporating Mid-Infrared Bandpass Interference Filter

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This invention relates to an external cavity laser unit that incorporates a novel mid-infrared bandpass interference filter. The filter is constructed with alternating layers of materials with high and low refractive indices, all transparent in the mid-infrared range, and includes ultra-thin adhesion-promoting layers between certain layers to significantly enhance mechanical stability. The invention allows for precise and stable selection of infrared wavelengths, especially useful in quantum cascade lasers and similar systems.

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

• Mid-infrared spectroscopy for chemical and gas analysis
• Industrial process control requiring stable mid-infrared sources
• Medical diagnostics utilizing mid-infrared laser systems
• Environmental sensing and monitoring (e.g., detection of pollutants or hazardous gases)
• Infrared imaging systems that demand narrowband, stable light sources
• Security and defense applications involving laser-based detection

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enhanced mechanical stability of the filter, suitable for industrial applications
• Precise, stable wavelength selection thanks to narrow bandpass and angular tuning capability
• High transmission efficiency with low out-of-band leakage
• Compatibility with quantum cascade lasers and other coherent infrared sources
• Ability to replace more fragile or alignment-sensitive diffraction gratings, allowing for robust and self-aligning designs
• Scalable to various mid-infrared ranges by adjusting layer materials and thicknesses

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Patent Abstract

An embodiment of the invention relates a mid-infrared bandpass interference filter (200) comprising a layer sequence (100, 110, 120) of alternating layers of high refractive index and low refractive index materials, said high refractive index and low refractive index materials being transparent in the mid-infrared range. An adhesion-promoting layer (G) is arranged between at least one layer (H) of said high refractive index material and the adjacent layer (L) of said low refractive index material. An external cavity laser unit comprising the mid-infrared band-pass filter is also disclosed.