Polarization-based filter stabilization of broadband light sources
First Claim
1. A broadband light source apparatus comprising:
- a broadband light source configured to provide broadband source light characterized by a source wavelength spectrum having a source centroid wavelength with a thermal sensitivity having a sign; and
a broadband optical filter including a polarization changer and an exit polarizer, the broadband optical filter characterized by a filter wavelength spectrum having a thermal sensitivity with a sign, the polarization changer having a polarization changer length, the broadband optical filter configured to receive the source light and to deliver broadband output light characterized by an output wavelength spectrum having an output centroid wavelength, the output wavelength spectrum being a function of the source wavelength spectrum and the polarization changer length,wherein the sign of the thermal sensitivity of the source centroid wavelength is opposite the sign of the thermal sensitivity of the filter wavelength spectrum, andwherein the polarization changer length is configured to minimize a thermal sensitivity of the output centroid wavelength.
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Abstract
A broadband light source apparatus, and corresponding method, includes a broadband light source configured to provide broadband source light characterized by a source wavelength spectrum. The apparatus also includes a broadband optical filter including both a polarization changer with a length, as well as an exit polarizer. The broadband optical filter receives the source light and delivers broadband output light characterized by an output wavelength spectrum that is a function of the source wavelength spectrum and the polarization changer length and has an output centroid wavelength. The polarization changer length is configured to minimize a thermal sensitivity of the output centroid wavelength. The filter can be configured in view of a particular source wavelength spectrum to thermally stabilize the centroid wavelength and to maximize relative integrated output power passively with respect to ambient temperature fluctuations.
41 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A broadband light source apparatus comprising:
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a broadband light source configured to provide broadband source light characterized by a source wavelength spectrum having a source centroid wavelength with a thermal sensitivity having a sign; and a broadband optical filter including a polarization changer and an exit polarizer, the broadband optical filter characterized by a filter wavelength spectrum having a thermal sensitivity with a sign, the polarization changer having a polarization changer length, the broadband optical filter configured to receive the source light and to deliver broadband output light characterized by an output wavelength spectrum having an output centroid wavelength, the output wavelength spectrum being a function of the source wavelength spectrum and the polarization changer length, wherein the sign of the thermal sensitivity of the source centroid wavelength is opposite the sign of the thermal sensitivity of the filter wavelength spectrum, and wherein the polarization changer length is configured to minimize a thermal sensitivity of the output centroid wavelength. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for optimizing broadband light, the method comprising:
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providing broadband source light characterized by a source wavelength spectrum having a source centroid wavelength with a thermal sensitivity having a sign; configuring a broadband optical filter to include a polarization changer and an exit polarizer, the polarization changer having a polarization changer length, and the broadband optical filter characterized by a filter wavelength spectrum having a thermal sensitivity with a sign, wherein the sign of the thermal sensitivity of the source centroid wavelength is opposite the sign of the thermal sensitivity of the filter wavelength spectrum; configuring the broadband optical filter to receive the source light and to deliver broadband output light characterized by an output wavelength spectrum having an output centroid wavelength, the output wavelength spectrum being a function of the source wavelength spectrum and the polarization changer length; and configuring the polarization changer length to minimize a thermal sensitivity of the output centroid wavelength. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A broadband light source apparatus comprising:
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means for providing broadband source light characterized by a source wavelength spectrum having a source centroid wavelength with a thermal sensitivity having a sign; means for receiving the broadband source light at a polarization changer having a polarization changer length, the broadband optical filter characterized by a filter wavelength spectrum having a thermal sensitivity with a sign, wherein the sign of the thermal sensitivity of the source centroid wavelength is opposite the sign of the thermal sensitivity of the filter wavelength spectrum; means for delivering the broadband source light as filtered, broadband output light characterized by an output wavelength spectrum having an output centroid wavelength; and means for minimizing a thermal sensitivity of the output centroid wavelength using the polarization changer length.
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Specification