Device for optical heterodyne detection and mirror system suitable for use in such a device
First Claim
1. A device for optical heterodyne or homodyne detection of an optical signal beam, which device comprises a local oscillator on optical system comprising a polarization-sensitive beam-splitting layer for splitting the signal beam into two orthogonally polarized sub-beams (p, s) and a beam-combining layer for combining signal beam radiation with radiation from the local oscillator, said device further comprising a detection system for converting the combined radiation into at least one electric signal which is suitable for further processing, characterized in that the beam-splitting layer and the beam-combining layer consists of two portions each, said four portions enclosing four angles (α
- , β
, γ
, δ
,), the value of at least one of the angles being different from 90° and
the sum of two angles located opposite each other being 180°
.
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Abstract
In an optical heterodyne or homodyne receiver an optical system (140) is used in which the local oscillator beam (L) is combined with the signal beam (S). Simultaneously, these beams are split into orthogonally polarized sub-beams. For this purpose the optical system (140) comprises polarization-sensitive beam-splitting layers (141a and 141b) and neutral beam-splitting layers (142a and 142b) which function as beam-combining elements. In order to align the directions of the exit sub-beams of the signal beam (11, S12, S2, S22) and the local oscillator beam (L11, L12, L21, L22), the angles (α, β, γ, δ) enclosed by the beam-splitting faces are chosen to be such that two angles located opposite each other have a combined magnitude of 180°. This is realised by providing the layers (141a, 142b and 141b, 142a) on side faces of one prism (140a, 140b).
17 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A device for optical heterodyne or homodyne detection of an optical signal beam, which device comprises a local oscillator on optical system comprising a polarization-sensitive beam-splitting layer for splitting the signal beam into two orthogonally polarized sub-beams (p, s) and a beam-combining layer for combining signal beam radiation with radiation from the local oscillator, said device further comprising a detection system for converting the combined radiation into at least one electric signal which is suitable for further processing, characterized in that the beam-splitting layer and the beam-combining layer consists of two portions each, said four portions enclosing four angles (α
- , β
, γ
, δ
,), the value of at least one of the angles being different from 90° and
the sum of two angles located opposite each other being 180°
. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- , β
- 7. A device for optical heterodyne or homodyne detection of an optical signal beam, which device comprises a local oscillator, an optical system comprising a polarization-sensitive beam-splitting layer for splitting the signal beam into two orthogonally polarized sub-beams (p, s) and a beam-combining layer for combining signal beam radiation with radiation from the local oscillator, and a detection system for converting the combined radiation into at least one electric signal which is suitable for further processing, characterized in that the optical system comprises at least one prism having two side faces which enclose an apex angle and in that said two side faces of the prism are provided with a portion of the beam-splitting and beam-combining layers, respectively.
-
10. A mirror system for splitting a first (S) and a second (L) incident radiation beam into four exit sub-beams each (S11, S12, S21, S22 ;
- L11, L12, L21, L22), while each sub-beam originating from the second incident radiation beam exits in the same direction as one of the sub-beams originating from the first incident radiation beam, said mirror system comprising four partially transparent mirror portions enclosing four angles (α
, β
, γ
, δ
), characterized in that the value of at least one of the angles is different from 90° and
the sum of two angles located opposite each other is 180°
. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
- L11, L12, L21, L22), while each sub-beam originating from the second incident radiation beam exits in the same direction as one of the sub-beams originating from the first incident radiation beam, said mirror system comprising four partially transparent mirror portions enclosing four angles (α
-
14. A mirror system for splitting a first (S) and a second (L) incident radiation beam into four exit sub-beams each (S11, S12, S21, S22 ;
- L11, L12, L21, L22), while each sub-beam originating from the second incident radiation beam exits in the same direction as one of the sub-beams originating from the first incident radiation beam, characterized in that the mirror system comprises at least one prism having two side faces which enclose an apex angle and in that said two side faces of the prism are provided with partially transparent reflecting layers.
- View Dependent Claims (15)
Specification