High-finesse optical resonator for cavity ring-down spectroscopy based upon Brewster's angle prism retroreflectors
First Claim
1. A stable resonator for a ring-down cavity spectroscopy cell having an optic axis, the resonator comprising:
- a first Brewster'"'"'s angle retroreflector prism having a plurality of total internal reflection surfaces and a first roof line;
a second Brewster'"'"'s angle retroreflector prism having a plurality of total internal reflection surfaces and a second roof line and being disposed in alignment with the first prism along the optic axis of the resonator;
at least one of the prisms being rotatable so that radiation enters and leaves a surface of the prism nearly at Brewster'"'"'s angle to the normal of the prism surface, whereby alignment between the prisms is maintained and the resonator is tuned; and
said first roof line and said second roof line are disposed substantially parallel to one another.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A stable resonator for a ring-down cavity spectroscopy cell having an optic axis. The resonator includes two Brewster'"'"'s angle retroreflector prisms, each having a plurality of total internal reflection surfaces. The prisms are disposed in alignment along the optic axis of the resonator. One or both of the prisms can be rotated so that light rays enter and leave a surface of the prism nearly at Brewster'"'"'s angle to the normal of the prism surface. This feature maintains alignment between the prisms and allows the resonator to be tuned. One of the total internal reflection surfaces of at least one of the prisms may be a curved surface (either a ground curved surface or a surface curved by the addition, through optically contacting or gluing, of a plano-convex lens to the surface). Alternatively, an astigmatic lens may be centered in one arm of the resonator and tilted at Brewster'"'"'s angle with respect to the optic axis of the resonator. In a preferred embodiment, each of the prisms has an apex angle of about 135° minus Brewster'"'"'s angle, a second angle of about 90°, and a third angle of about 180° minus two times Brewster'"'"'s angle.
76 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A stable resonator for a ring-down cavity spectroscopy cell having an optic axis, the resonator comprising:
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a first Brewster'"'"'s angle retroreflector prism having a plurality of total internal reflection surfaces and a first roof line; a second Brewster'"'"'s angle retroreflector prism having a plurality of total internal reflection surfaces and a second roof line and being disposed in alignment with the first prism along the optic axis of the resonator; at least one of the prisms being rotatable so that radiation enters and leaves a surface of the prism nearly at Brewster'"'"'s angle to the normal of the prism surface, whereby alignment between the prisms is maintained and the resonator is tuned; and said first roof line and said second roof line are disposed substantially parallel to one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A resonator for a ring-down cavity spectroscopy cell having an optic axis, the resonator comprising:
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a first Brewster'"'"'s angle retroreflector prism having a plurality of total internal reflection surfaces with one of the total internal reflection surfaces being a curved surface; a second Brewster'"'"'s angle retroreflector prism having a plurality of total internal reflection surfaces and being disposed in alignment with the first prism along the optic axis of the resonator; and means for independently rotating each of the prisms so that radiation enters and leaves a surface of each prism nearly at Brewster'"'"'s angle to the normal of the prism surface, whereby alignment between the prisms is maintained and the resonator is tuned. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A resonator for a ring-down cavity spectroscopy cell having an optic axis, the resonator comprising:
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a first Brewster'"'"'s angle retroreflector prism having; (a) a plurality of total internal reflection surfaces with one of the total internal reflection surfaces being a curved surface, (b) an apex angle of about 135°
minus Brewster'"'"'s angle,(c) a second angle of about 90°
, and(d) a third angle of about 180°
minus two times Brewster'"'"'s angle;a second Brewster'"'"'s angle retroreflector prism having a plurality of total internal reflection surfaces and being disposed in alignment with the first prism along the optic axis of the resonator; and at least one of the prisms being rotatable so that radiation enters and leaves a surface of the prism nearly at Brewster'"'"'s angle to the normal of the prism surface, whereby alignment between the prisms is maintained and the resonator is tuned. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification