Nanoscale object detection using a whispering gallery mode resonator
First Claim
1. A system for detecting an object, said system comprising:
- a photodetector configured to receive light from a whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonator; and
a processor coupled to the photodetector and programmed to;
create a transmission spectrum based on the received light;
identify an input mode within the transmission spectrum; and
determine a presence of an object proximate to the WGM resonator based on detecting a splitting of the input mode into a first split mode and a second split mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Detection of individual objects using a light source and a whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonator. Light from the whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonator is analyzed. The presence of an object is determined based on mode splitting associated with the light received by the photodetector. For example, the presence of the object may be determined based on the distance between two whispering gallery modes and/or the linewidths of the two modes in a transmission spectrum. Alternatively, the presence of the object may be determined based on a beat frequency that is determined based on a heterodyne beat signal produced by combining split laser modes in the received light from a WGM microcavity laser.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for detecting an object, said system comprising:
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a photodetector configured to receive light from a whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonator; and a processor coupled to the photodetector and programmed to; create a transmission spectrum based on the received light; identify an input mode within the transmission spectrum; and determine a presence of an object proximate to the WGM resonator based on detecting a splitting of the input mode into a first split mode and a second split mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 16)
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7. A system for detecting an object, said system comprising:
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a photodetector configured to; receive light emitted by an active whispering gallery mode (WGM) microcavity laser, wherein the received light includes a first laser mode and a second laser mode, each of the first mode and the second mode representing light transmission in a frequency range; and combine the first laser mode and the second laser mode to create a heterodyne beat signal; and a processor coupled to the photodetector and programmed to; determine a first beat frequency based on the heterodyne beat signal at a first time; determine a second beat frequency based on the heterodyne beat signal at a second time; and determine a presence of an object proximate to the WGM microcavity laser based on a comparison of the first beat frequency and the second beat frequency. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method comprising:
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receiving, by a photodetector, light emitted by an active whispering gallery mode (WGM) microcavity laser; creating, by the photodetector a heterodyne beat signal based on the received light; determining, by a processor, a first beat frequency based on the heterodyne beat signal at a first time; determining by a processor a second beat frequency based on the heterodyne beat signal at a second time; and determining, by the processor, a presence of an object proximate to the WGM microcavity laser based on a comparison of the first beat frequency and the second beat frequency. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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17. A method comprising:
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receiving, by a photodetector, light from a whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonator; creating a transmission spectrum based on the received light; identifying an input mode within the transmission spectrum; and determining a presence of an object proximate to the WGM resonator based on a splitting of the input mode into a first split mode and a second split mode. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification