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Method and apparatus for analyzing, identifying or imaging a target

  • US 8,957,377 B2
  • Filed: 10/15/2013
  • Issued: 02/17/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for analyzing, identifying, or imaging a target, said method comprising:

  • providing first and second lasers, said first laser having a tunable frequency and configured to produce a first output beam and said second laser having a tunable frequency and configured to produce a second output beam, said first output beam and said second output beam having different frequencies, wherein the frequency of the first output beam is coarsely adjustable by temperature adjustment of the first laser and the frequency of the second output beam is coarsely adjustable by temperature adjustment of the second laser;

    producing a first composite output beam from a first portion of said first output beam and a first portion of said second output beam;

    producing a second composite output beam from a second portion of said first output beam and a second portion of said second output beam, wherein the second portion of the first output beam is coupled to a frequency control element for controllably finely adjusting the frequency of the second portion of the first output beam to finely adjust a frequency difference between the first composite output beam and the second composite output beam;

    generating CW signals in the range of frequencies from 100 GHz to over 2 THz using said second composite output beam;

    causing said CW signals to be substantially simultaneously focused on or through said target;

    acquiring a spectral information signal from said target; and

    generating an electrical signal representative of a characteristic of said target based on said spectral information signal and said first composite output beam.

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