Nathan John Wells

US Patent:

8442083, May 14, 2013

Filed:

Oct 25, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/281323

Inventors:

Nathan P. Wells - Marina Del Rey CA, US
James C. Camparo - Redondo Beach CA, US

Assignee:

The Aerospace Corporation - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

H01S 3/13

US Classification:

372 32, 372 20, 372 29011

Abstract:

Systems and methods for stabilizing laser frequency based on an isoclinic point of an atomic or molecular medium are provided herein. A system may include: a transmission cell containing a gas and configured to transmit light from the laser, the gas having an absorption spectrum with an isoclinic point; a photodiode generating an output based on an amplitude of transmitted laser light; and circuitry configured to tune the frequency of the laser to the isoclinic point of the absorption spectrum based on the output. The absorption spectrum may have first and second overlapping peaks respectively corresponding to first and second transitions of the gas, the isoclinic point being a saddle point between the first and second peaks. The first and second peaks may have substantially equal amplitude as one another and/or may broaden substantially equally as each other as a function of a physical parameter of the gas.

US Patent:

20110194577, Aug 11, 2011

Filed:

Feb 9, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/702991

Inventors:

Nathan P. Wells - Marina Del Rey CA, US
James C. Camparo - Redondo Beach CA, US

International Classification:

H01S 3/13

US Classification:

372 32

Abstract:

Systems and methods for stabilizing laser frequency based on an isoclinic point of an atomic or molecular medium are provided herein. A system may include: a transmission cell containing a gas and configured to transmit light from the laser, the gas having an absorption spectrum with an isoclinic point; a photodiode generating an output based on an amplitude of transmitted laser light; and circuitry configured to tune the frequency of the laser to the isoclinic point of the absorption spectrum based on the output. The absorption spectrum may have first and second overlapping peaks respectively corresponding to first and second transitions of the gas, the isoclinic point being a saddle point between the first and second peaks. The first and second peaks may have substantially equal amplitude as one another and/or may broaden substantially equally as each other as a function of a physical parameter of the gas.