US3638029A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for generating photon echo pulses
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-07-07
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Granted: 1972-01-25
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Expires: 1989-07-07
Abstract
Abstract A material which is capable of absorbing and storing the energy of illuminating pulses is illuminated by a first high-intensity light pulse, and is subsequently illuminated by a second highintensity pulse. When the homogeneous relaxation process of the material is sufficiently long as compared to the time separation of the pulse, a photon echo pulse is emitted from the material at a time following the second pulse substantially equal to the time separation of the first and second pulses. In a modification of the invention, the first and second pulses are angularly displaced, and the photon echo pulse is thereby emitted at an angle of twice the displacement from the first pulse.
Inventors
- 👤 Sven R Hartmann
- 👤 Norman A Kurnit
- 👤 Isaac D Abella
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:51
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F3/00; G02F1/00; G02F1/35
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
The method of generating photon echo pulses comprising the steps of placing at a suitable temperature a radiation absorbing and light-emitting medium, illuminating said medium with a first high-intensity radiation pulse whose frequency overlaps part of the absorption spectrum of the medium; and illuminating the same area of said medium with a second high-intensity radiation pulse of substantially the same frequency and delayed a predetermined amount of time from said first illuminating pulse, whereby said medium generates a photon echo pulse responsive to said first and second pulses at a time after said first pulse substantially eqUal to twice the time separation of said first and second pulses and at a frequency substantially equal to the frequency of the exciting pulses, said pulses being in the range of light frequencies, said temperature being a temperature at which the relaxation times of said medium are not short compared to the times separation of said first and second pulses.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
157 words
The method of generating photon echo pulses comprising the steps of placing at a suitable temperature a radiation absorbing and light-emitting medium, illuminating said medium with a first high-intensity radiation pulse whose frequency overlaps part of the absorption spectrum of the medium; and illuminating the same area of said medium with a second high-intensity radiation pulse of substantially the same frequency and delayed a predetermined amount of time from said first illuminating pulse, whereby said medium generates a photon echo pulse responsive to said first and second pulses at a time after said first pulse substantially eqUal to twice the time separation of said first and second pulses and at a frequency substantially equal to the frequency of the exciting pulses, said pulses being in the range of light frequencies, said temperature being a temperature at which the relaxation times of said medium are not short compared to the times separation of said first and second pulses.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
173 words
Apparatus for the generation of photon echo pulses comprising: means for producing a high-intensity light pulse; means for splitting said high-intensity light pulse into first-and second-illuminating pulses, a delay line for receiving and delaying said second pulse with respect to said first pulse by a predetermined delay; a ruby crystal sample having a temperature at which the relaxation times of said sample are not short compared to the time separation of said first- and second-illuminating pulses; said first- and second-illuminating pulses having a frequency which overlaps part of the absorption spectrum of said sample; means for directing said first-illuminating pulse and said second-illuminating pulse delayed in time with respect to said first pulse onto substantially the same area of the surface of said ruby, and means for collecting and recording a portion of said first- and second-illuminating pulses and said echo pulse whereby the angular displacement of said echo pulse with respect to said first-illuminating pulse emerging from said ruby is equal to twice the angular displacement between said first- and second-illuminating pulses.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
173 words
Apparatus for the generation of photon echo pulses comprising: means for producing a high-intensity light pulse; means for splitting said high-intensity light pulse into first-and second-illuminating pulses, a delay line for receiving and delaying said second pulse with respect to said first pulse by a predetermined delay; a ruby crystal sample having a temperature at which the relaxation times of said sample are not short compared to the time separation of said first- and second-illuminating pulses; said first- and second-illuminating pulses having a frequency which overlaps part of the absorption spectrum of said sample; means for directing said first-illuminating pulse and said second-illuminating pulse delayed in time with respect to said first pulse onto substantially the same area of the surface of said ruby, and means for collecting and recording a portion of said first- and second-illuminating pulses and said echo pulse whereby the angular displacement of said echo pulse with respect to said first-illuminating pulse emerging from said ruby is equal to twice the angular displacement between said first- and second-illuminating pulses.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
114 words
A high-speed memory storage unit for use in a computer comprising: a light-absorbing medium; a first light pulse directed at said medium and responsive to the information to be stored in the computer; a second high-energy pulse directed at the same area of said medium and responsive to the interrogation pulse produced by said computer, said first and second pulses having frequencies that overlap the absorption spectrum of said medium, said medium having a temperature whereby the relaxation time of said medium are not short compared to the time separation of said first and second pulses; and means assisting said medium to produce an echo pulse responsive to the information stored within said medium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
114 words
A high-speed memory storage unit for use in a computer comprising: a light-absorbing medium; a first light pulse directed at said medium and responsive to the information to be stored in the computer; a second high-energy pulse directed at the same area of said medium and responsive to the interrogation pulse produced by said computer, said first and second pulses having frequencies that overlap the absorption spectrum of said medium, said medium having a temperature whereby the relaxation time of said medium are not short compared to the time separation of said first and second pulses; and means assisting said medium to produce an echo pulse responsive to the information stored within said medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The memory unit as recited in claim 3, wherein the information stored in said unit comprises the time difference between said echo pulse and said first pulse and equal to twice the time difference between said first pulse and said second pulse.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A memory unit as recited in claim 3, wherein the information stored within said computer memory unit is derived from the direction of said echo pulse produced by said medium relative to said first pulse and equal to twice the angular difference between said first and second pulses directed at said medium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The memory unit as recited in claim 3, wherein said information stored is derived from the angle of polarization of said echo pulse produced by said medium with respect to said first pulse and equal to twice the difference between the angular polarizations of said first and second pulses.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as recited in claim 1 comprising the steps of angularly displacing the illumination of said first pulse, and detecting the echo pulse at an angle with respect to said first pulse substantially equal to twice the angle between said second pulse and said first pulse.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of applying a magnetic field to said medium in a direction substantially parallel to its optical axis.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
112 words
An apparatus for the generation of photon echo pulses comprising: a radiation absorbing and light-emitting medium; a first means for illuminating said medium by a first high-intensity pulse of radiation having a frequency that overlaps part of the absorption spectrum of said medium; a second means for illuminating substantially the same area of said medium by a second high-intensity pulse of radiation of substantially the same frequency and delayed in time with respect to said first-illuminating pulse to excite a photon echo pulse in said medium, said medium having a temperature whereby the relaxation times of said medium are not short compared to the times separation of said first and second pulses.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
112 words
An apparatus for the generation of photon echo pulses comprising: a radiation absorbing and light-emitting medium; a first means for illuminating said medium by a first high-intensity pulse of radiation having a frequency that overlaps part of the absorption spectrum of said medium; a second means for illuminating substantially the same area of said medium by a second high-intensity pulse of radiation of substantially the same frequency and delayed in time with respect to said first-illuminating pulse to excite a photon echo pulse in said medium, said medium having a temperature whereby the relaxation times of said medium are not short compared to the times separation of said first and second pulses.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
101 words
The apparatus for the generation of photon echo pulse comprising: a ruby medium; A Q-switched ruby laser for illuminating said ruby medium with a first light pulse having a frequency that overlaps the absorption spectrum of said ruby medium; a light delay system optically coupled with said first light pulse for producing a delayed second light pulse from said first light pulse to illuminate substantially the same area of said ruby medium; and means for applying a magnetic field to said ruby medium substantially parallel to the optical axis thereof to assist said ruby medium to produce a photon echo pulse.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
101 words
The apparatus for the generation of photon echo pulse comprising: a ruby medium; A Q-switched ruby laser for illuminating said ruby medium with a first light pulse having a frequency that overlaps the absorption spectrum of said ruby medium; a light delay system optically coupled with said first light pulse for producing a delayed second light pulse from said first light pulse to illuminate substantially the same area of said ruby medium; and means for applying a magnetic field to said ruby medium substantially parallel to the optical axis thereof to assist said ruby medium to produce a photon echo pulse.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 10 comprising optical means for angularly displacing said second light pulse with respect to said first light pulse.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 10 comprising means for blocking at least a part of said first and second light pulses transmitted through said ruby.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 10, comprising means for cooling said ruby to said temperature.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3353115A
Cited
US3199049A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-24 | 1975-07-26 | 1976-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-24 | 1979-07-26 | 1980-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-24 | 1983-07-26 | 1984-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |