Broadband thermal optical limiter for the protection of eyes and sensors
Abstract
A broadband thermal optical limiter for protecting a light sensitive object from intense laser beams at all near ultraviolet, visible and near infrared wavelengths is disclosed. The broadband thermal optical limiter comprises: a sample cell containing a solution of broadband absorber material dissolved in a thermal solvent; and a first optical device for converging an incident laser beam into the sample cell. The sample cell is responsive to a converged incident laser beam below a predetermined intensity level for passing therethrough the converged incident laser beam below the predetermined intensity level. The sample cell is also responsive to a converged incident laser beam at or above a predetermined intensity level for thermally defocusing substantially all of the converged incident laser beam in different directions and passing therethrough only a remaining small portion of the converged incident laser beam at or above the predetermined intensity level. The broadband thermal optical limiter further includes a second optical device for focusing substantially all of the laser beam passing through the sample cell into the light sensitive object to be protected.
- Publication:
-
Patent Application Department of the Navy
- Pub Date:
- May 1994
- Bibcode:
- 1994padn.rept.....J
- Keywords:
-
- Broadband;
- Eye Protection;
- Integrated Optics;
- Laser Beams;
- Laser Damage;
- Nonlinear Optics;
- Radiation Absorption;
- Absorbers (Materials);
- Field Of View;
- Lenses;
- Optical Properties;
- Patent Applications;
- Spectrum Analysis;
- Temperature Effects;
- Temporal Distribution;
- Lasers and Masers