Description

Many emerging technologies depend upon or incorporate optical systems to operate efficiently. Optical systems incorporating tunable lasers or broadband light sources oftentimes suffer from unwanted interference effects produced by the modulator within the optical system. Eliminating interference is critical to the success of optical systems, because significant interference results in decreased accuracy.

When using a broadband light source--perhaps to control birefringence for medical diagnostics, to improve target characterization measurement in polarimetry, or to utilize interferometric imaging--elimination of optical interference at specific frequencies can be critical to successful operation. In particular, it will become important to eliminate interference when using optical coherence tomography (OCT). OCT applies to the detection and characterization of tissue in cardiovascular, ophthalmology, GI, dermatology, and cancer arenas.

Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have developed an electro-optic modulator that removes interference effects. Unlike other commercially available modulators, this electro-optic modulator controls phase polarization and the angular alignment of two crystals to adjust or completely minimize interference. All components of this novel modulator can be bought off the shelf and are commercially available.

The importance of this phase modulation invention is that it emerges into a growing field of research involving OCT scanning and imaging. The novel invention eliminates cross talk and provides almost a 50% improvement in imaging range and depth. Additionally, better phase delay occurs when light previously lost to interference is gained back to improve the signal-to-noise ratio.

Benefits

• Minimizes interference
• Precise angular alignment control
  

Features

• Precise adjustable angle control
• Longer length crystals
  

Market Potential/Applications

Optical component markets are expected to reach $2.4 billion by 2009. The world-wide market for integrated active optical products will grow to $1.5 billion in 2009. Integrated active optical components include products such as transceivers and transponders. Markets for passive optical components will grow to $871 million in 2009. (Wintergreen Research)

Contact:

University of Texas,
Austin, USA
Website : www.otc.utexas.edu