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Optics Letters

Passive Fraunhofer-wavelength atomic filter at 4227 nm

Jerry A. Gelbwachs, Yat C. Chan

Published Mar 1, 1991• 13 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We have demonstrated 25% internal photon conversion efficiency of a new passive atomic filter. The signal wavelength matches an intense Fraunhofer line at 422.7 nm, thereby offering enhanced sunlight rejection. A quasimolecular interaction promotes rapid energy transfer between the 4p (1)P(1) level and the 4p (3)P(J) level of neutral calcium for wavelength shifting of 422.7-nm light into 657.3-nm emission. We discuss augmentation of the photon conversion efficiency by radiation trapping.

DOI
10.1364/ol.16.000336

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Optics Letters•Nov 15, 1992•0 citations
We have demonstrated 25% internal photon conversion efficiency of a new passive atomic filter. The signal wavelength matches an intense Fraunhofer line at 422.7 nm, thereby offering enhanced sunlight rejection. A quasimolecular interaction promotes rapid energy transfer between the 4p (1)P(1) level and the 4p (3)P(J) level of neutral calcium for wavelength shifting of 422.7-nm light into 657.3-nm emission. We discuss augmentation of the photon conversion efficiency by radiation trapping.
A new atomic filter is proposed. It operates at 534.9 nm. The new filter offers two important advantages for openchannel laser communications. First, its wavelength matches the output of the frequency-doubled Nd:BEL laser. Second, the filter overlays a solar Fraunhofer line, thereby offering intrinsic sunlight suppression. Ultranarrowband optical filtering takes place within the singlet manifold of neutral-calcium vapor. Excellent filter properties are deduced from spectroscopic examination of the atomic system. A novel feature of the new filter is the potential for greater-than-unity internal photon conversion.
Active wavelength-shifting is described as a method to expand the number of wavelengths at which atomic resonance filters operate. Optical pumping and exoergic collisional energy transfer are shown to be powerful wavelength-shifting techniques. Expressions have been derived for internal photon conversion efficiency in limiting cases. They are cast in forms that suggest simple branching ratio model equivalents. The photophysical models yield important insights into methods to obtain good photon conversion for even strongly absorbing levels. The results are applied to atomic resonance filters operating at intense Fraunhofer wavelengths.>
An optically pumped active Ca atomic resonance filter is demonstrated, applicable to background-limited optical communications through scatter channels. In pump saturation, the filter should detect 50% of the incident 423-nm signal power with an internal photon gain of 6 and a response time of 10 micros, 2 orders of magnitude faster than a passive Ca filter. Response time of 100 micros has been demonstrated, limited by available pump power. The filter maintains the wide field of view and reduced solar background associated with atomic absorption at the Ca Fraunhofer line while permitting higher data rate communications.