Flash photolysis system
View Patent ↗A pump-probe LFP system is adapted to a substantially lower energy requirement of a pump light source and a probe light source. The LFP system includes a photonic crystal fiber based probe light source, a pump light source adapted to produce light pulses with nanojoule or higher energy, a main laser source to generate a first beam portion to the probe light source and a second beam portion to the pump light source, a delay generator, computer, an optical modulator, and a detector.
1. A system for flash photolysis comprising:
a main laser source for generating a beam of light;
a beam splitter for generating a first beam portion and a second beam portion from the beam of light;
a probe light source responsive to the first beam portion for generating a pulsed probe beam of light to travel through a sample in a flash photolysis application, wherein the probe light source is a laser energized photonic crystal fiber;
a pump light source responsive to the second beam portion for generating a pulsed pump beam of light to travel through the sample and initiate a chemical reaction in the sample;
a delay generator to regulate a time delay between generation of the pulsed probe beam and generation of the pulsed pump beam throughout the flash photolysis application; and
a detector to receive the pulsed probe beam exiting the sample to detect a change in absorption of the pulsed probe beam in the sample caused by the pulsed pump beam.
2. The system for flash photolysis according to claim 1 further including an optical modulator between said beam splitter and said delay generator for modulating the pulsed pump beam.
3. The system for flash photolysis according to claim 2 wherein said optical modulator is operated to block some of the pump pulses to obtain a spectrum of the probe beam pulse traveling through the sample when unpumped.
4. The system for flash photolysis according to claim 3 wherein said optical modulator is operated to block the pump pulses at a rate of every other one of the probe beam pulses to obtain a spectrum of the probe beam pulse traveling through the sample when unpumped.
5. The system for flash photolysis according to claim 2 wherein said optical modulator is operated to pass through some of the pump pulses to obtain a spectrum of the probe beam pulse traveling through the sample when pumped.
6. The system for flash photolysis according to claim 5 wherein said optical modulator is operated to pass the pump pulses at a rate of every other one of the probe beam pulses to obtain a spectrum of the probe beam pulse traveling through the sample when pumped.
7. The system for flash photolysis according to claim 1 wherein said delay generator is one of an optical delay line or an optical delay generator.
8. A system for flash photolysis comprising:
a main laser source for generating a main beam of light;
a beam splitter for generating a first beam portion and a second beam portion from the main beam of light;
a probe light source responsive to the first beam portion for generating a pulsed probe beam of light to travel through a sample in a flash photolysis application, wherein the probe light source is a laser energized photonic crystal fiber;
a pump light source responsive to the second beam portion beam for generating a pulsed pump beam of light to travel through the sample and initiate a chemical reaction in the sample;
a delay generator being one of an optical delay line and an optical delay generator to regulate a time delay between generation of the pulsed probe beam and generation of the pulsed pump beam throughout the flash photolysis application; and
a detector to receive the pulsed probe beam exiting the sample to detect a change in absorption of the pulsed probe beam in the sample caused by the pulsed pump beam.