JPH08286220A - Light control method and light controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a light control method which draws the light response of a sufficient size and velocity out of a light responsive optical element with the lowest possible light power and a light controller. CONSTITUTION: The control light is emitted from a light source l and the signal light from a light source 2. The control light and signal light are converged by a condenser lens 7 and are cast to the optical element 8. Only the signal light is detected by a photodetector 22 through a photodetecting lens 9 and a waveguide selective transmittable filter 20. The transmittance of the signal light is reversibly increased and decreased by the on and off of the control light, by which the intensity modulation of the signal light is embodied. The interaction effect of the excitation species in the light responsive compsn, the control light and the photon of the signal light is greatly improved by converging the control light and the signal light and propagating the light on the same optical path. The drawing of the light response of the sufficient magnitude and velocity out of the light responsive optical element with the light power sufficiently lower than heretofore is made possible.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a light control method and a light control device using an optical element made of a photoresponsive composition, which is useful in the fields of optical electronics and photonics such as optical communication and optical information processing. Is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the field of optoelectronics and photonics, which pays attention to the multiplicity and high density of light, for the purpose of ultra-high-speed information transmission / processing, optical elements are made by processing optical materials or compositions. Of light / light control method that attempts to modulate the intensity (amplitude) or frequency (wavelength) of light without using electronic circuit technology by utilizing changes in transmittance and refractive index caused by irradiating light Development is actively progressing. Also, taking advantage of the characteristics of light,
When performing parallel optical logic operations or image processing, a "spatial light modulator" for performing some kind of modulation, such as changing the light intensity distribution on the cross section of the light beam, is extremely important. Application of control method is expected.

As the phenomena expected to be applied to the light / light control method, saturable absorption, nonlinear refraction, nonlinear optical effects such as photorefractive effect, and photochromic phenomenon have been widely noticed.

On the other hand, there is also a phenomenon in which a molecule excited by light in the first wavelength band newly absorbs light in a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band without changing the molecular structure. It is known and can be referred to as "excited state absorption" or "stimulated absorption" or "transient absorption".

Examples of attempts to apply excited state absorption include:
For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 53-137884, a solution or solid containing a porphyrin compound and an electron acceptor is irradiated with at least two kinds of light rays having different wavelengths, and this irradiation has a light ray having one wavelength. A light conversion method is disclosed in which information is transferred to the wavelength of the other light beam. Further, JP-A-55-100503 and JP-A-55 / 55
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 108603, the difference in the spectrum between the ground state and the excited state of an organic compound such as a porphyrin derivative is used, and the function of selecting the propagating light according to the temporal change of the exciting light is disclosed. A liquid core type optical fiber is disclosed. Further, in JP-A-63-89805, an organic compound such as a porphyrin derivative having absorption corresponding to a transition from a triplet state excited by light to a higher triplet state is contained in the core. Plastic optical fibers are disclosed. In addition, JP-A-63-
In JP 236013, crystals of a cyanine dye such as cryptocyanine are irradiated with light having a first wavelength to photoexcite the molecule, and then light having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength is irradiated to the molecule, An optical functional element that switches transmission or reflection of light of a second wavelength depending on a photoexcitation state of light of a first wavelength is disclosed. In addition, JP-A-64-
Japanese Patent No. 73326 discloses that a photomodulation medium in which a photoinduced electron transfer substance such as a porphyrin derivative is dispersed in a matrix material is irradiated with light having first and second wavelengths to absorb light between an excited state and a ground state of a molecule. An optical signal modulation medium is disclosed in which optical modulation is performed by utilizing a difference in spectrum.

The structures of the optical devices used in these prior arts are as follows: JP-A-55-100503, JP-A-55-108603, and JP-A-63-8.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9805 discloses a device configuration in which an optical fiber through which propagating light propagates is wound around a light source (for example, a flash lamp) for exciting light.
In Japanese Patent No. 37884 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 64-73326, control light comes from a direction different from the optical path of the signal light in the entire portion where the light corresponding to the signal light inside the photoresponsive optical element propagates. There is disclosed a device configuration in which light is not converged but rather diffused and irradiated by means such as a projection lens.

[0007]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional techniques, a very high density optical power is required to cause a practically sufficient change in transmittance or change in refractive index. Since the response to light irradiation is slow, it is the current situation that practical use has not been obtained yet.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an optical control method and an optical control device for extracting an optical response of a sufficient size and speed from an optically responsive optical element with an optical power as low as possible. The purpose is to provide.

[0009]

[Optical Control Method According to the Present Invention] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the optical control method according to the present invention of claim 1 is an optical element comprising a photoresponsive composition. Intensity of the signal light transmitted through the optical element and / or light flux by irradiating control light to the optical element and reversibly changing the transmittance and / or the refractive index of the signal light in a wavelength band different from that of the control light. An optical control method for performing density modulation, wherein the control light and the signal light are respectively converged and applied to the optical element, and the photon density in the vicinity of respective focal points of the control light and the signal light is the highest. The optical paths of the control light and the signal light are arranged so that high regions overlap each other in the optical element.

The light control method according to a second aspect of the present invention is the light control method according to the first aspect, wherein the control light and the signal light are propagated through the optical element in substantially the same optical path. It is characterized by

An optical control method according to a third aspect of the invention is
The light control method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a positional relationship between respective focal positions of the control light and the signal light and the optical element is changed, and / or a light flux of the signal light transmitted through the optical element. By changing the range of receiving light, by irradiation of the control light, both the optical response in the direction in which the intensity of the signal light transmitted through the optical element decreases and the optical response in which the luminous flux density of the signal light increases or decreases, ,
Alternatively, one of them is selected and taken out.

A light control method according to a fourth aspect is the light control method according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the optical element comprises a photoresponsive composition containing a dye. To do.

A light control method according to a fifth aspect is the light control method according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the optical element has a transmittance of the control light of 90% or less at most.
Moreover, the transmittance of the signal light in a state where the control light is not irradiated is adjusted to be at least 10% or more, and the signal light transmitted through the optical element is irradiated by the control light. It is characterized by taking out the optical response in the direction of decreasing the transmittance.

[Light Control Device According to the Present Invention] In order to achieve the above object, a light control device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention irradiates an optical element made of a photoresponsive composition with control light. , Intensity modulation of the signal light transmitted through the optical element by reversibly increasing or decreasing the transmittance and / or the refractive index of the signal light in a wavelength band different from that of the control light, and / or
Alternatively, a light control device used in a light control method for performing light flux density modulation, comprising converging means for converging the control light and the signal light, respectively, and converging the control light and the signal light respectively. The optical paths of the control light and the signal light are arranged so that the regions having the highest photon density in the vicinity of are overlapped with each other, and the optical element is
The regions having the highest photon densities in the vicinity of the respective focal points of the converged control light and the signal light are arranged at positions overlapping with each other.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the light control device according to the sixth aspect, further comprising the control light and the signal light propagating in substantially the same optical path in the optical element. It is characterized by having such an optical path arrangement.

An optical control device according to an eighth aspect of the invention is
7. The light control device according to claim 6, further comprising moving means for changing a positional relationship between respective focal positions of the control light and the signal light and the optical element, and a light flux of the signal light transmitted through the optical element. Light receiving range adjusting means for changing the light receiving range to receive light, and by using the moving means and / or the light receiving range adjusting means, respective focus positions of the control light and the signal light and the The signal light transmitted through the optical element by the irradiation of the control light is changed by changing the positional relationship with the optical element and / or by changing the range of receiving the light flux of the signal light transmitted through the optical element. It is characterized in that both or one of the optical response in the direction in which the intensity decreases and the optical response in which the luminous flux density of the signal light increases or decreases is selected and extracted.

A light control device according to a ninth aspect is the light control device according to any of the sixth to eighth features, wherein the optical element is made of a photoresponsive composition containing a dye.

A light control device according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is the sixth aspect.
9. In the light control device according to any one of items 9 to 9, the optical element has a transmittance of control light of 90% or less at most, and
It is characterized in that the transmittance of the signal light in the state where the control light is not irradiated is adjusted to be at least 10% or more, and the optical response in the direction of decreasing the transmittance of the signal light is extracted by the irradiation of the control light. .

An optical control device according to an eleventh aspect is the sixth aspect.
10. The optical control device according to any one of 1 to 10, further comprising means for separating the mixed light of the signal light and the control light transmitted through the optical element into the signal light and the control light.

[Photoresponsive composition] Here, when the control light in the present invention is irradiated, it is possible to reversibly change the transmittance and / or the refractive index of signal light in a wavelength band different from that of the control light. As the photoresponsive composition used for the optical element, various known compounds can be used.

To give a specific example, for example,
GaAs, GaAsP, GaAlAs, InP, InS
b, InAs, PbTe, InGaAsP, ZnSe, and other compound semiconductor single crystals, fine particles of the compound semiconductor dispersed in a matrix material, metal halides doped with different metal ions (eg, potassium bromide,
A single crystal of sodium chloride), fine particles of the above metal halide (for example, copper bromide, copper chloride, cobalt chloride) dispersed in a matrix material, CdS, CdSe, CdSeS doped with a different metal ion such as copper ,
Single crystal of cadmium chalcogenide such as CdSeTe, dispersion of fine particles of the cadmium chalcogenide in a matrix material, silicon, germanium,
Semiconductor single crystal thin films such as selenium and tellurium, polycrystalline thin films,
Or porous thin film, silicon, germanium, selenium,
Semiconductor particles such as tellurium dispersed in a matrix material, precious metal particles such as platinum, gold and palladium dispersed in a matrix material, ruby, alexandrite, garnet, Nd: YAG, sapphire,
Ti: sapphire, Nd: YLF, and other single crystals corresponding to gems doped with metal ions (so-called laser crystals), lithium niobate (LiNbO ₃ ) doped with metal ions (for example, iron ions), LiB ₃ O ₅ , LiT.
aO ₃ , KTiOPO ₄ , KH ₂ PO ₄ , KNbO ₃ ,
In addition to ferroelectric crystals such as BaB ₂ O ₂ , quartz glass doped with metal ions (for example, neodymium ion, erbium ion, etc.), soda glass, borosilicate glass and other glasses, a dye is dissolved or dispersed in a matrix material. What was done can be used conveniently.

Among these, the one prepared by dissolving or dispersing the dye in the matrix material has a wide selection range of the matrix material and the dye and can be easily processed into an optical element, and therefore, it is particularly preferably used in the present invention. You can

Specific examples of dyes that can be used in the present invention include xanthene dyes such as rhodamine B, rhodamine 6G, eosin and phloxine B, acridine dyes such as acridine orange and acridine red, ethyl red and methyl. Azo dyes such as red, porphyrin dyes, phthalocyanine dyes, cyanine dyes such as 3,3′-diethylthiacarbocyanine iodide, 3,3′-diethyloxadicarbocyanine iodide, and the like are preferably used. it can.

In the present invention, these dyes can be used alone or in admixture of two or more.

The matrix material that can be used in the present invention includes (1) a high transmittance in the wavelength region of light used in the light control system of the present invention, (2) a dye or various fine particles used in the present invention. Any material can be used as long as it satisfies the conditions that it can be dissolved or dispersed with good stability, and (3) the form as an optical element can be maintained with good stability.

Examples of inorganic matrix materials include metal halide single crystals, metal oxide single crystals, metal chalcogenide single crystals, quartz glass, soda glass, borosilicate glass, and so-called sol-gel method. It is possible to use a low melting point glass material or the like.

As the organic matrix material, for example, various organic polymer materials can be used. Specific examples of the organic polymer material include polystyrene,
Poly (α-methylstyrene), polyindene, poly (4
-Methyl-1-pentene), polyvinyl pyridine, polyvinyl formal, polyvinyl acetal, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol,
Polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl methyl ether, polyvinyl ethyl ether, polyvinyl benzyl ether, polyvinyl methyl ketone, poly (N-
Vinylcarbazole), poly (N-vinylpyrrolidone), polymethyl acrylate, polyethyl acrylate,
Polyacrylic acid, polyacrylonitrile, polymethylmethacrylate, polyethylmethacrylate, polybutylmethacrylate, benzyl polymethacrylate, cyclohexylmethacrylate, polymethacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid amide, polymethacrylonitrile, polyacetaldehyde, poly Chloral, polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polycarbonates (bisphenols + carbonic acid), poly (diethylene glycol / bisallyl carbonate), 6-nylon, 6,6-nylon, 12-nylon, 6, 12-nylon, ethyl polyaspartate, ethyl polyglutamate, polylysine, polyproline, poly (γ-benzyl-L-glutamate), methyl Cellulose, ethyl cellulose, benzyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, acetyl cellulose, cellulose triacetate, cellulose tributylate, alkyd resin (phthalic anhydride + glycerine), fatty acid-modified alkyd resin (fatty acid + phthalic anhydride + glycerin),
Unsaturated polyester resin (maleic anhydride + phthalic anhydride + propylene glycol), epoxy resin (bisphenols + epichlorohydrin), polyurethane resin,
Examples thereof include resins such as phenol resins, urea resins, melamine resins, xylene resins, toluene resins, and guanamine resins, organic polysilanes such as poly (phenylmethylsilane), organic polygermanes, and copolymerization / copolycondensates thereof. Further, a polymer compound obtained by plasma polymerization of a compound which is normally not polymerizable, such as carbon disulfide, carbon tetrafluoride, ethylbenzene, perfluorobenzene, perfluorocyclohexane and trimethylchlorosilane can also be used.

Further, the residue of an organic dye or an organic low molecular weight compound exhibiting an optical non-linear effect to these organic polymer compounds is used as a side chain of a monomer unit, as a cross-linking group, as a copolymerization monomer unit, or polymerization initiation. It is also possible to use the one bonded at the end as the matrix material.

On the other hand, a known method can be used to dissolve or disperse the dye in these matrix materials. For example, a method in which a dye and a matrix material are dissolved and mixed in a common solvent, and then the solvent is evaporated to be removed, or the dye is dissolved or dispersed in a raw material solution of an inorganic matrix material produced by a sol-gel method, and then the matrix is prepared. A method of forming a material, a method of forming a matrix material by polymerizing or polycondensing the dye after dissolving or dispersing the dye in a monomer of the organic polymer matrix material, if necessary, using a solvent, A solution prepared by dissolving the dye and the organic polymer matrix material in a common solvent is dropped into a solvent in which both the dye and the thermoplastic organic polymer matrix material are insoluble, and the resulting precipitate is filtered off and dried. It is possible to preferably use a method of heating / melt processing after that. By combining the dye and the matrix material and devising the processing method, the dye molecules are aggregated,
It is known that special aggregates called “H aggregates” and “J aggregates” can be formed, but the conditions under which the dye molecules in the matrix material form such an aggregated state or an associated state. May be used in.

Further, a known method can be used to disperse the various fine particles described above in these matrix materials. For example, a method of removing the solvent after dispersing the fine particles in a solution of a matrix material, or a solution of a precursor of a matrix material, into a monomer of an organic polymer matrix material, if necessary, using a solvent,
A method of forming a matrix material by dispersing the fine particles and then polymerizing or polycondensing the monomer, as a precursor of the fine particles, for example, a metal salt such as cadmium perchlorate or gold chloride in an organic polymer matrix material. After dissolution or dispersion, it is treated with hydrogen sulfide gas to give fine particles of cadmium sulfide, or by heat treatment to give fine particles of gold,
A method of precipitating each in a matrix material, a chemical vapor deposition method, a sputtering method or the like can be suitably used.

The photoresponsive composition used in the present invention is a sub-component in order to improve workability and stability and durability as an optical element within a range not impairing its function. A known antioxidant, an ultraviolet absorber, a singlet oxygen quencher, a dispersion aid and the like may be contained.

[Combination of Photoresponsive Composition, Signal Light Wavelength Band, and Control Light Wavelength Band] The photoresponsive composition, the signal light wavelength band, and the control light used in the light control method of the present invention. The wavelength band of can be selected and used as an appropriate combination according to the purpose of use.

As a concrete setting procedure, for example, first, the wavelength or wavelength band of the signal light is determined according to the purpose of use, and the optimum photoresponsive composition and the wavelength of the control light for controlling this are determined. The combination should be selected. Alternatively, the combination of the wavelengths of the signal light and the control light may be determined according to the purpose of use, and then the photoresponsive composition suitable for this combination may be selected.

The composition of the photoresponsive composition used in the present invention, and the optical path lengths of the signal light and the control light propagating through the optical element comprising the photoresponsive composition are described as a combination of these. Can be set based on the transmittances of the control light and the signal light that pass through. For example, first, in the composition of the photoresponsive composition, the concentration of at least the component that absorbs the control light or the signal light is determined, and then the transmittance of the control light and the signal light that pass through the optical element is set to a specific value. The optical path lengths of the signal light and the control light propagating in the optical element can be set so that Alternatively, first, for example, if necessary in device design, after setting the optical path length to a specific value, the photoresponsive composition is adjusted so that the transmittance of the control light and the signal light passing through the optical element becomes a specific value. The composition of can be adjusted.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical control method and an optical control device which can extract an optical response of sufficient magnitude and speed from an optical element having photoresponsiveness with the lowest possible optical power. The optimum values of the transmittances of the control light and the signal light that pass through the optical element for achieving this purpose are as shown below.

In the light control method and the light control device of the present invention, the transmittance of the control light propagating through the optical element is at most 90.
It is recommended to control the concentration and the state of existence of the light absorbing component in the photoresponsive composition and set the optical path length so that the content becomes not more than%.

Here, in the case of using the optical response in the direction in which the transmittance of the signal light is reduced by the irradiation of the control light,
Control the concentration and presence state of the light absorbing component in the photoresponsive composition and set the optical path length so that the transmittance of the signal light propagating through the optical element becomes at least 10% or more in the state where the control light is not irradiated. Is recommended.

[Optical Element] The form of the optical element used in the present invention is a thin film, depending on the configuration of the light control device of the present invention.
Thick film, plate, block, column, semi-column, square column, triangle column, convex lens, concave lens, microlens array, fiber, microchannel array, and optical waveguide type You can choose. The method for producing the optical element used in the present invention is arbitrarily selected according to the form of the optical element and the type of photoresponsive composition to be used, and a known method can be used.

For example, when a thin film optical element is manufactured from, for example, a dye and a matrix material, a solution in which the dye and the matrix material are dissolved is applied onto, for example, a glass plate, a blade coating method, a roll coating method, a spin coating method, It may be applied by a coating method such as a dipping method or a spray method, or may be printed by a printing method such as planographic printing, letterpress printing, intaglio printing, stencil printing, screen printing or transfer printing. In this case, a method for preparing an inorganic matrix material by the sol-gel method can also be used.

For example, when the organic polymer matrix material used is a thermoplastic material, the hot pressing method (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-9)
(9609 gazette) or a stretching method can be used to form a thin film or thick film type film-type optical element.

When an optical element having a plate shape, a block shape, a cylindrical shape, a semi-cylindrical shape, a square pillar shape, a triangular pillar shape, a convex lens shape, a concave lens shape, or a microlens array shape is prepared, for example, a raw material of an organic polymer matrix material is used. It is possible to mold by a casting method or a reaction injection molding method using a solution of a dye dissolved or dispersed in a monomer. When a thermoplastic organic polymer matrix material is used, pellets or powder in which a dye is dissolved or dispersed may be melted by heating and then processed by an injection molding method.

The fibrous optical element is, for example, a method of melting and drawing metal ion-doped quartz glass to form a fiber, or dissolving or dispersing a dye in a raw material monomer of an organic polymer matrix material in a glass capillary tube. Method of polymerizing what is sucked up or sucked up by capillarity, or a cylinder of thermoplastic organic polymer matrix material in which a dye is dissolved or dispersed, so-called preform, than glass transition temperature It can be prepared by a method of heating to a high temperature, drawing into a filament, and then cooling.

It is also possible to fabricate a microchannel array type optical element by bundling a large number of the fiber-shaped optical elements produced as described above, adhering or fusing them, and then slicing them into flakes or plates. .

The waveguide type optical element is prepared by, for example, pouring a solution of a dye dissolved or dispersed in a raw material monomer of an organic polymer matrix material into a groove formed on a substrate and then polymerizing it. It can be prepared by a method in which a thin film optical element formed on a substrate is etched to form a “core” pattern, and then a “clad” is formed with a dye-free matrix material.

[Operation] In the light control method and the light control device of the present invention, the control light and the signal light are respectively converged, and the regions having the highest photon density near the respective focal points of the control light and the signal light. Of the photons of the control light and the signal light with the excited species (for example, dye molecules, metal ions, etc.) in the photoresponsive composition of the optical element by making them overlap each other in the optical element. It is possible to improve significantly, and as a result,
It becomes possible to extract an optical response of a sufficient size and speed from an optical element having photoresponsiveness with a lower optical power than in the conventional case.

[0046]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[Embodiment 1] FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an optical control device of the present embodiment. Such an optical device configuration and arrangement is not limited to the case where the film type optical element 8 is used as illustrated in FIG. 1 and the case where the fiber type optical element 12 is used as illustrated in FIG. It can also be preferably used when an optical element such as a micro channel array type (not shown) or the like is used.

Here, the film type optical element 8 can be produced by the following procedure, for example. That is, the cyanine dye 3,3′-diethyloxadicarbocyanine iodide (common name DODCI, manufactured by Exciton): 23.0 mg
And 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate: 19
77.0 mg was dissolved in acetone: 200 ml, and the precipitate (mixture of dye and polymer) that was deposited by stirring into n-hexane: 300 ml was filtered off, washed with n-hexane and dried under reduced pressure. Crushed. The obtained mixed powder of dye and polymer is continuously heated at 100 ° C. for 2 days under an ultrahigh vacuum of less than 10 ⁻⁵ Pa to completely remove volatile components such as residual solvent to obtain a photoresponsive composition powder. Got 20 mg of this powder was put on a slide glass (25 mm × 7
6 mm × thickness 1.150 mm) and cover glass (1
8 mm × 18 mm × thickness 0.150 mm),
A dye / polymer film (thickness: 50 μm) was formed between the slide glass and the cover glass by a method of heating at 150 ° C. under vacuum and press-bonding two glass plates (vacuum hot press method). The dye concentration in the dye / polymer film is 2.5 × 10 ^-2 mol / l when the density of the dye / polymer mixture is 1.06.

FIG. 3 shows the transmittance spectrum of the film type optical element prepared as described above. The transmittance of this film was 38.0% at the wavelength of control light (633 nm) and 90.5% at the wavelength of signal light (694 nm).

The light control device of the present invention whose outline is illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a control light source 1, a signal light source 2, an ND filter 3, a shutter 4, a semitransparent mirror 5, a light mixer 6, and a condenser lens. 7, a film type optical element 8, a light receiving lens 9, a wavelength selective transmission filter 20, photodetectors 11 and 22, and an oscilloscope 100. Among these optical elements or optical components, the control light source 1, the signal light source 2, the light mixer 6, the condenser lens 7, the film-type optical element 8, the light receiving lens 9, and the wavelength selective transmission filter 20 are 1 is an essential device constituent element for implementing the light control method of the present invention with the device structure of FIG. The ND filter 3, the shutter 4, and the semi-transmissive mirror 5 are provided as needed, and the photodetectors 11 and 22 and the oscilloscope 100 are required to implement the light control method of the present invention. Although not necessary, it is used as necessary as an electronic device for confirming the operation of light control.

Next, the characteristics and operation of each component will be described.

A laser device is preferably used for the light source 1 of the control light. The oscillation wavelength and output are appropriately selected according to the wavelength of the signal light targeted by the optical control method of the present invention and the response characteristics of the photoresponsive composition used. There is no particular limitation on the method of laser oscillation, the oscillation wavelength band,
Any format can be used depending on the output, economy, and the like. Further, the light of the laser light source may be wavelength-converted by a non-linear optical element before use. Specifically, for example, an argon ion laser (oscillation wavelength 45
7.9 to 514.5 nm), a gas laser such as a helium / neon laser (633 nm), a solid laser such as a ruby laser or an Nd: YAG laser, a dye laser, a semiconductor laser and the like can be preferably used. Not only coherent light from the laser light source but also non-coherent light can be used for the light source 2 of the signal light. Further, in addition to a light source such as a laser device, a light emitting diode, or a neon discharge tube that provides monochromatic light, continuous spectrum light from a tungsten bulb, a metal halide lamp, a xenon discharge tube, or the like may be monochromaticized using an optical filter or a monochromator. .

As described above, the photoresponsive composition, the wavelength band of signal light, and the wavelength band of control light used in the light control method of the present invention are a combination of these, depending on the purpose of use. Appropriate combination is selected and used. Hereinafter, a semiconductor laser (oscillation wavelength 6
94 nm, continuous wave output 3 mW, beam diameter 8 mm Gaussian beam), helium neon laser (Gaussian beam oscillating wavelength 633 nm, beam diameter 1 mm) as a light source 1 of control light, and a film type composed of the photoresponsive composition. An example of using the optical element 8 will be described.

The ND filter 3 is not always necessary, but in order to prevent unnecessarily high power laser light from being incident on the optical components and optical elements constituting the device, or the optical response performance of the optical element of the present invention. It is useful for increasing or decreasing the light intensity of the control light in the test. However, in this embodiment, several kinds of ND filters are exchanged for the latter purpose.

The shutter 4 is used for flickering a continuous wave laser as a control light in a pulse shape, and is an essential device constituent element for carrying out the light control method of the present invention. is not. That is, in the case where the light source 1 of the control light is a laser that oscillates in a pulsed manner and the pulse width and the oscillation interval can be controlled, or when the laser light that has been pulse-modulated in advance by an appropriate means is used as the light source 1. The shutter 4 may not be provided.

When the shutter 4 is used, any type can be used, for example, an optical chopper, a mechanical shutter, a liquid crystal shutter, an optical Kerr effect shutter, a Pockel cell, and the like. It can be selected and used in due time.

The semi-transmissive mirror 5 is used to constantly estimate the light intensity of the control light when testing the operation of the light control method of the present invention in this embodiment, and the light splitting ratio can be set arbitrarily. Is.

The photodetectors 11 and 22 are the light of the present invention.
It is used for electrically detecting and verifying how the light intensity changes due to light control, and for testing the function of the optical element of the present invention. The photodetectors 11 and 22 may be of any type and can be appropriately selected and used in consideration of the response speed of the detector itself. For example, a photomultiplier tube, a photodiode or a phototransistor should be used. You can

The received light signals of the photodetectors 11 and 22 can be monitored by a combination of an AD converter and a computer (not shown) in addition to the oscilloscope 100 and the like.

The light mixer 6 is used for adjusting the optical paths of the control light and the signal light propagating through the optical element, and is important for implementing the light control method and the light control device of the present invention. It is one of the various device components. A polarizing beam splitter, a non-polarizing beam splitter, or a dichroic mirror can be used, and the light splitting ratio can be set arbitrarily.

The condensing lens 7 serves as a converging means common to the signal light and the control light, and is for converging the signal light and the control light adjusted to have the same optical path and irradiating the optical element. Yes, it is one of the device components essential for the implementation of the light control method and the light control device of the present invention. The light converging means other than the condensing lens will be described in later embodiments. With respect to the specifications of the focal length of the condenser lens, the numerical aperture, the F value, the lens configuration, the lens surface coating, etc., any one can be appropriately used.

In this embodiment, as the condenser lens 7, a microscope objective lens having a focal length of 5 mm and a numerical aperture of 0.65 is used.

The light receiving lens 9 is a means for returning the signal light and the control light, which are converged and irradiated to the optical element 8 and transmitted therethrough, to a parallel beam or a convergent beam. A lens having any specifications can be used. It is also possible to use a concave mirror instead of the condenser lens.

The wavelength selective transmission filter 20 is one of the essential device constituent elements for carrying out the light control method of the present invention in the device structure of FIG. 1, and has propagated through the same optical path in the optical element. It is used as one of the means for extracting only the signal light from the signal light and the control light.

As means for separating the signal light and the control light having different wavelengths, a prism, a diffraction grating, a dichroic mirror, etc. can be used.

As the wavelength selective transmission filter 20 used in the apparatus configuration of FIG. 1, it is possible to completely block the light in the wavelength band of the control light, while efficiently transmitting the light in the wavelength band of the signal light. Any known wavelength-selective transmission filter may be used. For example, it is possible to use plastic or glass colored with a dye, glass having a dielectric multilayer vapor deposition film on the surface, or the like.

In the optical device of FIG. 1 having the above components, the light beam of the control light emitted from the light source 1 has an ND filter 3 for adjusting the transmitted light intensity by adjusting the transmittance. After passing through, then passing through a shutter 4 for blinking the control light in a pulsed manner, it is split by a semitransparent mirror 5.

A part of the control light split by the semi-transmissive mirror 5 is received by the photodetector 11. Here, the light source 2
Is turned off, the light source 1 is turned on, and the shutter 4 is opened, the relationship between the light intensity at the light beam irradiation position on the optical element 8 and the signal intensity of the photodetector 11 is measured in advance to create a calibration curve. According to the signal strength of the photodetector 11,
It is possible to constantly estimate the light intensity of the control light that enters the optical element 8. In this example, the power of the control light incident on the film type optical element 8 was adjusted by the ND filter 3 within a range of 0.5 mW to 25 mW.

The control light split / reflected by the semi-transmissive mirror 5 is
After passing through the light mixer 6 and the condenser lens 7, the optical element 8 is irradiated with the light in a converged state. The light beam of the control light that has passed through the film type optical element 8 passes through the light receiving lens 9 and is then blocked by the wavelength selective transmission filter 20.

The light beam of the signal light emitted from the light source 2 is mixed by the light mixer 6 so as to propagate along the same optical path as the control light, and passes through the condenser lens 7 to the film type optical element 8. The light that has been converged / irradiated and passed through the element passes through the light receiving lens 9 and the wavelength selective transmission filter 20,
The light is received by the photodetector 22.

As a result of an experiment of light / light control using the optical device of FIG. 1, a change in light intensity as shown in FIG. 4 was observed. Details of the experiment are as described below.

First, the optical paths from the respective light sources, the light mixer 6, and the collector are arranged so that the light beam of the control light and the light beam of the signal light form a focal point Fc in the same region inside the film type optical element 8. The light lens 7 was adjusted. In addition, signal light and control light are incident from the cover glass side of the film type optical element 8,
The optical element was arranged in such a direction as to exit from the slide glass substrate side. Then, the function of the wavelength selection filter 20 was checked. That is, it was confirmed that when the light source 1 was turned on with the light source 2 turned off and the shutter 4 was opened / closed, no response occurred in the photodetector 22.

When the light source 1 of the control light is turned on with the shutter 4 closed, and then the light source 2 is turned on at time t ₁ to irradiate the optical element 8 with the signal light, the signal intensity of the photodetector 22 becomes level C. Increased to Level A.

At time t ₂ , the shutter 4 is opened,
When the control light was converged and irradiated onto the same optical path as the signal light inside the optical element 8 was propagating, the signal intensity of the photodetector 22 decreased from level A to level B. The response time for this change was less than 2 microseconds.

When the shutter 4 was closed at time t ₃ and the irradiation of the control light to the optical element was stopped, the signal intensity of the photodetector 22 returned from level B to level A. The response time for this change was less than 3 microseconds.

At time t ₄ , the shutter 4 is opened,
Then, when closed at time t ₅ , the signal intensity of the photodetector 22 decreased from level A to level B, and then returned to level A.

When the light source 2 was turned off at time t ₆ , the output of the photodetector 22 decreased and returned to level C.

In summary, control light having an incident power of 0.5 mW to 25 mW is applied to the film type optical element 8 at 11 m in FIG.
When the light intensity represented by the waveform as shown in FIG. 1 is applied with irradiation with time, the output waveform of the photodetector 22 which is shown by monitoring the light intensity of the signal light is as shown by 222 in FIG.
The intensity of the control light changed reversibly in response to the change with time. That is, the transmission of the signal light is controlled by increasing or decreasing the light intensity of the control light or intermittently, that is, controlling the light with light (light / light control) or modulating the light with light (light / light modulation). ) Was confirmed to be possible.

The degree of change in the light intensity of the signal light corresponding to the intermittent control light is determined by using the output levels A, B and C of the photodetector 22 as a value ΔT [unit: %]

It can be quantitatively compared by ΔT = 100 [(A−B) / (A−C)]. Here, A is the output level of the photodetector 22 when the signal light source 2 is turned on with the control light blocked, and B is the output level of the photodetector 22 when the signal light and the control light are simultaneously emitted. , C are output levels of the photodetector 22 in the state where the light source 2 of the signal light is turned off. For example, when the optical response is maximum, the level B is the same as the level C, and ΔT has the maximum value of 100%. On the other hand, when no optical response is detected, the level B becomes the same as the level A, and ΔT becomes the minimum value 0%.

By changing the control light incident power to the film type optical element 8 in the range of 3.0 mW to 24 mW, the optical response ΔT is obtained.
The results shown in Table 1 were obtained by comparing the sizes of the above. That is, even when the incident power from the light source 1 to the optical element is a relatively small value of 5.0 mW, ΔT = 3
It was found to give a relatively large optical response of 6%.

[0081]

[Table 1] Comparative Example 1 A thin film (film thickness 50 μm) of the matrix material alone was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that only 2-hydroxypropyl polymethacrylate was used without using a dye. The evaluation test of the optical response was performed in the same manner as above, but the light intensity of the signal light (wavelength 694 nm) did not change at all even when the light of the control light (wavelength 633 nm) was interrupted. That is, it was confirmed that no photoresponse was observed with the matrix material alone. Therefore, Example 1
It is clear that the optical response observed in 1. is due to the dye present in the optical element.

[Embodiment 2] In the light control method and the light control device of the present invention, in order to increase the optical response, the control light and the signal light are converged and applied to the optical element, and the control is performed. The optical paths of the control light and the signal light may be arranged so that the regions having the highest photon density near the respective focal points of the light and the signal light overlap each other in the optical element. And it is preferable that the control light is propagated in substantially the same optical path. In the case of a Gaussian beam in which the electric field amplitude distributions of the control light and the signal light are Gaussian distributions, the beam and the wavefront 30 in the vicinity of the focus Fc when converged by the condenser lens 7 at the opening angle 2θ. The situation is shown in FIG. Here, the position where the diameter 2ω ₀ of the Gaussian beam of wavelength λ is the minimum, that is, the radius ω _{0 of the} beam waist is expressed by the following formula.

[0083]

Ω ₀ = λ / (π · θ) For example, the condensing lens used in the first embodiment (focal length 5 m
m, numerical aperture 0.65), wavelength 633 nm, beam diameter 1
The radius of the beam waist when the control light of mm is converged is 2.02 μm, and similarly, the radius of the beam waist when the signal light of wavelength 694 nm and the beam diameter of 8 mm is converged is 0.327 μm (almost diffraction limit). To be done.

As shown in FIG. 5, the signal light and the control light can be regarded as "substantially the same optical path" in the following cases: 1) Optical axes of the control light and the signal light there be parallel to one another, the optical path of control light, for example, an optical path of the signal light in the cross-section L02 (radius r _2), for example, cross-sectional L _+1, L ₀₁ or L _-1 (radius r _1,;
r ₁ ≦ r ₂ ) are propagated in an overlapping manner, 2) the optical axes of the control light and the signal light are parallel to each other, and the control light is in the optical path of the signal light, for example, in the cross section L ₀₂ (radius r ₂ ). optical path, for example, cross-sectional L _+1, L ₀₁ or L _-1 (radius r _1,;
When r ₁ ≦ r ₂ ) propagates in an overlapping manner, 3) the optical axes of the control light and the signal light are parallel to each other (the distance between the optical axes is l _{+ 1} , l- ₁ , or l _{+ 1} + l- ₁ ). Then, the optical path of the control light is one of the cross sections L _{+ 1} , _L01 , or L- ₁ and the optical path of the signal light is one of the cross sections L _{+ 1} , _L01 , or L- ₁ .

As an example, the data in Table 2 below shows the optical path of the signal light in the cross section L ₀₂ (diameter 8
mm) and have a cross section of L _{+ 1} , _L01 , or L- ₁ (diameter 1
(mm) control light optical path (optical axis) as a distance l ₊₁ or l _-1 between the optical axes is parallelly moved by 0.9 to 1.2 mm, the change in signal light / optical response magnitude ΔT Is shown.

[0086]

[Table 2] The optical response is maximum when the optical axes of the signal light and the control light are completely coincident with each other, but even if the distance l ₊₁ or l _-1 between the optical axes deviates by about ± 0.6 mm, The size ΔT only changes by about 7 points.

That is, the optical paths of the control light and the signal light are so arranged that regions (beam waists) near the respective focal points of the converged signal light and control light having the highest photon density overlap each other in the optical element. The optical response is maximized when the respective regions are arranged and the overlap between these regions is maximum, that is, when the optical axes of the control light and the signal light are completely coincident with each other, the control light and the signal. It has been found that a sufficiently large optical response is obtained when the optical paths of the light are substantially the same.

[Embodiment 3] In the apparatus arrangements of Embodiments 1 and 2 (FIG. 1), the beam of the signal light transmitted through the film type optical element 8 is returned to a parallel beam by the light receiving lens, and all the light flux of the signal light is converted. Are incident on the photodetector 22. In such a device / optical component arrangement, as described above, the optical response 222 in the direction in which the signal light intensity transmitted through the optical element decreases is observed.

Here, when the device is adjusted so that only a part of the light beam of the signal light transmitted through the photoresponsive optical element, for example, the central part of the light beam (about several percent of the beam radius) is incident on the detector 22, As described below, the luminous flux density modulation of the signal light by the control light, in particular, the optical response 22 in the direction in which the apparent intensity of the signal light increases in response to the irradiation of the signal light
3 can be taken out.

In order to limit the amount of light incident on the photodetector 22 so that only a part of the signal light, for example, the central part, is incident, there is the following method as shown in FIG. ) The distance d ₇₈ between the condenser lens 7 and the photoresponsive thin film 8 is changed.

2) The distance d ₈₉ between the light receiving lens 9 and the photoresponsive thin film 8 is changed.

3) The diaphragm 19 is used.

If the refractive index of the signal light is changed by the irradiation of the control light and the luminous flux density at the central portion of the beam is increased, the signal intensity of the detector 22 is increased. That is, the optical response in the direction of increasing the “apparent transmittance” is observed by the irradiation of the control light.

For example, in the apparatus arrangement and various conditions of the first embodiment, first, the distance d ₈₉ between the light receiving lens 9 and the film type optical element 8 is changed, and the center of the luminous flux of the signal light transmitted through the film type optical element 8 is changed. It was adjusted so that only a portion (about 30% of the beam radius) was incident on the photodetector 22. Next, while the distance between the condenser lens 7 and the light receiving lens 9 is fixed, the distance d ₇₈ between the film type optical element 8 and the condenser lens 7 is changed, and the focus positions of the control light and the signal light converged on the same optical path. When the positional relationship between the film optical element 8 and the film optical element 8 was changed,
Is 0.1 mm toward the condenser lens 7 side with reference to the position where the highest light response in the transmittance decreasing direction is observed.
An optical response in the direction in which the intensity of the signal light was increased was observed at a position closer to the condensing lens 7 and a position away from the condenser lens 7 side by 1.2 mm. Here, the optical element is arranged in such a direction that the signal light and the control light are incident from the cover glass side of the film type optical element 8 and are emitted from the slide glass substrate side.

Further, as a method of changing the positional relationship between the focus position of the control light and the signal light converged in the same optical path and the optical element, for example, a mount provided with a fine movement mechanism using a precision screw or a piezoelectric element actuator is used. The film-type optical element 8 is mounted on the mount provided or a mount provided with an ultrasonic actuator and moved as described above, and the condensing lens 7 is controlled by using a material having a large nonlinear refractive index effect. A method of changing the focal position by changing the power density of the light pulse, a method of changing the focal position by changing the temperature with a heating device by using a material of the condenser lens 7 having a large thermal expansion coefficient, and the like can be used. .

[Embodiment 4] FIG. 7 shows a schematic configuration of an optical control device of the present embodiment. Such an optical device configuration and arrangement can be preferably used when a fiber type, an optical waveguide type, a microchannel array type, or other optical element is used in addition to the film type optical element 8 illustrated in FIG. You can

Light sources 1 and 2, ND filter 3, shutter 4, photodetectors 11 and 22, film type optical element 8,
Wavelength selection filter 20 and oscilloscope 100
Regarding the above, the same one as in Example 1 (FIG. 1) was used in the same manner.

By using the dichroic mirror 21 in the arrangement as shown in FIG. 7, the control light is split and its light intensity is monitored by the photodetector 11, and at the same time the optical paths of the control light and the signal light are superposed. The light mixer 6 required in the arrangement of FIG. 1 can be omitted. However,
In this arrangement, in order to complement the wavelength selective transmission and reflection of the dichroic mirror 21, a wavelength selective transmission filter 10 that completely blocks the signal light and transmits only the control light is provided in front of the photodetector 11. Is preferred.
Further, in order to prevent the signal light and / or the control light from returning to the light sources 1 and 2 and adversely affecting the light source device, optical isolators 13 and 14 are provided in front of the light sources 1 and 2, respectively, if necessary. Is also good.

As a light converging means for converging the signal light and the control light whose optical paths are coincident with each other and irradiating the film type optical element 8, instead of the condenser lens 7 and the light receiving lens 9,
The concave mirror 15 can be used in the arrangement as shown in FIG. When a lens is used as a converging means common to the signal light and the control light, there is a problem that the focal length is strictly different depending on the wavelength, but the concave mirror has no such concern.

As shown in FIG. 7, the essential device components in the light control device of the present invention are the light sources 1 and 2, the dichroic mirror 21, the wavelength selective transmission filter 20,
The concave mirror 15 and the film-type optical element 8.

A polarized or non-polarized beam splitter may be used instead of the dichroic mirror 21 in FIG.

As a procedure for carrying out the light control method of the present invention with an apparatus as shown in FIG. 7, first, the optical paths of the control light (light source 1) and the signal light (light source 2) coincide with each other, and the common focus (beam) The optical element 8 is adjusted to the waist position, and then the light sources 1 and 2 are alternately turned on and only the light source 1 is turned on to check the functions of the dichroic mirror 21 and the wavelength selective transmission filters 10 and 20. It was confirmed that the photodetector 22 did not respond when the shutter 4 was opened and that the photodetector 11 did not respond when only the light source 2 was turned on.

Thereafter, the light / light control method using the film-type optical element 8 was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1, and the same experimental result as in Example 1 was obtained.

[Embodiment 5] FIG. 8 shows a schematic outline of an optical control device of the present embodiment. 1, 2, and 7
In the device configuration illustrated in FIG. 6, the signal light and the control light are irradiated from the same direction to the photoresponsive optical element, but in FIG. The feature is that they are irradiated so that they converge at the same focal point.

Such an optical device configuration and arrangement are suitable when a fiber type, an optical waveguide type, a microchannel array type optical element, etc. are used in addition to the film type optical element 8 as illustrated in FIG. Can be used for.

In the apparatus configuration illustrated in FIG. 8, the light sources 1 and 2, the ND filter 3, the shutter 4, the condenser lens 7, the film type optical element 8, the wavelength selective transmission filters 10 and 20, the photodetectors 11 and 22, and the light. Isolator 1
As for 3 and 14, and the oscilloscope 100, the same ones as in the first embodiment (FIG. 1) and / or the fourth embodiment (FIG. 7) can be used in the same manner.

By using the two dichroic mirrors (23 and 24) in the arrangement as shown in FIG. 8, the signal light and the control light are converged at the same focal point from the opposite directions by aligning the optical axes. Can be irradiated. The two condenser lenses 7 are light receiving lenses 9 for returning the control light and the signal light transmitted through the optical elements to parallel beams, respectively.
Also has a role as.

In the light control device of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 8, essential device components are light sources 1 and 2, two dichroic mirrors (23 and 24), wavelength selective transmission filters 10 and 20, and two. Condenser lens 7,
And the film type optical element 8.

A polarized or non-polarized beam splitter may be used instead of the dichroic mirrors (23 and 24) in FIG.

As a procedure for carrying out the optical control method of the present invention with an apparatus as shown in FIG. 8, first, the optical paths of the control light (light source 1) and the signal light (light source 2) coincide with each other, and the common focus position is set. Adjustment is performed so that the optical element 8 is arranged, and then, in order to check the functions of the wavelength selective transmission filters 10 and 20, the light sources 1 and 2 are alternately turned on, and only the light source 1 is turned on (the shutter 4 is opened). It was confirmed that the detector 22 did not respond and that the photodetector 11 did not respond when only the light source 2 was turned on.

Thereafter, the light / light control method using the film-type optical element 8 was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1, and the same experimental result as in Example 1 was obtained.

[Comparative Example 2] In order to perform a comparative experiment based on the conventional technique, JP-A-53-137884, JP-A-63-231424, and JP-A-64-733.
In accordance with the description of Japanese Patent Publication No. 26, the optical control was attempted by using the device having the configuration as shown in FIG. That is, the optical path length 1c
The quartz solution cell 17 of m is irradiated with the semiconductor laser light (wavelength 694 nm) from the light source 2 of the signal light passing through the diaphragm 19, and the transmitted light is received by the photodetector 22 via the wavelength selective transmission filter 20. On the other hand, control light was diffused and irradiated onto the entire optical path of the signal light passing through the solution cell 17 from the direction orthogonal to the signal light using the projection lens 16. In the apparatus configuration of FIG. 9, the signal light source 1 (wavelength 633n
m), ND filter 3, shutter 4, semi-transmissive mirror 5,
The role and specifications of the photodetector 11 are similar to those in the first embodiment. The wavelength selective transmission filter 20 prevents the control light scattered from the solution cell 17 from entering the photodetector 22, and the same one as used in the first embodiment can be used.

As the dye, the cyanine dye DODCI was used as in Example 1. First, a methanol solution was filled in the solution cell 17 and tested. Regarding the dye concentration, considering the difference in the optical path length, that is, the optical path length of 1 μm, which is 200 times the optical path length of 50 μm in the case of Example 1, the density of 1/200 (1 0.25 × 10 ^-4 m
ol / l) and the effective transmittance was adjusted to be the same as in Example 1. As in the case of Example 1,
Optical element (solution cell 17) by ND filter 3
The power of the control light incident on 0.5mW to 25mW
The control light was blinked using the shutter 4. However, it was found that the intensity of the signal light incident on the photodetector 22 did not change at all even if the power of the control light was maximized. That is, the control light power is set to 0.
As long as it is adjusted in the range of 5 mW to 25 mW,
It was not possible to realize light / light control in the device configuration / device layout of.

Then, instead of the solution sample, the cyanine dye DODCI was used as a solid element in a concentration of 1.25 × 10 ⁻⁴ m 2.
It was dissolved in 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate monomer at ol / l, the monomer was polymerized and processed into a rectangular parallelepiped optical element (optical path length 1 cm), which was placed in place of the solution cell 17, and compared with the case of the solution sample. It tested similarly. As a result, even when a solid-state element is used, the power of the control light is reduced to 0.
As long as it is adjusted in the range of 5 mW to 25 mW,
It was confirmed that light / light control could not be realized in the device configuration / device arrangement of.

[Sixth Embodiment] Similar to the first embodiment, the device configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, a helium / neon laser (wavelength 633 nm) as the light source 1 for the control light, and a semiconductor laser as the light source 2 for the signal light. (Wavelength: 694 nm), the objective lens for a microscope having a focal length of 5 mm and a numerical aperture of 0.65 is used as the condenser lens 7, and the film-type optical element 8 formed by changing various transmittances is used. And the magnitude of optical response ΔT were investigated. The power of the control light is 1
The magnitude of the optical response in the direction in which the transmittance of the signal light was reduced by irradiation with the control light was measured at 0 mW.

The sample of the film type optical element 8 was prepared by the same method as illustrated in the first embodiment. However, DO as a pigment
The anion part (I ⁻ ) of DCI was changed to tetrafluoroborate (BF ₄ ⁻ ) and the dye concentration was 2.5.
× 10 ^-2 mol / l and the film thickness of the dye / polymer film is 2
Samples having different transmittances were prepared by changing the thickness in the range of 0 μm to 100 μm.

Table 3 shows the measurement results of the respective transmittances of the control light and the signal light, and the magnitude ΔT of the optical response in the direction in which the transmittance of the signal light decreases.

[0118]

[Table 3] The transmittance of the signal light (694 nm) was 90 to 91% in all samples, but the control light (633 nm)
, The optical response ΔT in the direction in which the transmittance of the signal light decreases as the transmittance of the control light decreases, that is, as the light absorption at the wavelength of the control light increases. Was confirmed to be large.

Although the sample was made thinner and tested for a control light transmittance of 90%, a slight optical response was detected, but quantitative measurement was difficult.

[Embodiment 7] As in the case of Embodiment 6, the relationship between the transmittance of the optical element and the magnitude ΔT of the optical response is determined by using the film type optical element 8 formed by changing the transmittance. Examined.

However, a cyanine dye cryptocyanine (manufactured by Tokyo Kasei) was used as the dye, the film thickness of the dye / polymer film was about 50 μm, and the dye concentration was 1 × 10 ⁻³ mol / l.
To 2.5 × 10 ^-2 mol / l, different transmittances were prepared and used as samples. A semiconductor laser (oscillation wavelength 2 W, Gaussian beam with a beam diameter of 6 mm) having an oscillation wavelength of 830 nm was used as the light source 2 for the signal light.

Table 4 shows the measurement results of the respective transmittances of the control light and the signal light and the magnitude ΔT of the optical response in the direction in which the transmittance of the signal light decreases.

[0123]

[Table 4] The transmittance of the control light (633 nm) was 0.02% or less in all samples, but when the transmittance of the signal light (830 nm) was changed within the range of 6% to 80%, the transmittance of the signal light was changed. It was confirmed that the larger the value of, that is, the smaller the light absorption at the wavelength of the signal light, the greater the optical response ΔT in the direction in which the transmittance of the signal light decreases. When the signal light transmittance was 6%, the optical response was below the detection limit.

[0124]

As described above in detail, according to the light control method and the light control device of the present invention, for example, laser light in the visible region is used as control light and signal light in the near infrared region is efficiently used. Good modulation can be realized by a very simple optical device at a practically sufficient response speed without using any electronic circuit or the like.

Direct modulation of a near-infrared laser by a visible light laser using the light control method and the light control device of the present invention can be performed, for example, by a visible light laser suitable for propagating in a polymethylmethacrylate plastic optical fiber. , It is extremely useful in such applications as directly modulating a near infrared laser suitable for propagating in air. Further, it is expected to be useful in developing a new optical operation method in the field of optical computing, for example.

Further, according to the light control method and the light control device of the present invention, an optical element comprising a photoresponsive composition in which a dye is dissolved or dispersed in a matrix material can be used as the optical element. Expanding the selection range of materials used for elements, and facilitating processing into optical elements,
It is possible to broadly open the way of utilization to the industrial world.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an apparatus configuration used when implementing the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a device configuration used when implementing the present invention.

3 is a transmittance spectrum of the film optical element of Example 1. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram exemplifying temporal changes in light intensity of control light and signal light.

FIG. 5 is a diagram exemplifying a relationship between optical paths (and optical axes) of control light and signal light.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a device configuration used when implementing the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram illustrating a device configuration used when implementing the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram illustrating an apparatus configuration used when implementing the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a device configuration used in a conventional technique.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a state in the vicinity of a focus of a Gaussian beam converged by a condenser lens or the like.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 light source for control light, 2 light source for signal light, 3 ND filter, 4 shutters, 5 semi-transparent mirror, 6 optical mixer,
7 condenser lens, 8 film type optical element, 9 light receiving lens,
10 Wavelength selective transmission filter (for blocking signal light), 11
Photodetector, 12 fiber type optical element, 13 optical isolator (for control light), 14 optical isolator (for signal light), 15 concave mirror, 16 projection lens, 17
Solution cell (or solid state element), 19 diaphragm, 20 wavelength selective transmission filter (for blocking control light), 21 dichroic mirror, 22 photodetector (for detecting light intensity of signal light), 23 and 24 dichroic mirror, 30
Wavefront, 100 Oscilloscope, 111 Photodetector 11
Signal (light intensity time change curve of control light), signals from 222 and 223 photodetector 22 (light intensity time change curve of signal light), A. The light source of signal light was turned on with the control light blocked. Output level of the photodetector 22, the output level of the photodetector 22 when the control light is emitted with the light source of the B signal light turned on, and the output level of the photodetector 22 when the C signal light is turned off , D ₇₈ distance between the condenser lens 7 and the film type optical element 8, d ₈₉ light control element 8 and light receiving lens 9
Distance, Fc focus, L ₀₁ , L _{+ 1} , L _-1 and L ₀₂ signal light or control light optical beam cross section, l ₊₁ and l _-1 signal light or control light optical axis translation distance, r light beam cross-section L ₀₁ of the _first signal light or control light, L ₊₁ or radius L _-1, r ₂ signal light or control light of the light beam radius of the cross section L _02, time of lighting the light source of the t ₁ signal light, When the shutter that was blocking the t ₂ control light was opened, when the t ₃ control light was blocked again by the shutter, when the shutter that blocked the t ₄ control light was opened, and when the t ₅ control light was blocked again by the shutter Time, time when the light source of the t ₆ signal light is turned off, angle formed by the outer circumference of the light beam converged by the θ condensing lens and the optical axis, beam waist of the Gaussian beam converged by the ω ₀ condensing lens (focal position Beam radius at).

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Masakatsu Kai Masakatsu Kai 3-12 Moriya-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Kanagawa Prefecture Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. (72) Ichiro Ueno 3--12 Moriya-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama Address: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. (72) Inventor: Norio Tanaka, 1-9-4, Horinouchi, Adachi-ku, Tokyo Dainichi Seika Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor: Shigeru Takarada, 1-chome, Horinouchi, Adachi-ku, Tokyo No. 9-4 Dainichi Seika Kogyo Co., Ltd. Tokyo Manufacturing Office

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An optical element comprising a photo-responsive composition is irradiated with control light, and the transmittance and / or the refractive index of signal light in a wavelength band different from that of the control light is reversibly changed to thereby control the optical property. A light control method for performing intensity modulation and / or light flux density modulation of the signal light passing through an element, wherein the control light and the signal light are respectively converged and applied to the optical element, and the control light and An optical control method comprising arranging the optical paths of the control light and the signal light such that regions having the highest photon density near respective focal points of the signal light overlap each other in the optical element. 2. The light control method according to claim 1, wherein the control light and the signal light are propagated in the optical element in substantially the same optical path. 3. The optical control method according to claim 1, wherein the positional relationship between the respective focal positions of the control light and the signal light and the optical element is changed, and / or
By changing the range of receiving the light flux of the signal light transmitted through the optical element, the irradiation of the control light causes the optical response in the direction in which the intensity of the signal light transmitted through the optical element decreases and the signal light. An optical control method characterized in that both or one of the optical responses in which the luminous flux density increases or decreases is selected and extracted. 4. The light control method according to claim 1, wherein the optical element is made of a photoresponsive composition containing a dye. 5. The light control method according to claim 1, wherein the optical element has a transmittance of the control light of at most 9%.
The transmittance of the signal light in the state of 0% or less and not irradiating the control light is adjusted to be at least 10% or more, and the light is transmitted through the optical element by the irradiation of the control light. 2. An optical control method, wherein an optical response in the direction in which the transmittance of the signal light decreases is taken out. 6. An optical element comprising a photoresponsive composition is irradiated with control light to reversibly increase or decrease the transmittance and / or refractive index of signal light in a wavelength band different from that of the control light. A light control device used in a light control method for performing intensity modulation and / or light flux density modulation of the signal light passing through an element, comprising: converging means for converging the control light and the signal light, respectively. The optical paths of the control light and the signal light are arranged so that the regions having the highest photon density near the respective focal points of the control light and the signal light overlap each other,
Further, the optical control device is characterized in that the optical element is arranged at a position where regions having the highest photon density in the vicinity of respective focal points of the converged control light and the signal light overlap each other. 7. The light control device according to claim 6, further comprising an optical path arrangement such that the control light and the signal light propagate in the optical element in substantially the same optical path. Control device. 8. The light control device according to claim 6, further comprising: a moving unit that changes a positional relationship between each of the focal positions of the control light and the signal light and the optical element, and the light passing through the optical element. And a light-reception range adjusting means for changing the light-reception range of the signal light to receive the light beam, and by using the moving means and / or the light-reception range adjusting means, the control light and the signal light are respectively received. By changing the positional relationship between the focal position of the optical element and the optical element, and / or by changing the range of receiving the light flux of the signal light that has passed through the optical element, the optical element is irradiated by the control light. Selecting and extracting both or one of an optical response in a direction in which the intensity of the transmitted signal light decreases and an optical response in which the luminous flux density of the signal light increases or decreases. Light control device according to claim. 9. The light control device according to claim 6, wherein the optical element is made of a photoresponsive composition containing a dye. 10. The light control device according to claim 6, wherein the optical element has a transmittance of control light of 90% or less at most, and a signal light in a state in which the control light is not irradiated. An optical control device, which is adjusted to have a transmittance of at least 10% or more, and extracts an optical response in a direction in which the transmittance of signal light decreases by irradiation of control light. 11. The light control device according to claim 6, further comprising means for separating the mixed light of the signal light and the control light transmitted through the optical element into the signal light and the control light. Characterized light control device.