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The relaxation oscillator as a resonance photon detector

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Abstract

A commercially available neon indicator lamp in a Relaxation Oscillator (RO) configuration has been demonstrated to be capable of detecting light intensities of the order of nanowatts under ambient light conditions with a subpicometer spectral resolution. The RO has also been shown as capable of acting as a wireless light switch with light intensities of the order of 1 µW. Temporal excitation studies have also shown the predominant mechanism describing the observed frequency changes in the RO to be a result of laser perturbation of the neon lamp when it is in the Townsend-discharge region and not in the abnormal glow.

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Author notes

  1. J. D. Winefordner

    Present address: Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Commission of the European Communities, Joint Research Centre, Environment Institute, I-21027, Ispra, Italy

    G. A. Petrucci, J. D. Winefordner & N. Omenetto

Authors
  1. G. A. Petrucci
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  2. J. D. Winefordner
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  3. N. Omenetto
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Petrucci, G.A., Winefordner, J.D. & Omenetto, N. The relaxation oscillator as a resonance photon detector. Appl. Phys. B 62, 457–464 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01081044

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01081044

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