Ckn Patel

Biography

Patel has made numerous seminal contributions in several fields particularly gas lasers; nonlinear optics; molecular spectroscopy; pollution detection; and laser surgery. He discovered the laser action on the vibrational-rotational transitions of carbon dioxide and invented efficient vibrational energy transfer between molecules; demonstrated that the carbon dioxide laser was capable of very high cw and pulsed power output at very high conversion efficiencies. The carbon dioxide lasers have now become work horses in at least four major fields of applications - industrial applications which include cutting, drilling and welding; scientific applicatons which include spectroscopy, nonlinear optics, and optical pumping to create newer lasers such as far infrared lasers and X-ray lasers; medical applications which include laser surgery in the areas of otolaryngology, gynaecology, tujour removal, and general surgery; and remote probing applicatons which, among others, include pollution detection, ranging and Doppler radar, as well as a multitude of military uses. His discovery of laser action on vibrational-rotational transitions of molecules has directlly led to many other infrared high power laser systems. He carried out the first infrared nonlinear optics experiments which pioneered a new field of infrared nonlinear optics. He invented the first tunable spin-flip Raman laser in any wavelength, region, and carried out very high resolution spectroscopy of molecular gases; developed a tunable laser opto-acoustic measurement techniques for detecting small concentrations of atmospheric pollutants; measured, for the first time, the temporal variation of concentration of nitric oxide in stratosphere, which has direct relation to ozone depletion; invented an opto-acoustic detection technique capable of measuring very small optional absorptions in liquids, solids, thin films, powders, and cryogenci solids such as solid hydrogen.

Research Interest

Laser, Quantum Electronics, Defense and Homeland Security Optoelectronics