Engineering Research Equipment - Submillimeter Laser System

工程研究设备-亚毫米激光系统

• 批准号: 9112373
• 负责人: Harold Fetterman
• 金额: $ 6.83万
• 依托单位: University of California-Los Angeles
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1991
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1991-08-01 至 1992-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9112373&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Engineering; Research; Equipment; Submillimeter; Laser

New experiments at millimeter wave frequencies have shown important nonlinear effects using specially developed materials. In each case the observations have been relatively difficult with the available materials and power densities. At shorter wavelengths these nonlinear effects become significantly larger and more amenable to study. One of our more novel experiments involves phase conjugation, an important and useful area of research at visible wavelengths, which had not been achieved at longer wavelengths. Using an artificial Kerr medium we were able to demonstrate four wave mixing and phase conjugation in waveguides. The use of higher frequencies will permit the crucial extension of this concept to free space. Another set of experiments uses high temperature superconductor films to make unique, tunable quasi-optical filters. The properties we are studying, involving concentrations of paired superconducting electrons, will be much more sensitive to applied laser fields when observed at the submillimeter frequencies. This NSF Engineering Research Equipment Grant will therefore be used to purchase an optically pumped molecular gas laser system which will generate CW Submillimeter and Far Infrared radiation. In addition to opening up an entire range of new experiments in nonlinear effects and superconducting structures, this work will have important applications in remote sensing and communications.

在毫米波频率下的新实验表明，使用特殊开发的材料可以产生重要的非线性效应。在每一种情况下，由于现有的材料和功率密度，观测都相对困难。在较短波长，这些非线性效应变得明显更大，更易于研究。我们的一个比较新颖的实验涉及相位共轭，这是在可见波长研究的一个重要和有用的领域，在较长的波长还没有实现。使用人工克尔介质，我们能够演示波导中的四波混频和相位共轭。使用更高的频率将允许这一概念的关键扩展到自由空间。另一组实验使用高温超导体薄膜来制作独特的、可调谐的准光学滤光片。我们正在研究的特性，涉及成对超导电子的浓度，当在亚毫米频率下观察时，将对应用的激光场更加敏感。因此，NSF工程研究设备拨款将用于购买光泵分子气体激光器系统，该系统将产生连续波亚毫米波和远红外辐射。除了在非线性效应和超导结构方面开辟了一系列新的实验之外，这项工作还将在遥感和通信方面有重要的应用。