Development of Novel, Compact Light Sources for Advanced Spectroscopy in Atmospheric Science and Materials Research

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This project develops new laser instrumentation, and is supported jointly by Atmospheric Sciences and Materials Science Research as part of the Major Research Instrumentation Program. Researchers are designing and building a multi-functional suite of nanosecond pulse-length optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) in collaboration with industrial partners. All participants have extensive experience in the application and construction of state-of-the-art light sources. The instruments will be shared among the group of university researchers for in situ studies of atmospheric radicals and greenhouse active gases, laboratory studies of critical atmospheric reactions, optical and infrared diagnostics of chemical vapor deposition, and characterization of solid earth minerals under extreme conditions. By developing the new laser systems, these investigators will enhance existing NSF-sponsored research, and explore and develop new interdisciplinary activities. The new laser instrumentation will transfer several of the proposers' recent inventions to the private sector through the participation of the industrial partners (i.e., Coherent, Spectra Physics, and Casix, Inc.). Licensing of both existing designs and newly developed instruments emerging from this partnership assists the rapid transfer of new laser technology to broader-based science and engineering. Finally, the project will enable graduate and undergraduate participation in several OPO instrument development subtasks, and further involve the students in novel applications to atmospheric science, cluster chemistry, thin film deposition, and solid earth materials. ATM-9724500