STTR Phase I: Micro-Discharge Based Micro-Lasers for Sensing

这个小型企业技术转移第一阶段项目旨在应用新的微放电结构和技术来激励微激光。该提议将针对其他紧凑型激光器无法访问的波长区域，强调在二极管泵浦的固态激光方法比所提议的技术复杂得多的光谱区域的输出波长。第一阶段的目标包括开发适合激光作用的微放电堆叠所需的对准和施工方法。该方案将展示激光在中红外氙气原子激光和KrF激光的试金石系统中的作用。使用最先进的多维放电模型的分析工作将支持实验并指导第二阶段原型设计。该提议还将确定在第二阶段生产有用的传感器系统所需的风险降低测试。这些非常紧凑的来源将用于痕量物种检测、过程控制以及医疗和食品工业应用的传感器。小尺寸和低电压操作将导致廉价的手持设备和非常紧凑的自动化工业系统。基于半导体的制造技术价格低廉，基于该技术的系统可以显著提高市场潜力。具体的商业应用包括：用于短距离的示踪气体传感器、筛选固体表面和食品中的病原体、工艺控制以及用于医药的光纤耦合探头。

This Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I project aims to apply novel micro-discharge structures and techniques for exciting micro-lasers. The proposer will target wavelength regions not accessed by other compact lasers, emphasizing output wavelengths in spectral regions where diode pumped solid state laser approaches are considerably more complex than the proposed technology. The Phase I objectives include the development of the alignment and construction methods needed to make a stack of micro-discharges appropriate for laser action. The proposer will show laser action in the touchstone systems of the Mid-IR Xenon atom laser and the KrF laser in the ultraviolet. An analytical effort using state of the art, multi-dimensional discharge models will support experiments and guide the Phase II prototype design. The proposer will also define the needed risk reduction tests to produce a useful sensor system in Phase II. These very compact sources will be used in sensors for trace species detection, process control, and medical and food industry applications. The small size and low voltage operation will lead to inexpensive hand held uses and very compact automated industrial systems. The semi-conductor based fabrication techniques are inexpensive and systems based on this technology can significantly enhance the market potential. Specific commercial applications include: trace gas sensors for short ranges, screening solid surfaces and foods for pathogens, process controls, and fiber coupled probes for medicine.