SBIR Phase I: A Portable High-Power Tunable Terahertz Source using a Two-Color VECSEL

该小型企业创新研究(SBIR)一期项目将开发一种新型的室温、窄线、高功率垂直外腔半导体激光器(VECSEL)太赫兹光源，该光源基于高精细度腔内高功率循环双波长场的差频混频。半导体量子阱增益介质具有独特的特性，可以通过一种称为光谱烧孔的物理过程，在单个激光腔内同时产生多个波长。一项初步实验已经证明了3兆瓦的太赫兹功率，远远超过(六个数量级)现有的使用光学发电方案的连续太赫兹源的记录。该项目的目标是为简易爆炸装置的检测和对策开发一个集成源/检测解决方案。该项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力将是一个具有价格竞争力的综合解决方案，将影响广泛的国防和商业应用。太赫兹的潜在应用范围从炸药和化学和生物制剂的对峙检测，到体内组织水分含量、脂肪含量、血糖和胆固醇含量的测量以及癌症的诊断。在牙科领域，太赫兹可能提供一种替代X射线成像的强大选择。在食品加工行业，太赫兹波将有助于检测大肠杆菌和其他有毒细菌，以及包装上的小瑕疵。太赫兹光谱成像技术可以帮助执法部门检测违禁物质和假钞。该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案(公共法律111-5)资助的。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a novel room temperature, narrow-line, high power vertical external-cavity semiconductor laser (VECSEL) THz source based on difference-frequency-mixing of high-power circulating dual wavelength fields in a high-finesse cavity. Semiconductor quantum-well gain media have the unique property that multiple wavelengths can be simultaneously generated within single laser cavity through a physical process known as spectral hole-burning. A preliminary experiment has demonstrated 3mW of THz power, far exceeding (by six orders of magnitude) the existing record for CW THz sources using optical generation schemes. The project goal is to develop an integrated source/detection solution for detection of and countermeasures to improvised explosive devices.The broader impacts/commercial potential of this project will be a price competitive and comprehensive solution that would impact a broad range of defense and commercial applications. Potential THz applications range from the standoff detection of explosives and chemical and biological agents, to the measurement of in vivo tissue water content, fat content, blood glucose and cholesterol contents and the diagnosis of cancer. In dentistry THz may provide a powerful alternative to X-ray images. In the food processing industry THz waves will help detect E-coli and other poisonous bacteria as well as small imperfections in packaging. THz spectroscopic imaging can help Law-enforcement with the detection of prohibited substances and counterfeit bank notes."This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5)."