MRI: Acquisition of Self-Referenced Frequency Comb for Atomic-Molecular-Optical Physics and Optical Signal Processing Research

研究目标和方法本研究的目的是研究光学频率梳在光子信号处理和原子-分子-光学(AMO)物理中的应用。其方法是获得最先进的商用频率梳状激光器，以进行新的实验研究。智能价值在超快光子学中，频率梳将能够产生具有比传统技术显著更好的瞬时带宽和长期抖动特性的光和射频信号。在AMO物理研究中，频率梳将能够驱动涉及非常不同的跃迁频率的相干光学跃迁，并且将是一个无价的工具，例如，在当前旨在使用此类分子进行量子计算的研究中，通过光缔合创建基态分子。此外，拟议的设备预计将促进涉及这两个学科的新的跨学科合作。更广泛的影响拟议的设备将为尖端技术领域的广泛学生培训提供丰富的机会，并使影响光学和无线通信以及量子计算的新研究得以实现，这两个领域都具有直接的社会影响，量子计算是一个具有长期革命性影响的新兴领域。更广泛的影响也预计通过提议的教职员工参与的各种活动来实现。例如，韦纳目前是美国国家工程院S工程前沿会议的主席，该会议被认为是未来工程领导者的重要职业发展机会，而埃利奥特积极参与多元化问题，他在普渡大学S工程学院担任研究生招生和留住项目主任的任期就是明证。

Research Objectives and ApproachThe objective of this research is to investigate applications of optical frequency combs in photonic signal processing and atomic-molecular-optical (AMO) physics. The approach is to acquire a state of the art, commercial frequency comb laser to enable new experimental studies.Intellectual MeritIn ultrafast photonics the frequency comb will enable generation of optical and radio-frequency signals with instantaneous bandwidth and long-term jitter properties significantly better than available by conventional technologies. In AMO physics research, the frequency comb will enable driving coherent optical transitions involving very different transition frequencies, and will be an invaluable tool, for example, to create ground state molecules via photoassociation for current research aiming to use such molecules for quantum computing. Furthermore, the proposed equipment is expected to catalyze new interdisciplinary collaborations involving both disciplines. Broader Impacts The proposed equipment will provide rich opportunities for broad student training in areas of cutting-edge technology and enable new research impacting optical and wireless communications, both areas with direct societal impact, and quantum computing, an emerging area with potential for revolutionary impact in the long term. Broader impact is also anticipated through a variety of activities in which the proposing faculty are engaged. For example, Weiner is currently Chair of the National Academy of Engineering?s Frontiers of Engineering conference, considered to be an important career development opportunity for future engineering leaders, while Elliott is active in diversity issues, as evidenced by his term as Director of Graduate Recruitment and Retention Programs at Purdue?s College of Engineering.