SBIR Phase I: Tunable Terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers for Spectroscopy

SBIR 第一阶段：用于光谱学的可调谐太赫兹量子级联激光器

• 批准号: 1143131
• 负责人: Alan Lee
• 金额: $ 15万
• 依托单位: LongWave Photonics LLC
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-01-01 至 2012-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1143131&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; Tunable; Terahertz; Quantum

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will focus on the demonstration of a frequency tunable quantum cascade laser (QCL) operating at terahertz frequencies (1-10 THz) for applications including spectroscopy and non-destructive imaging. This novel source is based on external micropositioning driver for actuated the tuning mechanism that manipulates the QCL's optical waveguide dimensions. This manipulation effectively changes the optical index of the waveguide and the emission frequency of the QCL. The frequency tuning will be actuated electronically, resulting in fast sweeps (100 Hz) over frequency ranges of 300 GHz. The tunable QCL will be housed in a small footprint cry cooler, and will have output powers greater than 100 µW - an improvement of 3 orders of magnitude over current commercial systems. Phase II improvements will result in larger tunable ranges at center frequencies ranging from 1.5 to 5 THz. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will be in detection and characterization of narrow gas lines (MHz) or solid absorption features (GHz) in spectroscopy or spectroscopic imaging, useable for academic, industrial and governmental research. The electrical operation of the MEMS tunable source and the turnkey nature of the cryogenic system will allow non-expert researcher access to the terahertz spectral region. Future uses include incorporation into a swept-source optical coherence tomography system for non-destructive evaluation (NDE). Terahertz frequency radiation is of particular interest for use in NDE because they are able to penetrate materials that are opaque at infrared and visible wavelengths such as structural foams, polymers and paints. Potential applications include the validation of the structural integrity of foams used in the aerospace industry; continuous monitoring of paint processes in the automotive industry; and the validation of pharmaceuticals tablet coatings used in controlled release formulations.

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目将重点展示频率可调的量子级联激光器(QCL)，该激光器工作在太赫兹频率(1-10 THz)，用于光谱学和无损成像等应用。这种新颖的光源基于外部微定位驱动器，用于驱动调谐机构来操纵QCL的光波导尺寸。这种操作有效地改变了波导的光学折射率和QCL的发射频率。频率调谐将以电子方式启动，从而在300 GHz的频率范围内实现快速扫描(100赫兹)。可调谐的QCL将安装在一个占地面积较小的冷却器中，输出功率将超过100微瓦-比目前的商业系统提高了3个数量级。第二阶段的改进将导致中心频率从1.5到5太赫兹的更大可调范围。该项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力将是光谱或光谱成像中窄气体线(MHz)或固体吸收特征(GHz)的检测和表征，可用于学术、工业和政府研究。MEMS可调谐光源的电操作和低温系统的交钥匙性质将允许非专业研究人员进入太赫兹光谱区域。未来的用途包括纳入扫描源光学相干层析成像系统进行无损评估(NDE)。太赫兹频率辐射特别适用于无损检测，因为它们能够穿透在红外和可见光波长不透明的材料，如结构泡沫、聚合物和涂料。潜在的应用包括验证航空航天工业中使用的泡沫的结构完整性；持续监测汽车工业中的涂料工艺；以及验证控制释放配方中使用的药物片剂涂层。