Ultrashort-Pulse Optical Frequency Combs for Quantum Technologies and Sensing

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Optical frequency combs are key to many Quantum Technologies: providing the 'clockwork' that stably links supremely accurate optical clocks to radio-frequency information that can be more readily exploited; and generating the ultra-stable microwave frequencies that will be required for next-generation Doppler LIDAR. However, today's optical frequency combs are generally large and lab-based, lacking the robustness to be truly mobile. This 4-year EngD project will investigate innovative new optical frequency combs that reduce size, weight and power consumption while increasing reliability and providing extremely high stability, as is required for application to next generation optical clocks and radar. The project will design, build and test optical frequency combs based upon modelocked ultrashort-pulse solid-state lasers. The project will take advantage of the Institute of Photonics at Strathclyde University and the Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics' experience in diode-pumped Ti:Sapphire lasers, and push these systems further towards miniaturised and ultra-stable architectures. The project will also be supported by Caledonian Photonics Ltd, a startup company with strong links to end-users of optical frequency combs, and experience in robust solid-state laser design.