Fibre laser based mid infrared source development

基于光纤激光器的中红外光源开发

• 批准号: 2278015
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Southampton
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2019 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2278015
• 关键词: Fibre; laser; based; mid; infrared

Gas molecules exhibit characteristic vibrations that lead to highly structured but characteristic light absorption spectra in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Consequently, by measuring the absorption of light through a gas sample as a function of the wavelength the presence and concentration of different molecular species within the sample can be determined. This is enabling for a wide range of sensing applications in biology, medicine, environmental monitoring and manufacturing amongst others. In order to exploit this sensing approach there is an emerging requirement for laser sources operating in the mid-IR. These are difficult to realise using traditional laser materials and designs. In this project we will develop a range of mid-IR sources offering unprecedented levels of wavelength coverage and power within the mid-IR (wavelengths range from 2-15 um where the "fingerprint" absorption spectra of most gases can be detected).The project will involve the development of high power short pulse fibre lasers operating at conventional near-IR wavelengths (e.g. 1 and 2um) and converting the wavelength of the output light to the mid-IR wavelengths using nonlinear optical effects in specially engineered crystals, and/or optical fibres. We will target both high-power sources with a wide wavelength tuning range and a narrow spectral linewidth that can be used to probe individual gas absorption, as well as broadband supercontinuum sources with ultrahigh spectral power densities that can be used to record the full gas absorption spectra in one measurement without tuning.The ultimate goal of the project is to develop a ground-breaking new technology platform for the mid-IR and to work with others to demonstrate the enabling capabilities provided by the platform in several of the important application areas above, with a particular focus on the life sciences.

气体分子表现出特征振动，从而在电磁波谱的中红外 (mid-IR) 区域产生高度结构化但特征性的光吸收光谱。因此，通过测量气体样品的光吸收随波长的变化，可以确定样品内不同分子种类的存在和浓度。这使得生物学、医学、环境监测和制造等领域的广泛传感应用成为可能。为了利用这种传感方法，对中红外激光源提出了新的要求。使用传统的激光材料和设计很难实现这些。在这个项目中，我们将开发一系列中红外光源，在中红外范围内提供前所未有的波长覆盖范围和功率水平（波长范围为 2-15 um，可以检测到大多数气体的“指纹”吸收光谱）。该项目将涉及开发在传统近红外波长（例如 1 和 2um）下工作的高功率短脉冲光纤激光器，并转换输出光的波长 利用特殊设计的晶体和/或光纤中的非线性光学效应来达到中红外波长。我们的目标是具有宽波长调谐范围和窄光谱线宽的高功率源，可用于探测单个气体吸收，以及具有超高光谱功率密度的宽带超连续谱源，可用于在一次测量中记录完整的气体吸收光谱而无需调谐。该项目的最终目标是开发一个突破性的中红外新技术平台，并与其他人合作展示 该平台在上述几个重要应用领域提供支持功能，特别关注生命科学。