Repairs to a femtosecond laser system essential for nonlinear optical studies

赫瑞瓦特大学非线性光学小组的大部分研究都是基于单飞秒激光系统。该激光系统由一个再生放大器组成，该放大器由锁模飞秒激光器播撒，由调q纳秒激光器（Merlin）泵浦。该放大器的输出用于泵浦一个光学参数放大器，该放大器通过几个非线性转换过程，提供400-3200 nm的飞秒辐射。Merlin泵浦激光器是一种腔内双Nd: YLF激光器，在527 nm处的输出平均功率高达10W。该激光器安装于1998年（GR/L62542），是闪光灯泵浦，现在是一个过时的型号。现在需要更换的正是这种泵浦激光器。此外，再生放大器非常不稳定，需要更换光学元件，例如Pockel's cell和压缩光栅，由于这两个关键光学元件的恶化，在过去的9年里，这两个光学元件都变得有损耗。EPSRC资助的两个项目和DTA博士生参与的另外三个项目的成功完成取决于该激光系统的持续运行。两位博士后研究员和多位访问学者经常使用这个系统。我们的请求是资金，使我们能够修复激光系统，并使其恢复到最佳规格。本提案中描述的研究将导致紧凑型激光器的发展，这对传感和医疗应用至关重要，以及对支撑电信，显示和信号处理的现代光子学的新型半导体器件的基本理解。

Much of the research of the Nonlinear Optics Group at Heriot-Watt University is based around a single femtosecond laser system. This laser system consists of a regenerative amplifier that is seeded by a mode-locked femtosecond and pumped by a Q-switched nanosecond laser (Merlin). The output of this amplifier is used to pump an optical parametric amplifier that, via several nonlinear conversion processes, provides access to femtosecond radiation from 400-3200 nm. The Merlin pump laser is an intra-cavity doubled Nd: YLF proving up to 10W of output average power at 527 nm. This laser was installed in 1998 (GR/L62542), is flash lamp pumped and is now an obsolete model. It is this pump laser that is now in need of replacement. In addition, the regenerative amplifier is very unstable and requires replacement of optical components e.g. Pockel's cell and compressor grating that have both become lossy over the past 9 years due to the deterioration of these two key optical components. The successful completion of two EPSRC funded grants and a further three projects involving DTA PhD students are dependent on the continued operation of this laser system. Two postdoctoral research associates regularly use this system as well as various visiting researchers. Our request is for funds to enable us to repair the laser system and return it to optimum specifications. The research described in this proposal will result in the development of compact lasers which are essential for sensing and medical applications as well as the fundamental understanding of the new semiconductor devices which underpin modern photonics for telecom, displays and signal processing.