Market study for supercontinuum laser sources based on frequency domain optical parametric generation.

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Light provides an ideal tool to analyze materials, due to its composition of various frequencies which correspond to different energies. A prerequisite for the identification and characterization of materials is access to their chemical composition. This is given by mid-infrared photonics (2 to 20 microns) whose frequencies match the natural scales of vibrational modes in materials. A tremendous economic growth is expected in the upcoming years in this important field of research and technological activities. Numerous industrial and medical applications require reliable light sources and detectors operating in this specific spectral range. While today's general laser sources in this range are either narrowband and tunable or broadband but limited to below 2.4 microns, we propose a new approach to deliver all required frequencies at once. This approach, called Frequency domain Optical Parametric Generation (FOPG) does not require complex femtosecond lasers but only a simple nanosecond driving laser to enable supercontinuum light generation in a spatially coherent beam. We will use a specially designed fan-out crystal for the optical parametric generation in the frequency domain. A certain period within this crystal leads to a certain frequency component when pumped by a strong nanosecond laser, such that all generated frequencies appear lined up besides each other. All generated frequencies are combined into a single beam by Fourier optical processing. We have preliminary results demonstrating the concept of FOPG in the range of 1.5 to 2 microns. As a next step, using commercial optical and laser components, we will transfer this concept to the mid-infrared spectral range of 3 to 5 microns, with its numerous spectroscopic applications for process control in manufacturing, environmental and security monitoring, and counter-measures for defense purposes.