Near-Infrared and mid-Infrared fiber lasers for applications in spectroscopy, medicine and biophotonics research

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Fiber lasers are already established as robust and reliable devices. Compared to rival technologies, they are compact and cost-effective, with unique characteristics such as all-fiber design and no need for re-alignment. Tunable, high-power fiber lasers in the mid-infrared and near-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum are very attractive for applications in sensing (detecting a chemical at the molecular level), spectroscopy, medicine and instrumentation in the fields of biomedical research and environmental monitoring. The proposed research program will develop a suite of high-power, tunable lasers in the mid-infrared and near-infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The tunable feature of the laser will let the user choose a specific wavelength, attractive especially in spectroscopy, medicine and sensing where excitation wavelength is very important. The mid-infrared lasers will be developed using (i) stimulated Raman scattering process in a specially designed optical fiber with a high Raman gain coefficient (e.g. Chalcogenide glass fiber), and (ii) a gas cell based on hollow-core fiber filled with gas (e.g., N2O, CO, C2H2) as a gain medium. Due to the small core diameter of the hollow-core fiber, the gas cell will require a very small amount of gas compared to conventional gas lasers. Further, it will be possible to obtain high output power from the laser compared to a fiber laser with rare-earth-doped fiber as the gain medium. Thus, the laser based on the hollow-core gas cell will be very compact and cost effective. This research program to develop lasers with these specific combinations of features (e.g., gas filled-hollow core fiber and tunability) will create a unique research facility at Lakehead University and in Canada. The proposed research will also develop a highly sensitive sensor, which is based on the surface enhanced Raman scattering process, using a tunable high-power, near-infrared fiber laser and gold nanorods, to detect chemicals (e.g. proteins in the body caused by the human papillomavirus, responsible for cervical cancer). The device will be very sensitive (e.g., capable of detecting a single molecule) compared those available on the market. The demand in Canada for workers with skills in areas like optics and photonics exceeds the supply. Students in this research program will be trained in nanotechnology, chemistry and biophotonics as well as physics, electronics, and spectroscopy. They will work with industrial, academic, and government partners to develop world-class sensing devices and lasers, fitting these students to contribute in a variety of settings and increasing Canada’s human resource capacity in areas of highly technical research. Further, Canada’s scientific and biomedical industries will benefit from this research, as the new technology (or methodology) to develop mid-IR lasers and sensor will be competitive internationally.