Fiber-based frequency conversion of near-infrared lasers for efficient generation of terahertz (THz) radiation

该项目将为开发基于光子晶体光纤的高效便携式太赫兹(THz)辐射脉冲源铺平道路。这种太赫兹辐射源是安大略省TeTechS公司制造的工业和科学设备的关键部件。不幸的是，TeTechS目前使用的产生太赫兹辐射的方法使用的是昂贵且相当复杂的激光器，其工作波长为800 nm。该项目的拟议研究将允许马尼托巴大学梅杰教授领导的激光工程小组与TeTechS密切合作来解决这个问题。这将通过开发基于工作在1000 nm的简单和高效的激光的太赫兹辐射源来完成。短期的努力将针对三个主要目标：1)开发1000 nm的紧凑型脉冲激光源，使其辐射能够有效地转换到800 nm范围；2)研究利用特殊的光子晶体光纤将激光辐射转换到800 nm范围的最佳条件；3)开发太赫兹测量装置，然后使用所开发的800 nm激光对所产生的太赫兹辐射进行全面的表征。预计拟议的研究将为新一代紧凑型和高效的太赫兹源奠定基础。拟议的概念的简单性将提供用户友好的紧凑型脉冲800 nm辐射源，能够提供宽带太赫兹脉冲。光源的主要元件由特殊的光子晶体光纤组成，可能会产生优异和可靠的特性，这是成功商业化的先决条件，即使在该项目的短时间内也是如此。最后，该项目产生的新知识以及与这项工作的不同阶段相关的高素质人员的培训肯定会有助于加拿大对太赫兹市场的总体影响，从而提高加拿大在高科技领域的全球竞争力。

This Engage project will pave the way for the development of an efficient portable source of Terahertz (THz)radiation pulses based on a photonic crystal fiber. Such sources of THz radiation are the key components in theindustrial and scientific equipment that is manufactured by the TeTechS company in Ontario. Unfortunately,current method of generation of THz radiation employed at TeTechS uses expensive and fairly complex lasersoperating at 800 nm. The proposed research in this Engage project will allow a laser engineering group headedby Prof Major at the University of Manitoba in close collaboration with TeTechS to address this problem. Thiswill be done by developing sources of THz radiation based on simple and efficient lasers operating at 1000 nm.The short term effort will be directed towards three main objectives: 1) the development of a compact pulsedlaser source at 1000 nm that will enable efficient conversion of its radiation into the 800 nm range; 2) theinvestigation of the the optimum conditions for wavelength conversion of the laser radiation into the 800 nmrange using a specialized photonic crystal fiber; 3) development of a THz measurement setup, followed by thecomplete characterization of the generated THz radiation using the developed laser at 800 nm. It is anticipatedthat the proposed research will prepare the ground for a new generation of compact and efficient THz sources.The simplicity of the proposed concept will provide a user friendly and compact source of pulsed 800 nmradiation capable of delivering broadband THz pulses. The main element of the source, consisting of a specialphotonic crystal fiber, may lead to excellent and reliable characteristics that are a prerequisite for successfulcommercialization, even in the short time span of this project. Finally, the new knowledge generated from thisproject and the training of highly qualified personnel associated with the different stages of this work willcertainly contribute to the Canadian impact on the THz market in general, thus enhancing Canada's globalcompetitiveness in high-tech sector.