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

该Engage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由安大略的TeTechS公司制造的工业和科学设备的关键部件。不幸的是，TeTechS目前采用的产生THz辐射的方法使用昂贵且相当复杂的800 nm激光器。在这个Engage项目中拟议的研究将允许由马尼托巴大学的Major教授领导的激光工程小组与TeTechS密切合作来解决这个问题。这将通过开发基于简单而有效的1000 nm激光器的THz辐射源来实现。短期努力将指向三个主要目标：1）开发紧凑的1000 nm脉冲激光源，其将能够将其辐射有效地转换到800 nm范围; 2）研究了利用光子晶体光纤将激光波长转换到800 nm的最佳条件; 3）建立了THz测量装置，并利用所研制的800 nm激光器对产生的THz辐射进行了完整的表征。预计该研究将为新一代紧凑高效的THz源奠定基础，该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THz脉冲。该光源的主要元件由特殊的光子晶体光纤组成，即使在该项目的短时间内，也可能导致优秀和可靠的特性，这是成功商业化的先决条件。最后，该项目产生的新知识以及与该工作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THz市场的影响，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.