Development of compressed ultrafast optical imaging for single-shot observation of nonlinear light-matter interactions

许多重要的物理机制体现在超快光学现象中，这些现象往往是不可重复的或难以复制的。单次激发超快光学成像是记录这些事件发生持续时间内整个过程的唯一可行的解决方案。在现有的方法中，压缩超快摄影(CUP)已经成为一种很有前途的技术。展示了世界上最快的相机，CUP的成像速度为每秒10万亿帧，可以在一次相机曝光中捕捉到空间和时间信息。然而，受工作光谱和成像速度的限制，现有的CUP系统在成像非线性光-物质相互作用方面的应用范围有限。为了应对这些限制，在此次CRD赠款申请中，我们建议开发下一代CUP系统，用于以前所未有的成像速度对非线性光-物质相互作用进行单次激发多参数超快光学成像。我们计划与两个加拿大工业合作伙伴合作，在现有商业产品和核心专业知识的基础上开发三个新的CUP原型，这将首次实现传感折射率扰动，从可见光到近红外光谱同时成像多个波长，并达到每秒100万亿帧的成像速度。针对多个光学领域数十亿美元的潜在市场，拟议的系统具有巨大的商业潜力。利用两家公司的核心专业知识，这些新系统对它们现有的产品具有很强的互补性。从科学上讲，这些系统将极大地提高CUP相机在对比度、工作光谱和成像速度方面的规格，进而使人们能够前所未有地观察到超快光物质与光学物理、材料表征和数据存储应用之间的相互作用。CRD的应用对加拿大具有重大的社会和经济意义，也将创造极好的机会培训和留住HQP，促进知识经济，并巩固加拿大作为光子学和光学世界领导者的地位。

Many important physical mechanisms are manifested in ultrafast optical phenomena that are often either non-repeatable or difficult-to-reproduce. Single-shot ultrafast optical imaging is the only viable solution to record the entire process of these events within the duration of its occurrence. Among existing approaches, compressed ultrafast photography (CUP) has emerged to be a promising technique. Exhibiting the world's fastest camera, CUP has an imaging speed of 10 trillion frames per second and can capture both spatial and temporal information in a single camera exposure. However, restricted by operational spectrum and image speeds, existing CUP systems have a limited application scope in imaging nonlinear light-matter interactions. In response to these limitations, in this CRD grant application, we propose to develop the next-generation of CUP systems for single-shot multi-parameter ultrafast optical imaging of nonlinear light-matter interactions at unprecedented imaging speeds. In collaboration with two Canadian industrial partners, we plan to develop three new CUP prototypes upon their existing commercial products and core expertise, which will enable, for the first time, sensing the refractive index perturbation, imaging multiple wavelengths simultaneously from the visible-to-near-infrared spectrum, and reaching 100 trillion frames per second imaging speed. Targeting a billion-dollar potential market in multiple fields of optics, the proposed systems hold great commercial potential. Capitalizing on the core expertise of both companies, these new systems are highly complementary to their existing products. Scientifically, these systems will greatly enhance the CUP camera's specifications in contrasts, operational spectrum, and imaging speeds, which in turn, will allow unprecedented observation of ultrafast light-matter interactions with applications in optical physics, materials characterization, and data storage. Exerting great social-economic significance to Canada, this CRD application will also create excellent opportunities to train and retain HQP, promote knowledge-based economy, and solidify Canada's position as a world leader in photonics and optics.