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

许多重要的物理机制表现在超快光学现象中，这些现象通常是不可重复或难以再现的。单次超快光学成像是唯一可行的解决方案，可以在事件发生的持续时间内记录这些事件的整个过程。在现有的方法中，压缩超快摄影（CUP）已经成为一种有前途的技术。CUP展示了世界上最快的相机，成像速度为每秒10万亿帧，可以在一次相机曝光中捕获空间和时间信息。然而，受光谱和成像速度的限制，现有的CUP系统在非线性光-物质相互作用成像方面的应用范围有限。 为了应对这些限制，在CRD资助申请中，我们建议开发下一代CUP系统，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多参数超快光学成像。通过与两家加拿大工业合作伙伴的合作，我们计划在他们现有的商业产品和核心专业知识的基础上开发三款新的CUP原型，这将首次实现对折射率扰动的传感，同时对可见光到近红外光谱的多个波长进行成像，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，所提出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，这些新系统与现有产品具有高度互补性。这些系统将大大提高CUP相机在对比度、操作光谱和成像速度方面的规格，从而允许前所未有地观察超快光-物质相互作用，并应用于光学物理、材料表征和数据存储。这一CRD申请对加拿大具有重大的社会经济意义，也将为培养和留住HQP，促进知识经济，巩固加拿大作为光子学和光学领域世界领导者的地位创造极好的机会。

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.