Development of supercontinuum optical sources

在这一合作项目的框架下，将开发出中红外波长范围为2.0微米至12.0微米的超紧凑型低能耗光源。为此，我们建议使用硫系玻璃作为主要的工程材料，因为它在中红外波段具有独特的非线性和透明性。开发的光源包括用于紧凑型化学传感器设备的超连续和可调谐激光光源。这些光源回应了目前中红外照明手段的缺乏，主要用于工业和生物医学社区。 该项目涉及麦吉尔大学和Coractive High-Tech之间的密切合作。一起， 我们带来了硫化物玻璃净化、光纤和光源架构的集体专业知识。参与该项目的劳动力包括两名博士水平的候选人，他们将成为这一创新研究领域的专家。6名本科水平的学生也将被介绍进行实验研究。 加拿大工业将从该项目框架内培养的知识产权和高素质人才中受益。在麦吉尔，我们已经在硫系微丝的研究过程中开发了一项专利。随着中红外对光源的重要需求，以及硫系玻璃在这一波长区域的强大潜力，我们打算开发一种独特的IP包，为加拿大社会创造财富。来自Coractive高科技的行业合作者通过提供现金和实物捐助，有力地参与了该项目。此外，鉴于他们与光电子市场的密切互动，他们为项目的方向提供了宝贵的建议。Coractive是一家特种纤维行业，将非常适合利用IP包。

Ultra-compact and low energy consuming optical sources in the wavelength range of 2.0 um to 12.0 µm of the mid-infrared will be developed in the framework of this collaborative project. For this purpose, we propose to use chalcogenide glasses as the main engineering material, with their unique nonlinearity and transparency in the mid-infrared. The optical sources developed include supercontinuum and tunable laser sources to be used in compact chemical sensors devices. These sources respond to the current lack of illumination means in the mid-infrared, mainly for the industrial and biomedical communities. The project involves close collaborations in between McGill University and Coractive High-Tech. Together, we bring a collective expertise with chalcogenide glass purification, optical fibers and optical sources architectures. The workforce involved in this project includes two candidates at the PhD level who will become experts in this innovative field of research. Six students at the BEng level will also be introduced to experimental research. The Canadian industry will benefit from the intellectual property and highly qualified personnel developed in the framework of this project. At McGill, we have already developed one patent in the course of the research on chalcogenide microwires. With the important need for optical sources in the mid-infrared and the strong potential of chalcogenide glass in this wavelength region, we intend to develop a unique IP package that will generate wealth for the Canadian society. The industrial collaborators from Coractive high-tech are strongly involved in the project by providing cash and in-kind contribution. In addition, they are source of precious advice for the direction of the project in light of their close interaction with the photonics market. Coractive, a specialty fiber industry, would be perfectly suited to take advantage of the IP package.