Development of high efficiency, small footprint, and low cost UV laser technology

在深UV中工作的激光器和宽带光源广泛用于研究和开发以及许多领域和应用中，例如，虽然现有的产品和解决方案，例如，将在IR中工作的固态激光器与非线性频率转换相结合，可以满足不同的需求，它们通常涉及批量实现，这为实现超紧凑、坚固和低成本的单元带来了挑战。因此，由于其理想的脉冲和光束特性以及可用的输出功率，人们对使用掺Yb光纤激光器来取代固态激光器的兴趣越来越大;此外，使用光纤增益介质允许室温操作而没有特定的冷却要求，从而降低功耗。基于充气空芯光子晶体光纤（HC-PCF）产生超连续谱（SC）的深紫外光源的发展也引起了人们的兴趣。该项目建立在麦吉尔大学和O/E Land Inc.之间现有的合作基础上。并致力于开发超小型、低成本、高稳定性、高效率、高光束质量的大功率深紫外光源。本论文的研究方向主要有两个：（1）优化光学系统以提高非线性频率转换的效率;（2）利用充气的HC-PCF产生深紫外光。一个成功的项目结果将使O/E Land能够开发新的激光器和光源，以解决技术差距，使其产品组合多样化，并在满足客户需求方面获得竞争优势。培训将为HQP提供发展技术知识的机会，提高他们解决复杂问题和进行批判性分析的能力;广泛的光子学部门和雇主高度追求的技能，包括光学元件和仪器供应商，如MPBCommunications（蒙特利尔，QC），QPS Photronics（蒙特利尔，QC）和OZ Optics（渥太华，ON）。

Lasers and broadband optical sources operating in the deep UV are used extensively in research anddevelopment, as well as in many fields and applications, e.g., manufacturing, medical, and instrumentation.While existing products and solutions, e.g., combining solid state lasers operating in the IR with nonlinearfrequency conversion, can satisfy different demands, they often involve bulk implementations which createschallenges for achieving ultra-compact, rugged, and low cost units. Thus, there is growing interest in usingYb-doped fiber lasers to replace solid state lasers due to their ideal pulse and beam characteristics and availableoutput power; moreover, using a fiber gain medium allows for room temperature operation with no specificcooling requirements, thereby reducing power consumption. There has also been recent interest in developingdeep UV sources based on supercontinuum (SC) generation in gas-filled hollow-core photonic crystal fibers(HC-PCFs). Such approaches offer the advantage of simplifying implementation and packaging.This project builds on existing collaborations between McGill University and O/E Land Inc. and focuses ondeveloping ultra-compact, low cost, and high-power deep UV sources with high stability, high efficiency, andexcellent beam quality. Two main R&D thrusts will be explored: (1) optimizing optical systems formaximizing the efficiency of nonlinear frequency conversion and (2) deep UV generation via gas-filledHC-PCFs. A successful project outcome will allow O/E Land to develop new lasers and sources to address atechnology gap, diversify their product portfolio, and give them a competitive advantage in meeting theirclients' needs. Training will provide HQP with opportunities to develop technical knowledge and improvetheir ability to solve complex problems and perform critical analysis; skills which are sought highly in thebroad photonics sector and employers including optical component and instrumentation suppliers such as MPBCommunications (Montreal, QC), QPS Photronics (Montreal, QC), and OZ Optics (Ottawa, ON).