SBIR PHASE I: Tunable Mid-Infrared Source for Spectroscopy

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将研究和设计一个可调谐红外源。多年来，光谱学家在很大程度上依赖于可调谐染料激光器和谐波发生器，通过它们在可见和紫外（UV）波长区域的特征光谱来探索分子反应和化合物。最近，固态参数振荡器已成为紫外、可见光和近红外（IR）领域不可或缺的工具。与这些波长区域相比，4到12微米的中红外区域是相对未开发的。虽然中红外具有丰富的分子旋转/振动光谱，但没有商业的、相干的、可调谐的中红外光谱源。第一阶段将在基于Nd:YAG激光器抽运的设计中开发这个重要的系统，Nd:YAG激光器是光谱学实验室中常见的一种激光器。第二阶段将建造一个适合实验室环境的中红外激光器原型，包括对设备的计算机控制。可调谐中红外光源将广泛应用于环境监测、化学和制药研究、微电子制造以及汽车和国防工业的燃烧研究。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will study and design a tunable infrared source. For many years, spectroscopists have depended heavily on tunable dye lasers and harmonic generators to explore molecular reactions and compounds by their characteristic spectra in the visible and ultraviolet (UV) wavelength regions. More recently, solid state parametric oscillators have become indispensible tools in the UV, visible, and near-infrared (IR). Compared to these wavelength regions, the mid-IR region of 4 to 12 microns is relatively unexplored. Although the mid-IR is rich in rotational/vibrational spectra for molecules, there are no commercial, coherent, tunable mid-IR sources available for spectroscopy. Phase I will develop this important system in a design based on pumping with an Nd:YAG laser, which is a common type of laser in spectroscopy laboratories. Phase II would build a prototype mid-IR laser with features conducive to the laboratory environment, including computer control of the device. A tunable mid-IR source would be used widely in environmental monitoring, chemical and pharmaceutical research, microelectronics manufacturing, and combustion research for the automotive and defense industries.