Acquisition of a Tunable, High Power, Mid-Infrared Laser

这项提议是为了获得高功率、宽可调、窄带宽的MIR激光器。光谱的中红外(MIR)区富含分子的振动跃迁和原子与纳米系统中激发态之间的电子跃迁。这些跃迁可用于监测用于健康和环境应用的痕量气体，探测分子的基本结构，或操纵和控制原子的内部和外部属性。对于这些应用，迫切需要一种高功率、宽可调、窄带宽的MIR激光器。电子激光系统公司的SpectrStar连续波光参量振荡器(OPO)激光器的输出波长为2-5微米，是第一个满足这一需求的商用激光器。随着新技术的发展，MIR光谱区域正变得越来越重要，对该激光系统的投资将使莱斯公司的光子学研究人员能够为该领域做出重大贡献，并培训下一代科学家和工程师利用这些进展。更广泛的影响涉及学生教育以及在多样性方面的推广和努力。

This proposal is for acquisition of a high power, broadly tunable, narrow bandwidth MIR laser. The mid-infrared (MIR) region of the spectrum is rich in vibrational transitions of molecules and electronic transitions between excited states in atoms and nanoscale systems. These transitions can be used to monitor trace gases for health and environmental applications, probe the underlying structure of molecules, or manipulate and control the internal and external properties of atoms. For these applications, there is a great need for a high power, broadly tunable, narrow bandwidth MIR laser. The SpectroStar continuous wave optical parametric oscillator (OPO) laser from Electronic Laser System Corporation, with output wavelength from 2-5 microns, is the first commercially available laser to fill this need. The MIR region of the spectrum is becoming increasingly important as new technologies develop, and investment in this laser system will allow photonics researchers at Rice to make major contributions to this field and train the next generation of scientists and engineers to capitalize on these advances. The broader impacts involve student education as well as outreach and efforts in diversity.