MRI: Development of a robust, high-repetition rate, ultrafast mid-IR laser source for spectroscopy and sensing

目的：光谱学利用电磁波谱的中红外区域对大量领域的科学分析至关重要。MIR振动跃迁是偶极子允许的，并且可以呈现一个大的相互作用截面，允许敏感和特定的分子种类检测。知识优势：为了满足对强大、紧凑、节能和相对廉价的超短脉冲MIR辐射的需求，我们将开发一种新型的超快MIR光谱源。该源将以纤维为基础，因此，它的低成本和便携性将成为广泛的化学和生物应用的有效源。该源将把MIR光谱的应用扩展到一个大的社区，通过短脉冲和高重复率促进新的实验。短脉冲和宽光谱带宽的结合有望揭示使用时间分辨光谱的新见解，以及大气样品中化学物质的指纹。更广泛的影响：由于这种设备将大大降低成本，并且相对容易使用，我们预计它将对学生教育产生实质性的广泛影响。我们计划让激光构造和光谱学应用方面的本科生参与进来。在我们的合作院校和通过暑期本科课程（REU, McNair， LSAMP）以及科罗拉多州立大学的学生的参与将使我们能够鼓励来自不同背景的学生。我们还将把这个激光源纳入研究生课程的三门课程中，包括欧洲经委会和化学。

Objective:Spectroscopy harnessing the mid-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum is critical for scientific analysis for a vast array of fields. MIR vibrational transitions are dipole allowed, and can present a large interaction cross-section allowing for sensitive and specific detection of molecular species. Intellectual Merit:To address the need for robust, compact, energy efficient and relatively inexpensive ultrashort pulse MIR radiation, we will develop a novel ultrafast MIR spectral source. The source will be fiber-based and thus, tts low cost and portability will lead to an effective source for a wide range of chemical and biological applications. This source will extend applications of MIR spectroscopy to a large community, facilitating new experiments through the short pulses and high repetition rate available. The combination of short pulses and broad spectral bandwidths promise to reveal new insights using time-resolved spectroscopy, as well as the fingerprinting of chemical species in atmospheric samples.Broader Impacts:Because this equipment will be substantially less expensive and relatively easy to use, we expect it to have a substantial broad impact on student education. We plan to involve undergraduate researchers in both laser construction and spectroscopy applications. Involvement by students at our partner institutions and through summer undergraduate programs (REU, McNair, LSAMP) will as well as from CSU will allow us to encourage students from diverse backgrounds. We will also incorporate this laser source into three courses in our graduate curricula, both in ECE and Chemistry.