AIR Option 1: Technology Translation - Portable, High-Power, Tunable CW Terahertz Source by Intra-Cavity Type-II Conversion in T-Cavity Two-Chip VECSEL

这个PFI：空气技术翻译项目专注于翻译和开发便携式、高功率、可调谐的基于半导体的太赫兹(太赫兹)源。该技术基于新型双芯片垂直外腔表面发射激光器(VECSEL)的高功率、宽调谐双色激光器的独特特性。利用VECSEL的高Q值正交极化内腔循环功率，为太赫兹辐射的第二类差频产生(DFG)提供了高效的手段。目前的太赫兹光源存在效率低、输出功率在几十微瓦范围内、工作温度有限或体积大、成本高等问题。通过结合成熟的低成本半导体技术，在两芯片腔内产生太赫兹有望克服这些限制，提供10毫瓦的高连续波功率，填补了太赫兹技术的一个重大空白。通过在0.3-30 nm范围内精确调整两个芯片之间的波长差，并选择合适的非线性晶体，可以实现0.1-10THz范围内的目标频率。Air Innovation合作伙伴关系提供了在紧凑型原型中制造和演示高功率连续太赫兹光源的方法，改变了太赫兹技术的未来。该公司的业务目标是将一种小巧、低成本、可调的太赫兹源商业化，覆盖广泛的太赫兹频谱。在未来十年，高功率太赫兹光源将在包括医疗、制药和制造在内的各个科技领域产生革命性的影响。这将有助于提高美国在商业和国防市场的竞争力。这种新型激光技术的商业化将影响化学和生物传感新工具的发展，具有长期的社会和经济影响。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating and developing a portable, high power, tunable semiconductor-based THz (terahertz) source. The technology is based on unique characteristics of high-power widely-tunable two-color laser in a novel two-chip vertical external-cavity surface-emitting laser (VECSEL). Access to the VECSELs' high-Q intracavity circulating power with orthogonal polarization provide highly efficient mean for type-II difference frequency generation (DFG) of THz radiation. Current THz sources suffer from low-efficiency, low output power in the range of tens of micro-Watts, limited operating temperature or large size and high cost. The intracavity THz generation in the two-chip cavity promises to overcome the limitations by providing high CW (continuous wave) power in the 10s of milli-Watts combined with mature and low-cost semiconductor technology, filling a major gap in THz technology. Targeted frequency in the 0.1 to 10 THz range will be achieved by accurately adjusting wavelength difference between the two chips in the 0.3-30 nm and selecting a suitable nonlinear crystal. The Air innovation partnership provides means to fabricate and demonstrate a high-power CW THz source in a compact prototype, transforming the future of THz technology. The business objective is to commercialize a compact, low-cost tunable THz source covering the broad THz spectrum. The transformative impact of high-power THz source will be in various fields of science and technology including medical, pharmaceutical and manufacturing in the next decade. This will contribute to the U.S. competitiveness in commercial and defense market. The commercialization of this novel laser technology will impact development of new tools in chemical and biological sensing with long term social and economic impact.