SBIR Phase I: High Power Mid-Infrared Vertical External Cavity Surface emitting Lasers With Gain Coupled Near-Infrared Outputs

由于激光光源设计的灵活性，这一小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目的广泛影响/商业潜力是广泛的。拟议工作的目标是以一种创新的方法开发一种新的紧凑型、低成本、高功率的激光光源，其波长目前很难实现，同时提供附加功能，而不需要额外的功率消耗。这将使激光封装变得非常高效。除了丰富的中红外应用外，激光器的设计还可以很容易地扩展到远红外、太赫兹、可见光和紫外线光谱的其他波长。这种方法可以在许多技术领域产生重大影响。该计划范围内的发现将对中到远红外激光产生革命性影响，并有能力惠及多个学科，包括：激光外科、牙科外科、皮肤科、大气监测、化学传感，以及包括激光雷达和激光测距在内的广泛国防应用。除了技术影响外，拟议的研究还将涵盖多个科学和工程学科，包括高能材料特性、半导体物理、非线性光学和激光物理，这将提供一个独特的研究机会。这项小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目将满足在中红外(中IR)光谱区域运行的多功能激光光源的需求。目前可用的激光光源的能力是有限的。波长选择和最大输出功率是有限的，效率、可靠性和成本也是问题。采用多芯片排列的高功率垂直外腔表面发射激光器(VECSEL)有可能达到在非常紧凑的封装中不易获得的波长。此外，多个激光腔的引入提供了一种在不消耗额外功率的情况下在近红外中产生输出的方法。采用高功率双谐振型双色T腔VECSEL，可实现高效的差频转换。VECSEL芯片将通过一种新颖的设计展示中红外(8-12微米)光谱区域的高功率输出，其中VECSEL芯片将包含多个激光腔，可以在同一设备的近红外范围内提供广泛的光谱覆盖。这将提高效率，并提供更多功能，如激光瞄准和测距，而不需要额外的电力消耗。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I projec is wide ranging due to the flexibility of the laser source design. The goal of the proposed work is an innovative approach to the development of a new class of compact, low cost, high-power laser sources at wavelengths that are currently difficult to achieve while providing addition functionality with no additional power consumption. This will make a highly efficient laser package. In addition to the application rich mid-IR, the laser design can easily be extended to other wavelengths in the far-IR, THz, visible, and UV portions of the spectrum. The approach can have a significant impact in many technical fields. The discoveries made within the scope of this program will have a transformative impact in mid- to far-IR lasers and has the ability to benefit disciplines including: laser surgery, dental surgery, dermatology, atmospheric monitoring, chemical sensing, and a broad range of defense applications including LADAR and laser range finding. In addition to the technological impact, the proposed research will cover multiple disciplines in science and engineering including high energy material properties, semiconductor physics, nonlinear optics and laser physics which will provide a unique research opportunity.This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will address the need for versatile laser sources operating in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectral region. Currently available lasers sources are limited in their capabilities. Wavelength selection and maximum output powers are limited, and efficiency, reliability and costs are also issues. High-power vertical external cavity surface emitting lasers (VECSEL) which employs multiple chip arrangements have the potential to reach wavelengths that are not easily attainable in a very compact package. In addition, the introduction of multiple laser cavities provides a means for generating outputs in the near-IR with no additional power consumption. Using a high power doubly-resonant two-color T-cavity VECSEL, efficient difference frequency conversion will be achieved. High power outputs in the mid-IR (8-12 µm) spectral region will be demonstrated through a novel design in which the VECSEL chips will contain multiple laser cavities that can provide broad spectral coverage in the near-IR from the same device. This will lead to enhanced efficiency and provide more capabilities such as laser targeting and range finding with no additional power consumption.