Repairs to a femtosecond laser system essential for nonlinear optical studies

赫瑞瓦特大学非线性光学小组的大部分研究都是基于单个飞秒激光系统。该激光系统由一个再生放大器组成，该放大器由锁模飞秒激光器播种，并由Q开关纳秒激光器（Merlin）泵浦。该放大器的输出用于泵浦光学参量放大器，该光学参量放大器通过几个非线性转换过程提供对400-3200 nm的飞秒辐射的访问。Merlin泵浦激光器是腔内倍频Nd：YLF，在527 nm处输出平均功率高达10 W。该激光器安装于1998年（GR/L 62542），采用闪光灯泵浦，现已过时。现在需要更换的正是这种泵浦激光器。此外，再生放大器非常不稳定，并且需要更换光学部件，例如，由于这两个关键光学部件的劣化，在过去9年中，Pockel盒和压缩器光栅都变得有损耗。两个EPSRC资助的赠款和另外三个涉及DTA博士生的项目的成功完成取决于该激光系统的持续运行。两名博士后研究助理经常使用这个系统以及各种访问研究人员。我们的要求是资金，使我们能够修复激光系统，并恢复到最佳规格。该提案中描述的研究将导致开发紧凑型激光器，这对传感和医疗应用至关重要，以及对支撑现代光子学的新型半导体器件的基本理解，用于电信，显示和信号处理。

Much of the research of the Nonlinear Optics Group at Heriot-Watt University is based around a single femtosecond laser system. This laser system consists of a regenerative amplifier that is seeded by a mode-locked femtosecond and pumped by a Q-switched nanosecond laser (Merlin). The output of this amplifier is used to pump an optical parametric amplifier that, via several nonlinear conversion processes, provides access to femtosecond radiation from 400-3200 nm. The Merlin pump laser is an intra-cavity doubled Nd: YLF proving up to 10W of output average power at 527 nm. This laser was installed in 1998 (GR/L62542), is flash lamp pumped and is now an obsolete model. It is this pump laser that is now in need of replacement. In addition, the regenerative amplifier is very unstable and requires replacement of optical components e.g. Pockel's cell and compressor grating that have both become lossy over the past 9 years due to the deterioration of these two key optical components. The successful completion of two EPSRC funded grants and a further three projects involving DTA PhD students are dependent on the continued operation of this laser system. Two postdoctoral research associates regularly use this system as well as various visiting researchers. Our request is for funds to enable us to repair the laser system and return it to optimum specifications. The research described in this proposal will result in the development of compact lasers which are essential for sensing and medical applications as well as the fundamental understanding of the new semiconductor devices which underpin modern photonics for telecom, displays and signal processing.