Mid-infrared semiconductor laser for alcohol detection

每年，加拿大和美国都有数以万计的人死于酒后驾车，这促使全球努力开发车载技术，以检测血液中的酒精浓度，并减少这些悲惨(且完全可以预防的)事故的发生。该项目将滑铁卢大学和多伦多酒精对策系统公司(ACS)的研究人员联合起来，开发一种新型的中红外量子级联激光器，可用作ACS基于红外光谱的酒精检测系统的定制和高效光源，该系统具有很强的车辆非接触式酒精互锁的潜力。该项目的目标将是从理论和实验上开发和测试一个工作的激光装置原型。主要目标包括：1)开发关于量子半导体异质结中的子带间跃迁和电子-电子、电子-声子相互作用的基本物理知识；2)探索和设计可用于所需的中红外激光光源的新的量子结构；3)制造和表征满足ACS和行业需求的量子级联激光器。这些新技术的开发和实施将有助于在这一不断增长的利基市场中确立ACS和加拿大的领先地位，并在全球范围内促进司机、乘客和行人的安全。该项目还将为研究生提供一个极好的机会，让他们获得光学元件、酒精监测技术和车载技术的实践经验，这些技能对于对加拿大经济具有战略重要性的行业(电子、汽车、制造、光电子)的职业生涯来说都是重要的技能。

Each year, tens of thousands of deaths in Canada and the U.S. are caused by alcohol-impaired driving, spurring global efforts to develop in-vehicle technologies that will detect blood alcohol concentration and reduce the occurrence of these tragic (and completely preventable) accidents. The proposed project brings together researchers from the University of Waterloo and Alcohol Countermeasure Systems Corp. (ACS), a Toronto-based company, to develop a novel middle-infrared quantum cascade laser that can be used as a customized and efficient light source for ACS' infrared-spectroscopy based alcohol detection system, which have strong potential as non-contact alcohol interlocks in vehicles. The goal of this project will be to develop and test a working prototype laser device both theoretically and experimentally. Key objectives include: 1) development of a comprehensive knowledge base about the underlying physics of intersubband transition and electron-electron, electron-phonon interactions occurring in the quantum semiconductor heterostructures; 2) to explore and design new quantum structures that can be used for the desired middle infrared laser source; 3) to fabricate and characterize quantum cascade lasers that satisfy the needs from ACS and the industry. Development and implementation of these novel technologies will help establish a leadership position for ACS and Canada within this growing niche market and promote driver, passenger and pedestrian safety worldwide. This project will also provide an excellent opportunity for graduate students to gain hands-on experience with optical components, alcohol monitoring technologies and in-vehicle technologies - all important skills for careers in the strategically important sectors (electronics, automotive, manufacture, photonics) to the Canadian economy.