Infrared supercontinuum light source

中红外激光或太赫兹光源的使用在包括天文学、医学、传感和安全在内的各种学科中都在显著增加。然而，可用的中红外激光来源有限。为了开发中红外激光和太赫兹光源，人们对量子级联激光器进行了近十年的深入研究，但量子级联激光器的工作温度要求很高，这严重限制了其应用。另一方面，利用非二氧化硅高非线性介质产生中红外光和超连续谱被认为是一种可靠和可行的技术。 在全球范围内，在开发用于中红外激光光源的特种光纤和波导方面取得了重大进展。例如，魁北克的CorActive和INO已经开发出用于中红外应用的高度非线性硫化物纤维。 除了量子级联激光器外，开发中红外激光器通常还有两种方法。一种方法是利用特种光纤和光纤锁模激光器，利用级联受激拉曼效应产生中红外窄带光束。实现中红外激光器的第二种方法是利用特种光纤和光纤锁模激光器产生的超连续谱。 在本项目中，我们将研究利用特种光纤和InP量子点锁模激光器产生中红外超连续谱。如果成功，该项目将生产出一种低成本、紧凑的中红外激光光源。 预计该项目的最终结果将是一个从1600 nm到4000 nm的高输出功率超连续谱。

The use of mid infrared lasers or THz sources is increasing markedly across a variety of disciplines, including astronomy, medicine, and sensing and security. However, there are limited sources of mid-infrared lasers available. In order to develop mid infrared laser and THz sources, quantum cascade lasers have been intensively researched for a decade; however, cryogenic operating temperatures are required, which limits their application severely. Alternatively, using non-silica high nonlinear media to generate mid infrared light and supercontinuum has been considered a reliable and feasible technology. Globally, significant progress has been made in developing speciality fibers and waveguides for use in mid infrared laser sources. For example, CorActive and INO in Quebec have developed highly nonlinear chalcogenide fibers for mid infrared applications. In addition to quantum cascade lasers, there are typically two methods for developing mid-infrared lasers. One method is to generate mid infrared narrow band light beam based on cascaded stimulated Raman effect using the specialty fibers and fiber-based mode-locked lasers. The second method to achieve mid infrared lasers is to use supercontinuum generated by using specialty fibers and fiber-based mode locked lasers. In this project, we will investigate generation of mid infrared supercontinuum using specialty fibers and InP quantum dot mode locked lasers. If successful, this project will yield a low-cost and compact mid-infrared laser source. The final outcome of this project is expected to be a supercontinuum spanning from 1600 nm to 4000 nm with high output power.