Development of PPLN based miniature and compact lasers

本提案的目标是开发用于激光显示应用的小型化绿色激光器，用于生物医学仪器应用的小型化紫/蓝/绿色激光器，以及用于环境监测的紧凑型中红外激光器。该计划的长期目标是加强与领先的激光制造商的合作，为加拿大工业提供高素质的人才和新的/改进的产品，并保持徐博士在麦克马斯特大学的MgO：PPLN研究的领先地位。激光显示行业对微型绿色激光器的需求非常强烈。例如，具有约1 W的输出功率和小于5 mm的厚度的微型绿色激光器被认为是用于皮科激光投影仪的使能技术，而在大屏幕激光投影仪中强烈需要具有小覆盖区（例如20 mm 2）的10 W阶绿色激光器。预计激光显示将是革命性的，为显示市场带来全新的视觉维度。另一方面，在生物仪器中需要微型紫/蓝/绿色激光器。生物医学仪器用激光器大多采用基于二次谐波产生（SHG）技术的二极管泵浦固体（DPSS）激光器。然而，必须减小DPSS激光器的尺寸。此外，在痕量气体的检测中需要紧凑的中红外激光器。已指出污染气体对人体健康有害。中红外激光吸收光谱技术因其高灵敏度和高选择性而被认为是检测污染气体最有效的技术。因此，一个负担得起的紧凑，室温下工作，波长可调谐的中红外激光器是至关重要的痕量气体检测。

The objectives of this proposal are to develop miniaturized green lasers for laser display application, miniaturized violet/blue/green lasers for biomedical instrumentation applications, and compact mid-IR lasers for environmental monitoring. The long-term objectives of the proposed program are to enhance collaborations with the leading laser manufacturers, provide Canadian industry with highly qualified personnel and new/improved products, and maintain the leading position of the research on MgO:PPLN in Dr. Xu's group at McMaster University. Miniature green lasers are strongly demanded in laser display industry. For example, a miniature green laser with an output power of about 1W and thickness of less than 5 mm is considered as an enabling technology for pico laser projectors, while 10W order green lasers with a small footprint (say 20 mm2) are strongly demanded in large screen laser projectors. It is expected that laser display will be revolutionary, bringing a whole new visual dimension to display market. On the other hand, miniature violet/blue/green lasers are required in bio-instruments. Most of the bio-instrumentation lasers have to rely on the diode pumped solid state (DPSS) lasers based on the second harmonic generation (SHG) technique. However, size of the DPSS lasers has to be reduced. In addition, compact mid-IR lasers are required in detection of trace gases. It has been pointed out that the pollutant gases are harmful to human health. Mid-infrared (mid-IR) laser absorption spectroscopy is considered to be the most effective technique to detect the pollutant gases because of its high sensitivity and selectivity. Therefore, an affordable compact, room-temperature operation, and wavelength tunable mid-IR laser is crucial to trace gas detection.