Development of high efficiency, small footprint, and low cost UV laser technology

工作在深紫外区的激光器和宽带光源被广泛用于研究和开发，以及许多领域和应用，例如制造、医疗和仪器。尽管现有的产品和解决方案，例如工作在红外区的固态激光器和非线性频率转换，可以满足不同的需求，但它们经常涉及批量实现，这给实现超紧凑、坚固和低成本的单元带来了挑战。因此，由于掺Yb光纤激光器理想的脉冲和光束特性以及可用的输出功率，人们对使用掺Yb光纤激光器取代固态激光器的兴趣与日俱增；此外，使用光纤增益介质允许在室温下运行，而不需要特殊的冷却要求，从而降低了功耗。基于充气空芯光子晶体光纤(HC-PCF)超连续谱(SC)产生的深紫外光光源的开发也引起了人们的兴趣。该项目建立在麦吉尔大学和O/E Land Inc.之间现有的合作基础上，专注于开发超紧凑、低成本和高功率的高稳定、高效率和卓越的光束质量的深紫外光源。将探索两个主要的研发推动力：(1)优化光学系统，以最大化非线性频率转换的效率；(2)通过充气的HC-PCF产生深紫外光。成功的项目成果将使O/E Land能够开发新的激光器和光源，以弥补技术差距，使其产品组合多样化，并使其在满足客户需求方面具有竞争优势。培训将为HQP提供发展技术知识的机会，并提高他们解决复杂问题和执行关键分析的能力；广泛的光电子行业和雇主非常需要的技能，包括光学元件和仪器供应商，如MPB Communications(蒙特利尔，昆士兰)，QPS Photronics(蒙特利尔，昆士兰)和OZ Optics(渥太华，安大略省)。

Lasers and broadband optical sources operating in the deep UV are used extensively in research anddevelopment, as well as in many fields and applications, e.g., manufacturing, medical, and instrumentation.While existing products and solutions, e.g., combining solid state lasers operating in the IR with nonlinearfrequency conversion, can satisfy different demands, they often involve bulk implementations which createschallenges for achieving ultra-compact, rugged, and low cost units. Thus, there is growing interest in usingYb-doped fiber lasers to replace solid state lasers due to their ideal pulse and beam characteristics and availableoutput power; moreover, using a fiber gain medium allows for room temperature operation with no specificcooling requirements, thereby reducing power consumption. There has also been recent interest in developingdeep UV sources based on supercontinuum (SC) generation in gas-filled hollow-core photonic crystal fibers(HC-PCFs). Such approaches offer the advantage of simplifying implementation and packaging.This project builds on existing collaborations between McGill University and O/E Land Inc. and focuses ondeveloping ultra-compact, low cost, and high-power deep UV sources with high stability, high efficiency, andexcellent beam quality. Two main R&D thrusts will be explored: (1) optimizing optical systems formaximizing the efficiency of nonlinear frequency conversion and (2) deep UV generation via gas-filledHC-PCFs. A successful project outcome will allow O/E Land to develop new lasers and sources to address atechnology gap, diversify their product portfolio, and give them a competitive advantage in meeting theirclients' needs. Training will provide HQP with opportunities to develop technical knowledge and improvetheir ability to solve complex problems and perform critical analysis; skills which are sought highly in thebroad photonics sector and employers including optical component and instrumentation suppliers such as MPBCommunications (Montreal, QC), QPS Photronics (Montreal, QC), and OZ Optics (Ottawa, ON).