High average power difference-frequency generation in the mid-infrared

Principle Investigator: Dr Robbie Murray
Department: Physics
Lab: Femtosecond Optics Group
Funding Agency: Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) via the European Office of Aerospace Research and Development (EOARD)

Project summary:

The mid-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, typically defined as 3-15 µm, is an area of great interest for many applications, including spectroscopy, defensive infrared countermeasures, materials processing, and remote sensing, to name but a few.

However, directly emitting laser sources in this region are restricted to quantum cascade lasers, some exotic fibre laser solutions, and a handful of solid-state systems. The available sources in the mid-infrared often do not satisfy the demands from end-users, for ever greater average- and peak-powers, shorter pulses, and wider wavelength tuneability. Sources based on optical parametric wavelength conversion, employing nonlinear optics rather than direct laser emission to reach the mid-infrared, can reach these parameters. However, they can be costly, very complicated to operate and unstable against environmental perturbations.

In this project, we are developing novel parametric wavelength conversion architectures using cutting edge laser sources and newly developed nonlinear crystal materials. We are specifically targeting high average power sources based on simple, robust, single-pass conversion techniques.  This work is an international collaboration between researchers at Imperial College, the United States Airforce Research Laboratories in Dayton, OH (US) and BAE Systems in Nashua, NH (US).