All Integrated Ultrafast Mid-Infrared Fiber Lasers
Abstract
This main aim of this project is to develop a fully-integrated hybrid chip-fiber laser platform that will enable the generation of ultrafast mid-infrared laser pulses and of coherent ultrabroadband mid-infrared radiation in a compact and robust format that is compatible with instrumentation requirements for portable and thus field-deployable analytical tools. Such systems, while virtually non-existent at present, will have tremendous impact on various aspects of society including monitoring pollutant levels in the environment, non-invasive breath analysis for early disease detection as well as the detection of hazardous substances with unprecedented sensitivity. The ambitious goals of this proposal will be achieved by generating new knowledge in mid-infrared material science and by answering open research questions in ultrafast laser dynamics and nonlinear optics in the mid-infrared spectral region. As a central aspect of this work, photonic chips will be designed and then fabricated via femtosecond laser direct-inscription into custom-made zirconium-hafnium fluoride glass substrates. These novel devices will be fully compatible with existing mid-infrared optical fiber technology. The assembled team of senior key investigators and international collaborators combines complementary expertise in fiber laser science, laser-induced material modification, glass chemistry, nanomaterial science and nonlinear optics and is as such uniquely positioned to address the scientific challenges of this project. The work that is described in this proposal is strongly underpinned by recent breakthroughs in ultrafast mid-infrared fiber laser research that were made by researchers at Macquarie University and that were enabled by generous support from the Asian Office of Aerospace RandD (AOARD). We now seek to leverage these achievements and by doing so, to elevate ultrafast mid-infrared fiber laser technology to the next level.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 20, 2022
- Source ID
- FA23861914049
Entities
People
- Alex Fuerbach
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Macquarie University
- United States Air Force