DURIP: A high-coherence high-stability laser parametric oscillator for multi-spectral nonlinear dynamical spectroscopy and precision timing transfer
Abstract
The requested instrument is an ultrafast sub-100-fs Spectra-Physics laser oscillator with multi-spectral mid-infrared to visible coherent pulse trains, for broadband ultrafast spectroscopy and precision femtosecond timing transfer. With built-in dispersion compensation, this novel laser oscillator is broadly tunable from 690-nm to 1040-nm in the seed, and from 345- nm to 2500-nm in the parametric oscillator output, while preserving mode-locking continuously. Based on regenerative mode-locking, the ultrafast oscillator provides good stability, which when locked to our high-coherence (? 1-Hz linewidth) high-stability (? 170-kHz drift per day) laser, provides high-coherence and stable femtosecond pulses for multi-spectral material spectroscopy and precision timing transfer. The automated tuning provides nearly transform-limited output pulses down to sub-100-fs, to watch the early-time electron-hole dynamics in molecular and atomic spectroscopy spanning more than 2.8-octaves, and to serve as a low-jitter baseline clock reference for nonlinear dynamical synchronization and timing transfer. This requested instrumentation allows us to examine multi-spectral spectroscopy spanning more than an octave and precision timing transfer, enabling three example Navy and Defense applied translation and basic research capabilities. First (Capability 1), this instrument allows the measurements and understanding of ultrafast generation dynamics in chip-scale 1-?m nonlinear laser frequency combs. It enables ultrastable coherent visible and infrared for atomic field sensing and timing clocks. Second (Capability 2), this instrument enables the nonlinear synchronization and timing transfer between chip-scale nonlinear oscillators. This low jitter oscillator serves as a reference standard to characterize the link noise and ultimate limits in the timing and frequency transfer, supporting our efforts in chip-to-chip two-way clock synchronization between unmanned aerial vehicles, satellites and warfighters, and from ground to base-stations, and between unit to unit. Third (Capability 3), this requested mid-infrared frequency comb reference serves to verify the relative inaccuracy and uniformity of our microresonator frequency combs. This support the development of a chip-scale nonlinear oscillator for examining targeted chemical agents via mid-infrared absorption spectroscopy. The requested instrument budget is $220,000 and will be matched with $27,706.25 in funds from the investigator. Coupled with the precision 1-Hz laser and frequency metrology at UCLA, the requested equipment provides a one-of-its-kind instrumentation in the greater Los Angeles, San Diego and Santa Barbara metropolitan area. It serves as an open and readily-available instrument for the Department of Defense, enabling leading studies in multi-spectral nonlinear dynamical spectroscopy and precision timing transfer.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 20, 2021
- Source ID
- N000142112950
Entities
People
- Chee Wei Wong
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of California, Los Angeles