Chip-Scale, Broadband Mid-Infrared Frequency Comb for Ultra-Sensitive Trace Gas Detection
Abstract
Sensitive spectroscopic detection of trace gases is essential for broad applications ranging from security screening, medical diagnostics, industrial process control, air pollution monitoring, to climate research. Many important applications, particularly DoD-related applications in the detection of trace chemical and biological species, have critical requirements on high sensitivity, high spectral selectivity, multi-component sensing capability, system miniaturization and integration, in-situ real-time fast operation, and potential standoff remote operation. For this purpose, we proposed to explore and develop a novel chip-scale broadband mid-infrared (MIR) optical frequency comb (OFC) in the spectral region 3-6 m, on the silicon carbide (SiC) device platform, based upon a new mechanism of comb generation and phase locking. The proposed approach will utilize a design and fabrication methodology that recognizes and leverages the fact that the proposed comb generation mechanism exhibits flexible spectral tailorability of Kerr frequency comb, uniquely enabling highly efficient phase locked MIR comb generation. We proposed a two-phase program consisting of a single task Broadband phase-locked mid-infrared optical frequency comb generation. Phase I focuses on the science and development of targeted comb sources and related components. In Phase II we will further improve the comb performance for final targeted metrics.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 20, 2016
- Source ID
- W31P4Q1510007
Entities
People
- Qiang Lin
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
- University of Rochester