This project is being undertaken in the well established laser and optoelectronic systems laboratories of the three partner institutions. All of these partners have experience in the development of lasers and related devices and have wide ranging test and diagnostic facilities that will be used in the work programme described. Further information about each group's research activity with this project can be found below. Further information will be provided as the project progresses.
The implementation of external and remotely-controlled schemes to determine and select the parameters of a lasers output (power, pulse duration, prf, chirp etc.) has the potential to revolutionise the user compatibility of ultrafast lasers. In light of this the research group at St Andrews are currently working with M-Squared lasers and other parties to produce ultrashort-pulse laser systems that can be remote controlled from anywhere in the world. We currently have a 1040nm Yb:KYW laser system that is operated through an M-Squared ICEBLOC system. This system allows control of the laser through the internet, via a simple web page, thus allowing a non-laser specialist to operate the system. In the near future we will be integrating this type of technology with a range of novel cavity geometries and gain materials to open up a host of applications in biophotonics, micro-machining and the data-comms sector at several different wavelength regions. This work is being carried out at the University of St Andrews Ultrashort-Pulsed Laser Research Group.
The Cambridge contribution will support research into vibronic lasers and SESAM structures, and also develop new forms of monolithic high power diode lasers. The work in this part of the project has the following objectives:
• Building on the knowledge base of vibronic laser design and recent results on quantum dot ultrafast lasers, the work will seek to further reduce the duration of generated pulses towards the 100fs level
• By incorporating new cavity designs, low repetition rate and high power devices (>1W average) will be developed for the first time, thus opening up a very large range of new applications for diode lasers
• Cavity designs that incorporate electronic control will be used to enact pulse shaping and manipulation for the first time
The Cambridge activity includes modelling, design, fabrication and assessment, with theoretical studies having been carried out to determine novel double absorber tapered mode locked device structures which have led to 500fs pulse generation with an element of pulse duration control. Related work has led to regimes where viable electronic control can be expected. In parallel, techniques for high power pulse generation at reduced repetition rates have also been carried out.
Strathclyde’s role within the project is to develop key components that will allow remote control of the ultrafast lasers and demonstrate novel functional materials and structures for mode locking. Figuring among these responsibilities are:
• The design, fabrication and characterisation of novel electrically-controllable or low-cost semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors (SESAMs) in inorganic semiconductors and nano-composites.
• The fabrication of waveguides and mirrors in doped dielectric crystals by ICP etching.
• Develop and source MEMS elements for ultrafast laser (wavelength, dispersion) control.
• Demonstration of novel SESAMs in doped-dielectric lasers and Semiconductor Disk Lasers.
