Edinburgh: New high power laser source patent pending

Heriot-Watt University (Edinburgh, Scotland) has patent pending for a high power laser source in the femtosecond pulse range (sub 500-fs).

With the Proof of Concept design funded through an UK EPSRC Follow on Fund grant this tunable ultrafast OPO laser source is suitable for application within micromachining, waveguide fabrication, and bio-imaging techniques such as multi-photon, Raman, or CARS spectroscopy in the NIR.

The design is such that it offers the benefits of higher pulse energies (up to 1 µJ/ pulse) combined with variable repetition rates, starting from single pulses on demand up to rates approaching 10 MHz. This provides a highly flexible, reliable, and tunable output covering the NIR (1.5 - 1.8 µm) spectral range.

Key Benefits

• High pulse energy – bridging the gap between conventional OPOs & OPAs
• Intermediate range of repetition rates – between that of OPOs & OPAs
• Tunable output wavelengths – Signal: 1.5 - 1.8 µm; Idler: 2.5 – 4.5 µm
• Suited to multi-photon bio-imaging applications in microscopy
• Micromachining and waveguide inscription in glasses and semiconductors (Si, Ge), which are entirely inaccessible with current Nd- or Yb-based sources
• Long-range spectroscopy – explosives detection
• Broadband source – laser ranging & security imaging

Applications

• BioPhotonic Imaging including CARS, Multiphoton & RAMAN spectroscopy
• Long Range Spectroscopy - detection of explosives & gases
• Waveguide Inscription in Silicon & Germanium
• Micromachining of Silicon & Germanium substrates

IP Status

Proof of concept has been demonstrated on an optical bench through a development grant (EPSRC project EP/E016863/1);

IPR exists through GB & US patent applications (WO2010/13676A1, priority filing - May 2009).

A white paper presented at CLEO 2009 titled “Yb: fiber laser pumped high-energy picosecond optical parameter oscillator” by T P Lamour outlines a prototype.

The technology is available for licensing in all fields of use.

More information: www.ultrafast.hw.ac.uk