Executive Summary : | This project aims to develop novel, compact, wavelength tunable, and efficient parametric sources of coherent radiation in the mid-IR part of the spectrum between 5 and 18 µm. These sources are in demand for applications in environmental monitoring, biomedicine, future communications, spectroscopic research, and defense. The research plans in two laboratories will be coherent, dictated by common main objectives and outputs, but strictly distinguished and have a complementary character. The main differences originate from the energy and average power levels achievable, both related to the repetition rate of the ns pulses. The joint results of the project will include the successful development of novel high energy and high average power tunable coherent sources in the mid-IR 5 to 18 µm. In both cases, the pulse durations will be of the order of 10 ns.
The main technique will be OPO, with differences in specific schemes and nonlinear crystals applied, dictated by the different temporal and energy regimes. The first OPO in India will be based on a singly resonant cavity for the signal, the shorter output wavelength with high extraction of the idler, the longer output wavelength to be used for pumping the 2nd stage. High efficiency in the 2nd OPO stage is only possible for a narrow band pump due to spectral acceptance requirements of the nonlinear crystal employed.
The primary objective of this project is to establish a bilateral research collaboration between the two groups, which can serve as a basis for an extended proposal on joint research. The participation of PhD students will enable them to acquire specific experimental experience, know-how, and skills at high international level and broaden their fields of interest and competence.
The expected outcomes include significant joint scientific results, publishable in established peer-review journals and reports at international conferences and topical meetings. The dissemination of the results based on novelty in the approaches or significant quantitative progress beyond the state of the art will be realized through joint publications in international peer-reviewed journals and reports at international conferences and topical meetings. |