Executive Summary : | The project aims to develop multiplexed fiber lasers based dual frequency combs for spectroscopic applications in the near infrared to mid infrared region. Optical frequency combs (OFC) have revolutionized precise frequency measurement since their invention in the late 90s. They produce a spectrum consisting of millions of equally spaced, sharp lines, similar to continuous-wave lasers emitting at different frequencies. This technology is used in molecular absorption spectroscopy, gas content determination, combustion diagnosis, and human breath analysis. However, the OFC-based Fourier Transform spectrometer (FTIR) has a major drawback: the update rate of high spectral resolution is limited by the scanning rate of the mechanical delay line of the Michelson interferometer. To address this, an innovative method called dual-comb spectroscopy (DCs) is proposed. DCs requires two mutually coherent OFCs, which are achieved through tight phase locking of individual OFCs. This restricts the development of such sources for societal applications and accessible field trials outside laboratories. The project proposes developing novel ultrafast fiber lasers that enable double-soliton operation from a single laser cavity, ensuring mutual coherence through common-mode noise cancelation. By leveraging various cavity parameters and degrees of freedom, such multiplexed lasers can be developed. These "next-gen" lasers have potential to revolutionize areas like spectroscopy, sensing, bio-medical diagnostics, and imaging. The next step is to design amplifiers for these lasers to maintain mutual coherence after amplification. The amplified dual frequency combs will then be used to create Mid Infrared (MIR) radiation through nonlinear optics. |