| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/C509919/1 |
| Title: |
Generation Of Terahertz Radiation By Optical Parametric Oscillators |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dunn, Professor MH |
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| Department: |
Physics and Astronomy |
| Organisation: |
University of St Andrews |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 January 2005 |
Ends: |
31 December 2006 |
Value (£): |
235,650
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| No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Often referred to as the terahertz gap because of the lack of suitable sources, that part of the electromagnetic spectrum with frequencies between 0.5 and 10 THz is now recognised as one with enormous potential in a wide range of inter-disciplinary areas encompassing science, medicine, and engineering. Applications of THz radiation include spectroscopy of bio-molecules, medical imaging, three-dimensional structural analysis, security/defence applications, last-mile communications, and a spectral window for astronomy. The nonlinear process of optical parametric generation has proved in the recent past to be an effective and flexible means for the production of tunable radiation over continuous spectral ranges extending from the ultraviolet to the mid-infrared, and on all timescales from ultrashort (femtosecond) pulses to continuous-wave. The current proposal aims to implement and explore a number of novel ideas for parametric generation techniques in order to cover the terahertz gap . Novel resonator geometries along with innovations in the engineering of periodicallypoled nonlinear gain media so as to optimise the nonlinear wave interactions involved in the parametric generation process itself will be explored with the aim of developing compact (and hence portable) all-solid-state sources that operate at room temperature, and where the THz radiation so produced is diffractionlimited, has narrow linewidth, is at unprecedented power levels for this spectral region, and is continuously tunable over extensive and readily-selectable intervals. The successful development of such sources will play a significant role in advancing the applications of THz radiation discussed above.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.st-and.ac.uk |