| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/N09787/01 |
| Title: |
MID-INFRA-RED FLUORIDE WAVEGUIDE LASERS FABRICATED BY MOLECULAR BEAM EPITAXY |
| Principal Investigator: |
Shepherd, Professor DP |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Department: |
Optoelectronics Research Ctr (closed) |
| Organisation: |
University of Southampton |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 June 2000 |
Ends: |
31 May 2003 |
Value (£): |
208,452
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Optoelect. Devices & Circuits |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Electronics |
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Various laser technologies have been demonstrated in the mid-IR region, of which the most compact and efficient are ZBLAN fibre and semiconductor-based lasers. Here we propose that planar waveguide lasers, based on MBE-grown rare-earth-doped LaF3 layers, can offer some significant advantages. Similarly to fibre lasers, the guidance should lead to low-threshold devices and cw room-temperature operation at high powers. However, the lower phonon energy of LaF3 compared to ZBLAN should allow operation at wavelengths longer than the 3.9um to which such fibres are currently limited. In comparison to semiconductor-based sources, MBE-grown LaF3 lasers could have advantages in terms of cw operation at room temperature and energy storage for applications that require pulsed outputs. We have recently demonstrated the first laser action in an MBE-grown fluoride waveguide based on a Nd-doped LaF3 core and CaF2 substrate and cladding layers. In this proposal we aim to extend this work to other rare-earth dopants and demonstrate efficient and compact mid-IR laser devices. This will also require optimisation of the fabrication process for low propagation loss, a spectroscopic study of the mid-IR transitions of LaF3, and a study of efficient pumping mechanisms such as cascade lasing and co-doping.
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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 |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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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.soton.ac.uk |