Mid Infrared Gas Sensing and Imaging System (MIG-SIS)

Project title: Mid Infrared Gas Sensing and Imaging System (MIG-SIS)

MIG-SIS project will develop and demonstrate 2um pump laser sources optimised for the optical parametric amplification (OPA) of chirped Quantum Cascade (QC) Lasers for sensing and imaging applications. QC Laser stand-off trace gas detection is currently limited by the watt level peak power they emit. As a consequence (and dependant upon the particular detection scheme) range is restricted to ~1’s – 10’s metres.
The primary technical motivator of this project is therefore to extend the range of QC Laser based active stand-off gas detection system through a significant increase in its illumination and range capabilities via the use of an OPA. This project will focus on combining 2 different photon generation mechanisms: non-linear optics (Q-switched solid state-laser pumped OPAs) and direct generation (QC Lasers).