Novel low cost electronically tunable external cavity laser for high resolution spectroscopy

External Cavity Diode Lasers (ECDL) can replace the more complex lasers in scientific &
commercial applications e.g. high resolution spectroscopy but the mechanical wavelength
tuning approach used by current ECDLs fundamentally restricts their tuning range (flexibility)
and resolution (linewidth) and prohibits synchronous multi-wavelength operation. Mitigation
measures add significant complexity & cost. 2TP has identified an opportunity to use phaseonly
holography create an ECDL without these limitations, creating a value step change. 2TPs
project will prove enabling technologies for a superior tunable ECDL that will offer improved
performance & affordability for the user, thus capturing market share for 2TP.
To deliver the proposed project 2TP will need to address challenges in the areas of:
• Chemistry –research liquid crystal chemistries & spectral modelling of gas absorption
lines
• Physics – modelling, experiments with high resolution filter & low cost lasers
• Software – use of genetic algorithms to control ECDL operation
• Integration – manufacture and test aspects of the technology
The project will deliver:
a. An addressable high resolution wavelength selectable filter with no mechanically
moving parts The electronically controlled, software reconfigurable technology will be simple
in construction with multi-wavelength synchronous operation capability.
b. A low cost, high resolution ECDL with a wide tuning range, capable of multi-species
detection.
c. A multi-gas detection technology demonstrator based on a) and b) above.