Novel low cost electronically tunable external cavity laser for high resolution spectroscopy
Lead Participant:
TWO TREES PHOTONICS LTD
Abstract
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.
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.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
---|---|---|
TWO TREES PHOTONICS LTD | £168,263 | £ 100,000 |
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Participant |
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THE TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY BOARD |
People |
ORCID iD |
Paul Robinson (Project Manager) |