HIRES Phase A study 2016+
Lead Research Organisation:
Heriot-Watt University
Department Name: Sch of Engineering and Physical Science
Abstract
Heriot-Watt has been developing broadband near-infrared frequency combs through an STFC PRD grant and initial Phase A funding, supporting work until 30 June 2016. This Phase A extension will be used to complete a topic-by-topic design study identifying a technical pathway allowing a degenerate optical parametric oscillator (OPO) frequency comb to meet the E-ELT science requirements. The result of the study will be firm recommendations, supported by experimental and / or modelling data, on the design, operating performance and approximate cost of an OPO comb meeting the technical requirements of HIRES.
The proposed project will be funded out of the UK Programme for the EELT already awarded by PPRP for the period 2015/16-2018/19.
The proposed project will be funded out of the UK Programme for the EELT already awarded by PPRP for the period 2015/16-2018/19.
Planned Impact
See attached case for support.
Organisations
Publications
Charsley JM
(2017)
Broadband Fourier-transform spectrometer enabling modal subset identification in Fabry-Pérot-based astrocombs.
in Optics express
Cheng Y
(2021)
Laser-frequency-comb calibration for the Extremely Large Telescope: an OPO-based infrared astrocomb covering the H and J bands
in Journal of the Optical Society of America B
Cheng Y
(2021)
Near-Infrared 10-GHz Astrocomb With Mode Identification
Cheng YS
(2020)
Dither-free stabilization of a femtosecond doubly resonant OPO using parasitic sum-frequency mixing.
in Optics letters
McCracken R
(2018)
10-GHz Femtosecond Degenerate Optical Parametric Oscillator
McCracken RA
(2017)
Wavelength calibration of a high resolution spectrograph with a partially stabilized 15-GHz astrocomb from 550 to 890 nm.
in Optics express
McCracken RA
(2017)
A decade of astrocombs: recent advances in frequency combs for astronomy.
in Optics express
| Description | We have developed a broadband laser frequency comb from 500 - 2200 nm. This work appeared at CLEO Europe 2019 and has been accepted for CLEO US 2020. We have now resolved the comb modes from the near-infrared arm of the comb system and calibrated these using FT spectrocsopy. |
| Exploitation Route | We expect our work will inform the design of the laser calibration unit on the ELT and have interacted closely with Goettingen University (Prof. Huke) which leads the calibration work package. Further opportunities on SALT and INT are now at an advanced stage of discussion. |
| Sectors | Education |