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

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Project period: 01 March 2014   To: 30 June 2015

Project details

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