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Tunable Infrared Quantum Cascade Lasers for Active
Electro‑Optical Remote Sensing--Daylight Solutions, Inc.,
Dr. Timothy Day, Principal Investigator, tday@daylightsolutions.net
Mr. Paul Larson, Business Official, plarson@daylightsolutions.net
DOE Grant No. DE‑FG02‑06ER84631
Amount: $750,000
Remote sensing of airborne chemicals from industrial or
illicit emissions is greatly facilitated by looking for characteristic
absorption patterns of mid-infrared (IR) light with wavelengths from 3 to 14
μm. The DOE can use this type of
remote sensing to monitor and detect effluents from nuclear fuel cycle
processes, for example. At present, there
is no robust and reliable way to generate an intense beam of mid-IR light that
can be tuned in wavelength to look for these absorptions. In this project, a high power, tunable,
mid-IR laser will be designed and built for use in remote sensing
applications. State-of-the-art quantum
cascade laser (QCL) technology will be incorporated in a miniaturized, tunable
laser cavity to provide a field-ready, mid-IR light source to enable detection
of airborne chemicals. Phase I developed
materials suitable for incorporation in a miniaturized tunable laser
cavity. Tunable near-IR diode laser technologies
were extended to the mid-IR to enable design and construction of a
miniaturized, tunable, mid-IR laser platform.
Several prototypes were built, which demonstrated pulsed tunable
mid-IR lasers. In Phase II, the platform
technology will be extended to achieve the continuous wave (CW) lasers
that are necessary for remote sensing.
The laser cavity design and quantum cascade (QC) device coatings will be
optimized to allow continuous tuning of the CW lasers.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as
described by the awardee:
Tunable, mid-IR
lasers should find commercial applications related to the remote sensing of
industrial emissions, stand-off detection of illicit chemicals, and medical
breath diagnostics. In addition, tunable
mid-IR lasers should allow new applications in diagnostic imaging to be
developed, both for medical and industrial purposes. At present, no practical technologies are
available that allow the creation of tunable IR light for commercial
applications.