Sensors & Electronics
Physical Property Sensors
Laser Performance Characterization (141)
Infrared Quantum Cascade Laser (Courtesy of F. Capasso/Bell Labs)Problem: Evaluate infrared laser performance and select lasers for demanding chemical sensing requirements
Project Activity Scope (from Technical Overview Chart): Mechanisms through Instruments
PNNL Solution:
- Characterized laser performance:
- current effects on optical emission
- spectral mode map
- optical emission bandwidth
- hort/long-term wavelength stability
- spatial mode quality
- wavelength tuning capability
- phase stability and coherence length
- wavelength locking
- Selected lasers best matched to specific application requirements
Capabilities Employed to Meet Client Needs: Cryogenic Dewar systems for IR laser and detector operation; application of lab test equipment for laser drivers and signal analysis; development of specialized low noise current drivers for lasers; measurement of transient and time-averaged optical detector signals; laser emission characterization using high-resolution FTIR instrument; characterization of ultra-narrow emission line widths using wavelength scanning methods over extremely narrow chemical absorption lines; emission line width analysis; advanced data processing methods to enhance understanding of short-term line width; testing of current and temperature wavelength scanning performance of lasers; evaluation of laser emissions in CW, ramped, and pulsed operating modes; development and evaluation of laser modulation methods and signal recovery methods; use of network analyzers to measure laser impedance characteristics.
Selected Links to Related Information:
- Related Examples (Same Project)
Contact: Jim Kelly
