A femtosecond mid-IR optical parametric amplifier for waveguide nonlinear optics

This project will fund a novel source of ultra-short (250fs) optical pulses tunable in the mid-IR (MIR) between 2500 and 4700nm which will be used to support a wide range of research into waveguide nonlinear optics. The equipment will specifically allow the development of novel broad band high brightness supercontinuum sources for the molecular fingerprint region of the MIR; the detection of mid-IR light via upconversion into the near-IR; the development of high performance MIR waveguides; and MIR photonic chips for sensing.