Ultra low-cost infrared laser fibre system

Mid-IR phototonics is an upcoming research field driven by the useful wavelength range from 2-20μm in the electromagnetic spectrum. In this range there are many important absorption wavelengths that are created and manipulated and which are crucial in various applications relating to spectroscopy; some of these applications include security, chemical sensing, biological sensing and material processing. In particular, the atmospheric transmission window from 3-5μm is what bedrock phototonics has mainly focused its project ideas around. This project aims to develop a compact electro-optical system with low cost, commercial off-the-shelf subsystems which will power, cool and and combine the narrow band visible light of a 520nm 1 W green laser diode and a 660nm 500 mW red laser diode, These beams of light will be combined Using spectral beam combining techniques to increase beam output efficiency, and then will focused and sent through fibre optic cable which has been doped by some rare earth elements to achieve some form of superluminescence. The document will provide concepts and techniques used to accomplish the end product, background information relating to the project, procedures of the project's development and details on the potential of future development.