Grant: Idea to Innovation

Ultrashort pulse mode-locked lasers have become increasingly useful due to their ability to transfer large amounts of energy in femtosecond time scales, and their potential in spectroscopy to probe ultrafast processes. The ability to phase-lock the modes of high-quality factor, glass-based resonators has recently been exploited to demonstrate optical frequency combs, allowing high repetition rate and ultrashort pulse mode-locked lasers. In turn, these lasers benefit from a high spectral quality that can be used to realize novel sources, such as precision optical clocks, for applications in the areas of metrology, telecommunications, and computing, amongst others. In this Idea to Innovation project, we propose to build, investigate and improve a prototype of a novel and ultrashort pulse, high repetition rate, phase-locked laser that has direct applications for backhaul free space communications. The invention, based on a micro-cavity resonator, will be realized by adopting an innovative approach towards Dissipative Four Wave Mixing (DFWM), recently termed Filter Driven Four Wave Mixing (FD-FWM), and developed by the PI of the project. In this scheme, a filter and nonlinearity are combined in a single device, thereby surpassing many limitations and problems inherit in previous DFWM systems and allowing for unprecedented control of the laser output parameters, such as repetition rate, pulse duration, power and stability. Our project will focus on the implementation of commercial production processes to build a laser prototype fully based on commercially available low-cost components. The FD-FWM mode-locking laser scheme has already raised significant interest in companies that manufacture laser systems at telecom wavelengths, due to the high potential in achieving stable and ultrafast oscillation with a relatively simple and compact laser design. Benefits of this technology include a substantial increase in performance, lowered costs, compact size, and decreased power consumption. Canada's on-going economic success depends on its ability to continue to innovate and to deploy new technologies from universities into the marketplace. This project is an excellent opportunity to accomplish this, and possibly leading to the creation of a high-tech company.