Novel Vertical-External-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers (VECSEL) systems and applications
Loading...
Files
Date
2024
Authors
Bondaz, Thibault Alain Georges
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University College Cork
Published Version
Abstract
The development of laser technologies represents a pivotal milestone in human technological history, with semiconductor lasers playing a particularly transformative role due to their versatility, efficiency, and tunability. This thesis focuses on Vertical-External-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers (VECSELs), a subset of semiconductor lasers that offer unique advantages for high-power, single-mode operation and the integration of intracavity optical elements. These properties enable their application across a broad spectrum of fields, including terahertz (THz) generation and nonlinear imaging.
This work presents two novel VECSEL-based systems. The first is a bicolor VECSEL designed for room-temperature THz emission via difference frequency generation (DFG). This system achieves milliwatt-level THz power and employs a two-stage stabilization method to enhance operational stability. The second system is a 1.5 GHz broadband pulsed laser developed for multiphoton microscopy. This high-repetition-rate laser minimizes photodamage and photobleaching. By using photonic crystal fibers and a Multiphoton Intrapulse Interference Phase Scan (MIIPS) scheme, the system generates a wide supercontinuum spectrum, enabling advanced pulse shaping for nonlinear imaging.
Description
Controlled Access
Keywords
VECSEL , Laser , Semiconductor , Physics , Optics
Citation
Bondaz, T. A. G. 2024. Novel Vertical-External-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers (VECSEL) systems and applications. PhD Thesis, University College Cork.