Nonlinear optical effects in Quantum Cascade lasers

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Mid-Infrared Technologiesfor Health and the
Environment
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Mid-Infrared Technologies for Health and the
Environment
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Vision and Impact
Introduction Technology Vision and Broader Impact
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What / Who is MIRTHE ?

• World-class, interdisciplinary team of engineers,
  chemists, physicists, environmental and
  bioengineers, medical doctors, and educators, in
  academia and industry
• To conduct research and development of
  unprecedented mid-infrared (3-30 mm) optical
  trace-gas sensing systems for applications in
  environment, homeland security, and health.
• To provide knowledge, prototypes, and technology
  transfer to industry of mid-IR optical trace-gas
  sensing systems and to assist in creating new
  product lines and markets for industry.
• To form a vibrant community for learning and
  teaching, providing the best education with
  interdisciplinary breadth for a new generation of
  highly educated, practice-oriented, competitive,
  and diverse U.S. workforce.

Mission
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Technology Tunable Diode Laser Absorption
Spectroscopy

• Molecules are uniquely identifiable through their
  mid-IR absorption spectra
• Strong resonance lines Single-molecule or and
  sub-ppb sensitivity
• Non-destructive, non-invasive, with fast dynamic
  response.
• Based on reliable telecom semiconductors and open
  to Moore-curve technology development

Graph M. Taubman, PNNL
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Why MIRTHE Why NOW ?
Recent transformative developments,
and critical needs.
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Technology Vision Examples
Now,
with MIRTHE
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Research Plan
Core Projects Breakthrough Innovation
Projects Five Thrusts Three levels
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Research Strategy
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Strategic 3-Level Framework

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Thrust 1 Novel Mid-Infrared Materials
Characterization

• Motivation
• Many 100s of QWs grown with near atomic
  precision determine quality and exactness of
  intersubband transitions
• Goal Deliverables
• Grow, understand, compare, optimize, develop,
  advise, deliver.

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Thrust 2 Mid-Infrared Light Sources
III-V
novel materials

• Motivation
• Need High performance mid-IR lasers
• Room-temperature (uncooled), high optical power,
  high power efficiency, single wavelength, narrow
  linewidth, wide continuous tunability, modulation
  fidelity and speed, small SWAP, reliability, cost
  effective - (all of it!).
• Goal Deliverables (3 30 mm)
• High performance QC laser for thrusts 4 5, and
  industry
• QC lasers in new materials nonlinear QC lasers

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Thrust 3 Mid-Infrared Detectors
Innovation
Innovation

• Motivation
• Want Phase sensitive, and near single-photon
  sensitivity similar to near-IR optical metrology
  and telecom also in mid-IR
• Goal Deliverables
• Highly sensitive detectors based on coherent
  up-conversion
• Miniaturization integration

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Thrust 4 Sensor Systems

• Motivation
• Integrate devices of thrusts 1-3 into sensors and
  systems
• Deliver sensors systems for breadth of
  applications
• ppb-ppt sensitivity, selectivity specificity,
  fast autonomous operation, reliability low
  false alarm rate, architectural versatility, ...
• Goal Deliverables
• High performance, compact, cost effective, field
  deployable sensors
• Single species, multi-species, networked sensors
  systems

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Thrust 5 Sensor Applications Testbeds
CORE Environmental And Homeland Security
CORE Medical
Urban air quality Ground-level ozone and VOCs
in Houston, TX
Breath biomarkers of oxidative stress,
antioxidant defenses
Urban air quality Fine particulate matter,
Tracer gas tracking NYC
Breath biomarkers of kidney and liver
dysfunction
BES-LTER Carbon species detection
Surface cancer detection
Innovation

• Motivation
• Proof-of-principle demonstration of utility of
  sensors systems
• Answers to specific research questions in climate
  clinical research
• Prototypes ready for commercialization
• Goal Deliverables
• Proven, cost-effective, deployable sensors for
  important applications

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Education and Education Outreach
MIRTHE Academy - Core Programs Maximum Breadth
Outreach
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Education and Education Outreach Strategy
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MIRTHE Academy - CORE

• Student body
• Undergraduate / graduate students (30/30)
  actively involved in research thrusts
• Recruited through partnering LSAMP programs
• Supported by AGEP programs
• Activities
• Implementation and amplification of partner
  LSAMP, AGEP
• New course development (available beyond MIRTHE)
• Curriculum development Minors, Majors,
  Certificates
• New faculty appointments
• 2 near-term (0 5 years) 2 long-term (5 10
  years)
• SVT/R areas to strengthen advanced data
  processing, systems integration, analytical
  chemistry, detectors
• Graduate research graduate student exchange
• Student mentoring

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New Faculty Hires

• 2 Junior faculty positions approved
• Sensor systems applied spectroscopy
• Advertise through fall/winter 2006/2007
• Fill position(s) for Fall 2007

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MAXIMUM BREADTH Outreach

• Audience
• Students in K-12 and community college
• Undergraduates and teachers in REU and RET
  programs
• General public
• Activities
• Learning and support modules for K-14
• Teaching modules, science fair support, summer
  internships, educational videos,
• Information packages on careers recruiting
• Summer REU and RET programs
• 30 undergraduates, 10 teachers per summer (all
  partners)
• Summer workshop and school
• Informal education (MPT NJN)

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Industrial Outreach
Goals Strategy Partnership Management
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MIRTHE Industrial Affiliates Program Key
Industry Sectors

• Address a broad range of technology and industry
  sectors

End-user industries chemical, petrochemical,
medical
Test measurement environmental sensors,
medical diagnostic equipment manufacturers

• Semiconductor, materials

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Industrial collaboration and technology transfer
Goals Strategy

• Forge close collaborative connections
• Semiconductor industry
• Sensors industry, Test Measurement,
• Medical equipment, Chemical, Petrochemical,
• Provide a formal, coordinating program
• Create technology roadmap for benchmarking
• Create valuable intellectual property
• Facilitate effective technology transfer
• Promote partnerships between industrial partners.
  
• Promote ties between industry and students
• Technology transfer job placement
• Train students in industry-focused research
• Internships, researcher exchange, interactions at
  meetings

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MIRTHE Industrial Affiliates Program Committed
Members
Partners
General Members
Affiliates
Non-Profits
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MIRTHE Industrial Affiliates Program More
in-the-pipeline
Partners
General Members
Affiliates
Non-Profits
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www.mirthecenter.org
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Mid-Infrared Technologies for Health and the
Environment