Highly efficient low threshold lasers in transparent and scattering media.

Abstract

The Center for Lasers and Applications (CLA) of the Energy and Nuclear Research Institute (IPEN / SP) has the mission of conducting basic and applied research on three specific topics: Photonic Materials and Lasers, Devices and Applications (medical, industrial and environmental) Biophotonics and Optomicrofluidics. In these areas, CLA educates highly qualified human resources, transfers scientific and technological knowledge to society, the public and private sectors and supports the diffusion of S & T. Of the ten groups operating within CLA, the Lasers Development Group is responsible for innovation in the area of light sources. This innovation in lasers associated with research carried out in the other nine CLA groups has resulted in the group's most cited published works, as well as a constant search by private partners for new laser sources, which are readily met through the innovation law and the NIT (core of technological innovation) of IPEN/SP.Currently the Lasers Development group faces two challenges that are related and that we intend to remedy through this project. The first challenge is to be able to extend our patented laser technology from pulsed lasers to continuous lasers. The technology is currently the most efficient available (for some active media doped with neodymium) and responsible for a large number of national and international collaboration projects and the general recognition of our group. This extension of the existing technology in the group has been demanded mainly by our international partners in the research projects.The second challenge is directly related to a FAPESP thematic project in the area of microfluidics (in progress) that requires new light sources for lab-on-chips. In this project light sources are to be constructed that are embedded in the microfluidic circuits for analysis and control of chemical processes. Depending on the circuit and how it will be implemented for its practical application, a light source having either high efficiency or low beam divergence or low operating threshold or several of these features together is required. Our focus has been the use of random lasers, given the low cost and low complexity of these systems. The problems of efficiency and divergence of the beam have already been solved individually now we must find a way to lower the operating threshold. (AU)