Periodic-dispersive photonic components for control of spectral, spatial and temporal characteristics of laser diode radiation - acronym “BRIGHTLIGHT”

Sponsor: European Commission, FP 6

Principal investigator: Prof., Dr., Ing. Frank Vollertsen

Co-principal investigator: Prof. Petar Gladkov, Ph.D.

Members: Miloslav Frühauf; Václav Malina, MSc.; Dušan Nohavica, Ph.D.; Jiří Zavadil, Ph.D.; Jiří Zelinka, MSc.

Fom: 2007-01-01

To: 2009-12-31

The main project aim is to develop a new range of frequency converted laser systems with very narrow line width and high spatial coherence. The project objectives can be summarized as follows: 1. Development and prototyping of volume Bragg gratings and Bragg structures in photorefractive glass (PRG) and photorefractive polymer (PRP); 2. Laser diode spectral narrowing and stabilization; 3. Periodically poled nonlinear crystals (PP-NLC) for efficient frequency light conversion; 4. Frequency-doubled laser diodes with volume Bragg gratings and PP-NLC.

Participants

1. Bremer Institut für angewandte Strahltechnik GmbH, Germany - Coordinator
2. Sico Technology GmbH, Austria - Contractor
3. CR Daren Laboratories and Scientific Consultants Ltd., Israel - Contractor
4. ALPHALAS GmbH ALPHALAS Germany, TD – Contractor - Contractor
5. Institute of Photonics and Electronics AS CR v.v.i. Czech Republic – Contractor
6. Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas FORTH - IESL Greece - Contractor.
7. Universidad de Valencia -Estudia General UVEG Spain - Contractor

The project task solved in UFE AS CR was the development of a technology for periodic poling of the nonlinear KTiOPO₄ (KTP) and RbTiOPO₄ (RTP) crystals with thickness of 1 mm, designed and poled for second harmonic generation from the 1.064 and 976 nm i.e. 532 nm and 488 nm, respectively. A know how has been obtained for modeling and preparation of such crystals with the most optimal geometry of the structures which enables also the highest conversion efficiency at temperatures close to the room temperature (37 – 42)°C. An application for a patent covering specific points of the poling process is under preparation.