Nonlinear Frequency Upconversion: A Novel Route for High-Sensitive Mid-Infrared Detection and Imaging
Hosted By: Optics in Digital Systems Technical Group
05 October 2022 11:00 - 12:00
Eastern Time (US & Canada) (UTC -05:00)The mid-infrared (MIR: 2 – 15 μm) spectral range has numerous applications in fundamental molecular spectroscopy to industrial testing, semiconductor processing and defense application. The detection of a MIR signal in the ambient atmosphere is especially challenging due to the high thermal noise. In this webinar hosted by the Optics in Digital Systems Technical Group and the Nonlinear Optics Technical Group, Ajanta Barh will introduce a novel approach to efficient detection of MIR signals using standard near-infrared (NIR) silicon detectors.
The technique is called nonlinear parametric frequency upconversion. In this approach, instead of directly detecting in the MIR, the MIR signal is first parametrically transferred to the higher frequency visible-NIR spectral range using a second-order nonlinear interaction, which essentially preserves the spatial, spectral, and temporal information of the signal of interest. Dr. Barh will discuss its basic operational principles, different technical parameters (e.g. efficiency, noise performance, resolution etc.), suitability in multi-dimensional sensing, integration with linear imaging to perform MIR imaging, competing techniques, and some recent applications.
Subject Matter Level: Introductory - Assumes little previous knowledge of the topic
What You Will Learn:
• An application of second-order optical nonlinearity
• Current technological advances and applications of upconversion as well as related outstanding issues
Who Should Attend:
• Master students
• Ph.D. students
•Postdocs and early career researchers
About the Presenter: Ajanta Barh from ETH Zurich
Ajanta Barh received a Ph.D. degree in Physics from the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi, India, in 2015. In 2016, Barh joined the Optical Sensor Technology group at DTU Fotonik, the Technical University of Denmark, as a postdoc, where she developed novel frequency upconversion-based broadband mid-infrared detection and imaging systems. In 2019, Barh joined the Ultrafast Laser Physics group at ETH Zurich as a sub-group leader. Barh is currently working on ultrafast solid-state and semiconductor laser systems operating in the mid-infrared and applying frequency metrology and sensing. Dr. Barh has authored/co-authored more than 60 peer-reviewed journal and conference publications. Barh’s research interests include mid-infrared photonics, nonlinear optics, ultrafast lasers, and application. She is currently a senior member of OPTICA and chaired OPTICA Nonlinear Optics Technical group in 2018 - 2020.
