Ho Kwan (Colin) Chau
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My research project
Software Defined Lasers: using SDR techniques in atomic clocks, quantum technologies and coherent laser linksApplications that range from optical atomic clocks and quantum gravimeters to laser ranging and coherent laser links, all require multiple stabilised lasers with Hz-to-kHz resolution over GHz bandwidths. Therefore, there exists a strong unmet need for precise, accurate, and yet frequency-agile lasers across the entire UV-NIR spectrum.
The state of the art of laser systems and associated electronics for the above applications are custom designed with low flexibility and substantial. The design approach of these systems is to use multiple tunable laser sources with numerous narrow bandwidth modulators for frequency switching and stabilisation. Moreover, the control loop for frequency stabilisation is implemented with frequency fixed analogue circuits.
The proposed solution of this research lies in utilising the technologies from software defined radios (SDR). A digital control system implemented in an FPGA, combined with SDR transceivers and electro-optic modulators has the potential to create a software defined laser - a single seed laser device that can be re-programmed with application-specific bitstreams to generate an arbitrary optical spectrum.
Supervisors
Applications that range from optical atomic clocks and quantum gravimeters to laser ranging and coherent laser links, all require multiple stabilised lasers with Hz-to-kHz resolution over GHz bandwidths. Therefore, there exists a strong unmet need for precise, accurate, and yet frequency-agile lasers across the entire UV-NIR spectrum.
The state of the art of laser systems and associated electronics for the above applications are custom designed with low flexibility and substantial. The design approach of these systems is to use multiple tunable laser sources with numerous narrow bandwidth modulators for frequency switching and stabilisation. Moreover, the control loop for frequency stabilisation is implemented with frequency fixed analogue circuits.
The proposed solution of this research lies in utilising the technologies from software defined radios (SDR). A digital control system implemented in an FPGA, combined with SDR transceivers and electro-optic modulators has the potential to create a software defined laser - a single seed laser device that can be re-programmed with application-specific bitstreams to generate an arbitrary optical spectrum.