Pulsed upconversion imaging of mid-infrared supercontinuum light using an electronically synchronized pump laser

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Spectroscopy
• Imaging Technology

Background:

• Mid-infrared (mid-IR) imaging is crucial for various scientific applications.
• Existing upconversion techniques often lack versatility or synchronization capabilities.
• Synchronized imaging upconversion in the mid-IR range presents technical challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a versatile and synchronized method for imaging upconversion in the mid-IR wavelength range.
• To enable sensitive near-infrared detection of mid-IR signals.
• To address challenges in mid-IR imaging, such as noise and image distortion.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a 1064 nm master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) pump laser source.
• Electronically adjusted pump laser pulse duration and repetition rate.
• Employed a 40 kHz, 1.6 ns pulse mid-IR supercontinuum light source for upconversion.
• Implemented a sensitive CCD camera for near-infrared signal detection.
• Characterized system noise and developed an algorithm for image distortion correction.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated a versatile method for synchronized imaging upconversion in the mid-IR.
• Successfully upconverted mid-IR light to the near-infrared for detection.
• Characterized the noise performance of the upconversion system.
• Presented a simple algorithm to correct for image distortion from off-axis parabolic mirrors.

Conclusions:

• The presented method offers a versatile approach for synchronized mid-IR imaging upconversion.
• The developed algorithm effectively corrects for image distortions, improving imaging accuracy.
• This technique enhances the capabilities for sensitive mid-IR detection and imaging.