Realization of high-power, single-frequency, solid-state lasers using nanostructured laser mirrors

Achieving autonomous vehicles depends on the development of reliable optical sensors to replace human vision. The lidar is the top candidate to achieve real-time mapping of the scene. The most promising lidar design uses a chirped single-frequency laser to achieve fast distance and speed mapping. However, the delivered power is small, which limits the range, the speed and measurement accuracy. Recently, we introduced single-frequency lasers using parity-time-symmetric polarization eigenstates. Such concept requires optically anisotropic laser mirrors, which can be achieved with periodically corrugated surfaces. Since the anisotropy is integral to the laser mirrors, no other element is needed and a very short laser device is possible. A thin disk of rare-earth-doped material will be placed between these two mirrors and end-pumped with a laser diode. Our preliminary results indicate that the emission should be single mode when the two mirrors are properly adjusted. This laser design will improve on existing compact single-frequency emitters used in lidar applications by achieving higher brightness than the current semiconductor laser technologies. Our idea will help speed up the development of lidars for autonomous driving applications as well as in other areas requiring miniature sources of light with high brightness.

Faculty Supervisor:

Jean-François Bisson

Student:

Partner:

Université de Lyon (Lyon, France)

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Automotive; Energy and Utilities

University:

Université de Moncton

Program: