SPIE - Education Coherent Mid-Infrared Sources and Applications SC1012

This course explains why the mid-IR spectral range is so important for molecular spectroscopy, standoff sensing, and trace molecular detection. We will regard different approaches for generating coherent light in the mid-IR including solid state lasers, fiber lasers, semiconductor (including quantum cascade) lasers, and laser sources based on nonlinear optical methods. The course will discuss several applications of mid-IR coherent light: spectral recognition of molecules, trace gas sensing, standoff detection, and frequency comb Fourier transform spectroscopy.