Staff Research Scientist Position Designing CW OPO Laser Devices

Ideal Spectroscopy is looking for a staff scientist with skills needed to build optical parametric oscillator (OPO) laser prototype devices using modern periodic poled nonlinear crystal materials. These crystals allow for quasi-phase matching and have a high nonlinear coefficient (deff), which allows the OPO laser to oscillate from continuous wave (CW) pump laser sources. A list of skills and required experience are shown below. This staff research scientist position will become permanent to qualified candidates who are productive, we encourage you to apply.

We are interested in developing laser products based on single-frequency continuous-wave optical parametric oscillator technology to generate ultrawide tuning range of 400 to 2750 nm. We propose using periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) or MgO doped periodically poled stoichiometric lithium tantalate (MgO:PPSLT) crystal materials. The purposed pump laser source could be a single-frequency diode pumped solid state laser, a design similar to that of a Coherent Verdi laser. Below are some possible ring cavity concepts from references 1 and 2 in our list below.

A possible pump laser source could be the fundamental at 1064 nm or the second harmonic at 532 nm of a continuous wave diode-pumped solid-state (DPSS) laser. Some difficulties to overcome are thermal lensing due to partial absorption of pump and signal radiation in the periodically poled crystal which could causes the cavity to become unstable. Periodically poled stoichiometric lithium tantalate crystal doped with MgO has a lower absorption at 532 nm. The nonlinear crystal is often mounted in an oven to allow course temperature turning of the laser’s wavelength. Short range high-resolution scans would probably require some combination of an inner cavity etalon and piezo tunable cavity length stabilization. The OPO laser could also be stabilized by use of an reference external cavity, where feedback loop is used.

The signal and idler beams will be in the near infrared and frequency double could be used to generate visible light. An interesting idea is to mount the doubling crystal inside the OPO cavity where power on the signal or idler are high. The cavity could be designed as singly resonant on the idler or signal. An alternative approach could be to put the doubling crystal in a secondary cavity downstream which is locked to OPO cavity output beam, either signal or idler.

Skills and Experience:

• Experience working with OPO lasers.
• Experience with periodically poled crystals
• Ability to design stable ring laser cavities
• Able to mode-match the stable ring cavity producing the pump beam laser correct waist
• SolidWorks 3D CAD modeling experience is important
• Able to design prototype, assemble, and test laser devices
• Setup experiments to test and evaluate lasers concepts
• Knows how to use common optics laboratory equipment, oscilloscopes, function generators, lock-in amplifiers, piezos, photodiodes, data acquisition equipment, along with CW and Pulsed laser systems
• Comfortable communicating and sourcing optics and crystal material suppliers
• Maintain and prepare detailed research reports
• Able to write computer programs to automate and collect experimental data. We typically use Visual Studios: VB.net, C# and others

A qualified candidate will have experience operating, setting up experiments, and hands-on tuning/alignment of these types of laser systems. They will have ablilities and experience to excel at collecting data to continue improving the product development.

Ideal Spectroscopy operates a full CNC machine shop, and we are constantly designing new components to improve the capabilities of our spectroscopy products. We are seeking candidates with experience in designing and implementing new laser devices.

Qualifications

• Position open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents
• Ph.D. in Physics, Optical Sciences, Chemistry, or Chemical Physics.
• Hands-on experience conducting advanced laser experiments is required.
• Confident experimentalist, able to setup experiments, tune and align high-resolution cw lasers, collect quality data, and rationalize to improve the prototype
• Aptitude for designing new laboratory instruments
• The ideal candidate will enjoy the thrill of discovery and the intellectual satisfaction of untangelling complex laser development chanllenges
• Able to multitask, maintain laser experiments and collect quality data, while also doing other tasks, such as data analysis and report preparation

Package:

• Salary is negotiable
• BCBS Health Care
• Dental & Vision
• 401K Retirement Package
• Paid vacation, statutory holidays, and sick leave
• Relocation compensation is available
• For the right candidate, this job could evolve into a staff Resarch Scientist position at Ideal Spectroscopy

How To Apply

Please email resume to workwithus@idealvac.com

By Regular Mail To:

Ideal Vacuum Products
Human Resources
5910 Midway Park Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
Phone: (505) 872-0037
Fax: (505) 872-9001


Thank you!

Selected Research Publications:

1. Continuous-wave 532-nm-pumped singly resonant optical parametric oscillator based on periodically poled lithium niobate.pdf 0.37 MB

2. Single-frequency and tunable operation of a continuous intracavity-frequency-doubled singly resonant optical parametric oscillator.pdf 0.36 MB

3. 1.59W, single-frequency, continuous-wave optical parametric oscillator based on MgO:sPPLT.pdf 0.35 MB

4. Widely tunable CW Optical Parametric Oscillators: Mastering the challenges posed in quantum technology research.pdf 1.89 MB

5. Single-frequency continuous-wave optical parametric oscillator system with an ultrawide tuning range of 550 to 2830 nm.pdf 0.41 MB

6. Thesis by Goutam K. Samanta, High-power, continuous-wave optical parametric oscillators from visible to near-infrared.pdf 6.25 MB