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Lab Equipment Overview

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Photonics, Optics and Quantum Research   |   Lasers   |   Metrology   |   Advanced Computing   |   Teaching Physics and Engineering

 

 

Photonics, Optics and Quantum Research

Based on Bridgewater State University's unique faculty, leading-edge equipment and research facility, and strong workforce development, LEAP at BSU has a broad spectrum of photonics-, optics- and quantum-related user inspired research.

Photonics Laser

BSU has well-established relationships with local companies and industries related to our teaching, research and degree programs. As part of the MassTech LEAP system, BSU collaborates on AIM Photonics and Manufacturing USA initiatives, local workforce education and industrial partnering. LEAP at BSU also partners with LEAPs at other institutions like Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Quinsigamond Community College, Stonehill College, Western New England University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Teachers and K-12

Our photonics and optical engineering degree program is unique in the state of Massachusetts and one of a handful in the country. We host regional meetings, developed a technician training program for photonics and optics, and participate in bootcamps with the other LEAP members. Founded as a school for educators, BSU now offers unequalled access to students in our BS and MAT teaching programs as well as outreach to K-12 classes.

UV source for creating quantum SPDC entangled pairs for with 3 avalanche photo diode (APD) detectors for single photon and Quantum Optics research based on coincidence detections. 
In the VIS we offer a state-of-the-art teaching lab for Optics (ray, wave, Fourier optics) as well as fiber optics using dedicated kits comprised of off-of-the-shelf components (Thorlabs) components. Used for Engineering and Physics majors, Technicians program and outreach K-12.
Here we characterize semiconductor materials properties and laser output properties geared to industrial applications including LIDAR. We have a HORIBA photoluminescence spectrometer for band gap and electronic state characterization for quantum dot and quantum cascade lasers. We specialize in optoelectronic characterization of the III-V laser diode at pulsed mode using electric and optical coupling with a customized FormFactor probe station. Integration of III-V laser diodes with silicon meta surfaces is the main target for LiDAR chips. In this wavelength region, we have the capabilities/tools to design photonic devices by COMSOL software.
At 780 nm we have (4) tunable external cavity diode lasers for research programs that include: Laser cooling and trapping of a Rb.  This is for atomic, molecular, and optical physics related to cold atom qubits and cold-atom lattice quantum studies of solids including superconductors.  And for laser-optical (dipole and direct pressure) trapping for DNA and cellular research.
 In this telecommunication realm our equipment, ability and research is broad.  Our sources include a SANTEC laser system that scans continuously across this entire telecom window used to characterize losses and properties of integrated and fiber optical systems in the passive and active regimes.  This is accomplished on an automated probe system that include cameras for visualization in the visible and the near infrared. In addition, we have a Chromacity tunable OPO laser generating few picosecond pulses at a 100 MHz repetition rate. We have a top IDQ system of three lowest noise single photon. We have a Toptica tunable OPO from 1.4 um giving CW light up to 2 W in power. We also have Fabry Perot, Butterfly lasers, erbium amplifiers and acousto-optical modulators in this wavelength window. Finally, we have an Erbium-based broadband femtosecond laser that uses a top-end wave shaper for chirping and other phase and light shaping studies of light on a PIC.
 In the MidIR range we have the two tunable OPO’s: a Chromacity picosecond laser and a Toptica TOPO CW laser with continuous tuning from 1.4 to 2 um/signal and from 2 um to 4 um/idler. This affords unique access to sensor devices and next generation technologies extended out to this range.
Computing; blades (2 cpu and 2 gpu) for COMSOL numerical applications, Matlab, LabView.  AFM/STM, staffed Machine shop and Maker Space with 3-D printers. 
Computing Lasers

Lasers

Continuously Tunable (O-E-S-C-L) system for telecommunications bands, Tunable Optical Parametric Oscillator (OPO) in picosecond regime continuous wave (CW) in near and mid IR, Erbium fiber Femtosecond Telecom, External Cavity Diode lasers (ECDL) 780 nm as well integrated III-V quantum dot lasers. Entangled Pair Photon Sources and single photon detection with pair correlation electronics.

Ultrafast femtosecond laser Erbium based. 100 MHz repetition rate and mode lock pulses of ~80 fs duration for nonlinear, dispersive and quantum experiments and characterization.
Ultrafast picosecond tunable optical parametric oscillator (OPO). 100 MHz repetition rate and pulses of ~5 ps duration for nonlinear, dispersive, quantum and sensing experiments and characterization. Tunability from 1400 nm up to 4000 nm.
High power tunable continuous wave (CW) optical parametric oscillator (OPO). CW powers up to 5 W for nonlinear, quantum and sensing experiments and characterization. Tunability from 1400 nm up to 4000 nm.
Stabilized external cavity tunable diode laser (continuous, 780 nm, 100mW) used for Magneto Optical Trap (MOT) for laser cooling and trapping of Rb atoms for fundamental studies in quantum mechanics that use cold-atoms such as qubits for quantum computers and one-, two- and three-dimensional lattice experiments.

Metrology

Characterization, detection and imaging: 600-1700 nm and 1200-2400 nm OSA, beam profilers and M^2 system, polarization, Near IR camera for telecommunication-band, Waveshaper for spatio-temporal definition of pulses. Beam profilers and wavemeters in the near IR and midIR wavelengths. Spatial light modulators in the visible and mid I.

Photonics probe station to characterize integrated waveguide devices from 1260 nm up to 1640 nm, in edge coupling, grating coupling and single fiber and fiber arrays.
Nonlinear generation of diverse frequencies with nonlinear crystals and waveguides, including the generation of supercontinuum, frequency combs and entangled photon pairs.
Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, is when light energy stimulates the emission of a photon from any matter. Light is directed onto a sample, where it is absorbed and where a process called photo-excitation can occur. The photo-excitation causes the material to jump to a higher electronic state and will then release photons as it relaxes and returns to back to a lower energy level. The emission of light or luminescence through this process is called photoluminescence, PL. In this system, samples are excited by 532 nm laser and PL can be detected by two detectors with a wavelength range of 600-2100 nm and 1800-5400 nm. Electronic structures of semiconductor quantum dots can be analyzed through the photoluminescence.
In this probe station, quantum dot laser dies are characterized at pulsed mode by using pulse generator and optical spectrum analyzers. Laser emission power vs current and voltage (L-I-V), Laser emission power vs wavelength measurements can be performed at different temperature by using temperature control unit.
This system provides non-contact topological characterization of samples with micron level features.

Advanced Computing

FEM and FDTD design and simulation packages running off of multiple CPU and GPU blades.

Multiphysics simulation software is used to simulate photonic and semiconductor structures. Design photonic devices and laser diodes are designed by using ray optics, wave optics, semiconductor, and heat transfer modules. Finite Difference Time Domain(FDTD) and Finite Element Methods (FEM) are available through electromagnetic waves simulation.

 

Academic research and industry standard software packages for measurement and data acquisition, mathematical analysis and modeling, and system modeling.

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