UAH Receives Grant to Acquire FC1500 Optical Frequency Synthesizer

University of Alabama at Huntsville has received a $280,011 grant from the National Foundation of Science to purchase a Menlo Systems FC1500 Optical Frequency Synthesizer.

A number of individuals were responsible for the research work, which led to the equipment purchase. They include John Williams, Assistant Professor in Electromechanical Engineering, Optics, and Materials Science, Robert Lindquist, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Seyed Sadeghi and Lingze Duan Assistant Professors of Physics.

The main aim of the research is to develop a flexible, designated light source to support research activities in optical sensing, micro-fabrication, splasmonics, nanophotonics, and optical frequency metrology in northern Alabama. The objective is to develop a service facility with an optical frequency synthesizer (OFS) and compatible THz antennas. The facility will be accessible to the area’s governmental, industrial and academic research programs.

The functions of the OFS will benefit numerous ongoing research programs such as the development of microresonator-based frequency combs, fiber-based plasmonic sensors, and microfluidic catalytic reactors. This laser system will benefit various research activities including multi-wavelength-range trace gas sensing, study of intraband dynamics of semiconductor nanocrystals, probing of ozone-layer activities, and frequency-comb-based atmospheric clock distribution.