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Applications

Spectroscopy and microscopy from the visible to the mid-infrared

Switchable metasurface for laser beam diffraction. Study performed with an Alpha HP MIR system.

Material studies

Nanoscale infrared, ultrafast spectroscopy, and nanophotonics.

  • Optical near-field microscopy

    Tip-based s-SNOM and AFM-IR for nanoscale chemical contrast below the diffraction limit.

  • Ultrafast spectroscopy

    Pump–probe and time-resolved measurements across the mid-IR.

  • Plasmonics and nanophotonics

    Tunable excitation of metasurfaces, polaritons, and related MIR structures.

3D stimulated Raman scattering image of an Abutilon pictum stem cross section. Blue: 3400 cm⁻¹; Green: 2890 cm⁻¹; Data taken with an Alpha HP VIS system.

Life sciences

Label-free vibrational contrast in tissue: direct MIR imaging, nonlinear microscopy, and coherent Raman.

  • Direct MIR microscopy and imaging

    Mid-IR absorption microscopy for tissue sections and pathological samples without fluorescent labels.

  • Multi-photon and deep-tissue imaging

    Tunable VIS and NIR beams for multi-photon excitation and deeper tissue penetration.

  • Coherent Raman microscopy

    Label-free SRS and CARS imaging with rapid, repeatable wavelength tuning.

  • Photothermal and photoacoustic imaging

    Vibrational contrast in tissue via MIR absorption and photothermal or acoustic readout.

Photoacoustic spectrum of methane compared with HITRAN. Measured with a Piano system. (Sensors 26, 846, 2026).

Sensing and analytics

Environmental sensing, liquid analytics, and open-path infrared detection for gases and liquids.

  • Photoacoustic spectroscopy

    Trace-gas fingerprinting with narrow-linewidth MIR and photoacoustic detection cells.

  • Liquid analytics

    MIR absorption measurements with ultra-high dynamic range.

  • Remote sensing

    Open-path and aerial detection of IR-active species across fingerprint absorption bands.

SI Alpha tunable laser system.

Quantum photonics

Single-photon and entangled-photon experiments, nonlinear quantum optics, and photonic quantum information.

  • Spontaneous parametric down-conversion

    Tunable pump wavelengths for SPDC sources that generate photon pairs for quantum optics and sensing.

  • Single-photon and entangled-photon generation

    Stable, repeatable excitation for heralded single photons and entangled-pair experiments.

  • Quantum-dot excitation

    Wavelength-matched pumping of quantum-dot emitters for quantum communication and light sources.

Measured vs. design reflectivity of a coated optic in the 1.4 –4 µm range. Data taken with a Piano system.

Test and measurement

Photonic components, fibers, sensors, and detectors across the visible to mid-infrared.

  • Sensor calibration

    Traceable, tunable reference sources for calibrating spectroscopic and photonic sensors.

  • Nonlinear integrated photonics

    Tunable pump and signal wavelengths for characterizing nonlinear effects in waveguides and integrated devices.

  • Photonic integrated circuit inspection

    Wavelength-swept testing of PIC components, from waveguide transmission to resonator and filter response.

  • Optical fiber inspection

    Broadband, tunable illumination for fiber attenuation, dispersion, and defect characterization.

  • Optic testing and qualification

    Automated, repeatable wavelength scans for qualifying coatings, filters, and optical components before deployment.

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