Missions

The researcher will develop fiber components for visible lasers in the BpiFrance I-Demo “LUMEN” project. The overall aim of the LUMEN project -Lasers à fibre flUorée éMEttaNt dans le visible- is to develop world leadership in high-power (>10 Watts) continuous visible lasers, while ensuring national sovereignty over the components developed. High-power continuous visible lasers will be obtained from doped fluorinated fibers (Praseodymium, but other dopants will be considered depending on the desired final wavelength), enabling the performance expected by end-users to be achieved, in terms of power and industrial robustness, thus offering a unique positioning on the world market, going beyond the state of the art in science and technology.

Activités

Two architectures will be explored, similar to silica fiber lasers - a conventional technology available only in infrared. These architectures require innovative solutions to overcome the obstacles associated with the use of fluorinated fibers, for which integration into an all-fiber architecture remains a major technical challenge.
In particular, the candidate will work on optimizing the fusion process of optical fibers made of dissimilar materials (silica/fluoride glass), or of the same fluoride glass material but with different geometries (passive fiber/active double-clad fiber).
The next step will be to develop pump/signal combiners and qualify their opto-mechanical performance. The study of components with photo-inscribed Bragg mirrors will also be part of the work to be carried out to optimize the visible laser source. The first objective will be to carry out simulations of different laser configurations in the red and green with FBG to optimize the architectures. Experimental validation will then be carried out on fibers, passive components and laser modules. This work will be carried out in close collaboration with our partners, in particular CORIA in Rouen.

Compétences

The candidate should have experimental and theoretical knowledge of optics, fiber components and lasers. Experience in laser system simulation would be also appreciated.

Contexte de travail

The post-doctoral researcher will work in the OML (Optique Matériaux Lasers) team of the CIMAP laboratory. Specialized in the study of rare-earth doped materials for the development of innovative lasers and sensors, OML is recognized nationally and internationally for its expertise in this field (several of its members are on the scientific committees of international conferences on materials for optics and lasers).
The OML team, and more particularly the Matériaux Instrumentation Laser (MIL) group, is developing new laser sources based on rare-earth doped materials, in particular fluorides, whose properties enable efficient emissions in certain wavelength ranges.
The researcher will join CIMAP to strengthen a consortium of 6 French academic and industrial partners working on the BpiFrance I-Demo “LUMEN” project. He or she will be able to draw on an environment that includes existing instrumentation and characterization equipment adapted to the project (optical spectrum analyzers, interference microscope, cleaver, tunable source, spectrometers, etc.).

Le poste se situe dans un secteur relevant de la protection du potentiel scientifique et technique (PPST), et nécessite donc, conformément à la réglementation, que votre arrivée soit autorisée par l'autorité compétente du MESR.

Contraintes et risques

The constraints associated with the project will mainly relate to its multi-partner nature and the interdependence of certain batches. The supply of fluorinated fibers, already tested on a previous project, should not pose any problems. In addition, the production of fibrous components is spread over several partners, which largely limits risks. Alternative solutions are also planned for the project's various technological challenges.

Informations complémentaires

subject to validation of financing