arXiv subjects

Houkun Liang

Publications and source records attributed to Houkun Liang.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Mid- and long-wavelength infrared computational ghost spectroscopy

Spectral-domain ghost imaging enables high-resolution spectroscopy with a single-pixel detector. The technique does not rely on spectrally resolved detectors, which makes it inherently robust against turbulence and particularly adapted to weak-light conditions. These features are very attractive for spectral imaging in the mid-infrared region which hosts numerous molecular absorption features but lacks highly sensitive detectors. The implementation of spectral ghost imaging in the mid-infrared has however been limited by the absence of suitable light sources and detectors capable of generating and measuring spectral fluctuations in real time. Here, we demonstrate spectral-domain computational ghost imaging in the mid-infrared based on a nonlinear frequency downconversion scheme. Pre-programmed spectral patterns imposed on broadband light at 1.5 mm using a programmable spectral filter are transferred into the mid-infrared through difference-frequency generation in a nonlinear crystal. This enables computational ghost spectroscopy with a spectral resolution of 0.62 cm-1 using a single-pixel mid-infrared detector. The method is flexible, broadly applicable and, as proof of concept, we demonstrate ghost spectroscopy in mid-wavelength infrared and long-wavelength infrared bands using the nonlinear frequency conversion in chirped-poling lithium niobate and ZnGeP2 crystals, respectively. Our approach provides a new avenue for mid-infrared spectroscopy, remote sensing and spectral imaging.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2024

Multi-watt long-wavelength infrared femtosecond lasers and resonant enamel ablation

High-power broadband tunable long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) femtosecond lasers operating at fingerprint wavelengths of 7-14 μm hold significant promise across a range of applications, including molecular hyperspectral imaging, strong-field light-matter interaction, and resonant tissue ablation. Here we present 6-12 μm broadband tunable parametric amplifier based on LiGaS2 or BaGa4S7, generating new record output power of 2.4 W at 7.5 μm, and 1.5 W at 9.5 μm, pumped by a simple and effective thin-square-rod Yb:YAG amplifier producing 110 W 274 fs output pulses. As a proof of concept, we showcase efficient resonant ablation and microstructure fabrication on enamel at the hydroxyapatite resonant wavelength of 9.5 μm, with a laser intensity two orders-of-magnitude lower than that required by non-resonant femtosecond lasers, which could foster more precision surgical applications with superior biosafety.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2024

Mid-infrared computational temporal ghost imaging

Ghost imaging in the time domain allows for reconstructing fast temporal objects using a slow photodetector. The technique involves correlating random or pre-programmed probing temporal intensity patterns with the integrated signal measured after modulation by the temporal object. However, the implementation of temporal ghost imaging necessitates ultrafast detectors or modulators for measuring or pre-programming the probing intensity patterns, which is not universally available in all spectral regions especially in the mid-infrared range. Here, we demonstrate a frequency downconversion temporal ghost imaging scheme that enables to extend the operation regime to arbitrary wavelengths regions where fast modulators and detectors are not available. The approach modulates a signal with temporal intensity patterns in the near-infrared and transfers the patterns to an idler via difference-frequency generation at the wavelength of the temporal object to be retrieved. As a proof-of-concept, we demonstrate temporal ghost imaging in the mid-infrared. The scheme is flexible and introduces new possibilities for scan-free pump-probe imaging and the study of ultrafast dynamics in spectral regions where ultrafast modulation or detection is challenging such as the mid-infrared and THz regions.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2024

Theoretical demonstration of mode transmission in ZGP-based micrometer waveguide platforms

Birefringence phase-matching based \c{hi}(2) ZnGeP2 (ZGP) waveguide platform has been recently reported for excellent mid-infrared laser generation. Here, a detailed theoretical characterization of mode transmission taking waveguide anisotropy and substrate material absorption into account in a micrometer ZGP waveguide platform (ZGP-on-SiO2) is conducted. Benefited from high-index contrast between ZGP and substrate (SiO2/Air), Transverse electric and magnetic (TM and TE) mode transmission loss at interested wavelengths range of 2 - 12 μm is calculated to be less than 4 dB/cm and 1.5 dB/cm, respectively, in the designed ZGP waveguide. Notably, non-obvious oscillation of mode transmission loss versus phase-matching angles is observed, which is different from that in the previously reported weakly guided anisotropic waveguide. A vital phenomenon named mode crossing at some wavelengths in TM polarization is also exhibited in our waveguide platforms, which jeopardizes waveguide performances and could be avoided by changing the phase-matching angle in practice. This work provides a significant indication of ZGP waveguide design optimization in future and also exhibits extendibility to other birefringent crystal waveguide platforms.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2019

Multi-microjoule GaSe-based mid-infrared optical parametric amplifier with an ultra-broad idler spectrum covering 4.2-16 μm

We report a multi-microjoule, ultra-broadband mid-infrared optical parametric amplifier based on a GaSe nonlinear crystal pumped at ~2 μm. The generated idler pulse has a flat spectrum spanning from 4.5 to 13.3 μm at -3 dB and 4.2 to 16 μm in the full spectral range, with a central wavelength of 8.8 μm. The proposed scheme supports a sub-cycle Fourier-transform-limited pulse width. A (2+1)-dimensional numerical simulation is employed to reproduce the obtained idler spectrum. To our best knowledge, this is the broadest -3 dB spectrum ever obtained by optical parametric amplifiers in this spectral region. The idler pulse energy is ~3.4 μJ with a conversion efficiency of ~2% from the ~2 μm pump to the idler pulse.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2017

High-energy mid-infrared sub-cycle pulse synthesis from a parametric amplifier

High-energy, carrier-envelope phase (CEP)-stable, sub-cycle, mid-infrared (mid-IR) pulses can provide unique opportunities of exploring phase-sensitive strong-field light-matter interactions in atoms, molecules, and solids. In the mid-IR wavelength, the ponderomotive energy of laser pulses is dramatically increased (versus the visible/near-infrared) and, therefore, the Keldysh parameter is much smaller than unity even at relatively modest laser intensities. This enables to study the sub-cycle electron dynamics in solids via high-harmonic generation (HHG) without damage. One can also control the electron emissions from nano-devices in the sub-cycle time scale. These efforts are opening a great opportunity towards petahertz electronics. Here, we present a high-energy, sub-cycle pulse synthesizer based on a mid-IR optical parametric amplifier (OPA), pumped by CEP-stable, 2.1 um femtosecond pulses, and its application to HHG in solids. The signal and idler combined spectrum spans from 2.5 to 9.0 um, which covers the whole midwave-infrared (MWIR) region. We coherently synthesize the passively CEP-stable few-cycle signal and idler pulses to generate 33 uJ, 0.88-cycle (12.4 fs), multi-GW pulses centered at ~4.2 um, which is further energy scalable. The in-line synthesis of the CEP-stable sub-cycle pulse is realized through the type-I collinear OPA with minimal temporal walk-off. The MWIR sub-cycle pulse is used for driving HHG in thin silicon samples, producing harmonics up to ~19th order with a continuous spectral coverage due to the isolated emission by the sub-cycle driver. Our demonstration offers an energy scalable and technically simple platform of laser sources generating CEP-stable sub-cycle pulses in the whole MWIR region for investigating isolated phase-sensitive strong-field interactions in solids and gases.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2011

Controlling the band gap of ZnO by programmable annealing

Annealing has been extensively used to control crystal growth and physical properties of materials with unfortunately unclear mechanism and quantitative correlations. Here we present the "annealing temperature - grain size - band gap" correlation for ZnO nanocrystals with experimental evidence. Findings revealed that the annealing condition determines the critical size by equating the thermal and the cohesive energy of the undercoordinated atoms in the surface skin, which in turn induce local strain and quantum entrapment, perturbing the Hamiltonian and hence the band gap. The formulation provides a general guideline for controlling crystal growth and performance of materials, and makes predictive design and fabrication of functional nanomaterials into reality.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗