Thesis

Ultraviolet (UV) laser sources are attracting growing interest: the high energy of their photons and their ability to be highly focused make them a tool of choice for the study and machining of matter. Applications range from the micromachining of various materials (microelectronics, polymers, etc.) to medicine (treatment of skin disorders), via fundamental physics (UV spectroscopy, atomic clocks).

The aim of this thesis project is to develop new-generation ultraviolet laser sources that are compact, efficient and powerful. The thesis will focus on two main areas, in order to overcome the scientific and technological challenges posed by such sources.

– The first will focus on the generation of ultraviolet radiation in a single non-linear step, thanks to the optimization of visible laser sources currently under development, and to efficient non-linear conversion schemes.
– The second will focus on demonstrating direct ultraviolet laser emission from thulium-ion-doped materials.