Many molecules have specific absorption bands in the so called mid-infrared wavelength region.
These absorption dips acts as a fingerprint for these molecules. Hence, cheap light sources in this
wavelength band would be useful . One can think of doing environmental monitoring, by measuring
gas concentration or the breath analysis of patients for diagnostic applications. The latter could
improve rapid detection of certain kidney diseases. The more broadband these sources are the more
types of gasses they can detect. The project aims to make such broadband sources. Moreover, if
these sources want to be applied in real-life applications they should be small and compact. One
could think of embedding them in small devices such as smart-phones. We will aim to make them
very small by making use of compact light sources on a chip and widely transparent fibers that can
be spooled on a small (cm) spool. The device will exploit the intriguing features of nonlinear optical
dynamics and interactions to make very short pulsed lasers and the subsequent broadening of these
light sources.