Mid Infrared Supercontinuum Source for Fibre Characterisation

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The Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) is one of the world's leading institutes for photonics research, based in the Zepler Institute for Photonics and Nanoelectronics, at the University of Southampton. This procurement is for the hollow core fibre group, which works within the ORC.

Our research focusses on the fabrication, characterisation and applications of hollow core fibres; these are a relatively recent development in specialty optical fibres and we have several large research programmes dedicated to this work. One of the advantages of hollow core fibres is that they can be designed to operate beyond the spectral transmission window of more conventional, all-silica fibres. This includes transmission into the mid-infrared. Over recent years, we have made many mid-infrared guiding hollow core fibres but we struggle to characterise them as we have much more limited characterisation equipment for this spectral range. However, the mid-infrared is a growing research area and new optical sources and detectors are becoming available which would help us with characterisation. Recently, we secured funding to purchase some of this equipment, including a mid-infrared supercontinuum source (the focus of this procurement). This would be used as a light source to characterise our hollow core fibres.

The project is for the supply of a Mid-Infrared Supercontinuum. As mentioned above, this is a light source and we would use the output light and couple it into our hollow core fibres and use it to measure the optical properties of our fibres, such as attenuation and bend loss. We do not have any commercial mid-infrared supercontinuum sources within the ORC but have experience of using similar sources at near-infrared wavelengths. The key advantages for us in purchasing a mid-infrared supercontinuum would be: broad spectral range, high power spectral density, good output power stability and turn-key operation. All proposals should include delivery of the system, training, operating manuals, commissioning, successful user acceptance testing and at least a 12-month warranty with an option to extend the warranty subject to agreement by the University.

Additional information: The University is utilising an electronic tendering tool, In-Tend (https://intendhost.co.uk/ universityofsouthampton) to manage this procurement and to communicate with tenderers (as appropriate).

All documentation in relation to this tender can be downloaded from In-Tend. Tenderers are advised that there will be no hard copy documents issued and all communications with the University, including the submission of Selection Stage and/or Invitation to Tender responses will be conducted via In- Show less additional text

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Publication of Award Details: In accordance with Regulation 50, paragraph (2) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and subject to Article 5 and Annex 5, Part D (13) of Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (if applicable), the University intends to publish the value of any resulting contract at the award stage, and reserves the right to do so. By submitting a response, tenderers are consenting to publication of this information unless otherwise agreed in advance with the University.

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