Innovative Laser Technology Developed by NTNU Research Team
In a significant step towards enhancing laser technologies, a research team led by Associate Professor Johan Remensberger from the Department of Electronic Systems at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) has announced the development of a new type of laser. This innovation aims to overcome the challenges faced by current laser models, opening new horizons in various technological fields.
Scientific Collaboration for Laser Technology Development
The results of this research are the fruit of collaboration between the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), and LuxTelligence SA. These findings were published in the journal Nature Photonics, reflecting the importance of the discoveries made by the team.
This collaboration among the three institutions integrates expertise in design, experimental production, and chip development. The partnership began when Remensberger was a postdoctoral fellow at EPFL and continues through the EIC Pathfinder OPEN grant named ELLIPTIC.
Laser Improvements and Their Impact on Self-Driving Cars and Air Quality Detectors
Traditional lasers face several challenges, including large size, high cost, and difficulty in tuning. However, the new laser developed by the research team offers solutions to these problems, making it an ideal tool for use in self-driving cars.
Self-driving cars rely on Lidar technology to map their surroundings, which works by measuring the time it takes for light to bounce back or by detecting minute changes in the light wave phase. The new laser can perform these measurements with exceptional accuracy, reaching up to four centimeters.
Additionally, the researchers demonstrated the laser’s effectiveness in detecting hydrogen cyanide gas in the air, a highly toxic compound even at low concentrations, making it an important tool for safety and environmental monitoring.
Advanced Materials and Miniaturized Photonic Circuits
The laser is manufactured using advanced materials and microscopic photonic circuits, emitting a strong and stable light beam. One of the advantages of the new laser is its ability to adjust frequency quickly and smoothly, without sudden jumps.
The laser is easy to control with a single control unit instead of multiple units, simplifying its use and enhancing its effectiveness in various applications.
Cost-Effective and High-Performance Laser Production
The laser is built using already available chip technology, making it producible in large quantities at low cost. This opens the door to creating small, inexpensive, easy-to-use, and high-performance measurement and communication tools.
Remensberger states, “Our results make it possible to create small, inexpensive, and easy-to-use measurement and communication tools with high performance.”
Conclusion
The development of the new laser represents a significant step towards improving the technology used in traditional lasers. Through collaboration between academic institutions and companies, substantial progress has been made in the design and use of lasers, promising improvements in many technological applications such as self-driving cars and air quality detectors. This innovation not only enhances the effectiveness of lasers but also makes their production more economical and user-friendly, contributing to expanding their use in various technological fields.