Objective The generation of ultrafast and intense light pulses is an underpinning technology across the electromagnetic spectrum enabling the study of fundamental light-matter interactions, as well as industrial exploitation in a plethora of applications across the physical, chemical and biological sciences. A benchmark system for such studies is the modelocked Ti:Sapphire laser, which has grown from being a laboratory curiosity to an essential tool in a broad range of application sectors. Beyond Ti:Sapphire systems, there have been impressive developments in semiconductor based devices for pulse generation in the optical range. These benefit from low system costs and are an enabling technology in new application domains including high speed communications.However, in the terahertz (THz) frequency range, with its proven applications in imaging, metrology and non-destructive testing, a semiconductor based technology platform for intense and short pulse generation has yet to be realised. Ultrafast excitation of photoconductive switches or nonlinear crystals offer only low powers, low frequency modulation or broadband emission with little control of the spectral bandwidth.In the ULTRAQCL project we will breakthrough this technological gap, using THz quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) as a foundational semiconductor device for generating intense and short THz pulses. QCLs are the only practical semiconductor system that offer gain at THz frequencies, hence making them suitable for pulse generation, with the ‘bandstructure-by-design’ nature of QCLs allowing the frequency, bandwidth and pulse width to be entirely engineered. We will demonstrate: the first self-starting (passive) mode-locked THz QCL; the first hybrid modelocked THz QCL; the first gain-switched modelocked QCL; and, the first pulse generation in QCLs with on-chip dispersion compensation. The ULTRAQCL project will implement these radical schemes for pulse generation enabling ultrafast QCLs to become a ubiquitous technology for the THz range. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesnatural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicssemiconductivitynatural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryalcoholsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physicsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsspectroscopy Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.2. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) Main Programme H2020-EU.1.2.1. - FET Open Topic(s) FETOPEN-RIA-2014-2015 - FET-Open research projects Call for proposal H2020-FETOPEN-2014-2015 See other projects for this call Sub call H2020-FETOPEN-2014-2015-RIA Funding Scheme RIA - Research and Innovation action Coordinator CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS Net EU contribution € 630 155,00 Address RUE MICHEL ANGE 3 75794 Paris France See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 630 155,00 Participants (4) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS United Kingdom Net EU contribution € 742 318,75 Address WOODHOUSE LANE LS2 9JT Leeds See on map Region Yorkshire and the Humber West Yorkshire Leeds Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 742 318,75 CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE Italy Net EU contribution € 620 537,50 Address PIAZZALE ALDO MORO 7 00185 Roma See on map Region Centro (IT) Lazio Roma Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 620 537,50 UNIVERSITE PARIS-SACLAY France Net EU contribution € 341 138,75 Address BATIMENT BREGUET - 3 RUE JOLIOT CURIE 91190 Gif-Sur-Yvette See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Essonne Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 341 138,75 UNIVERSITAET REGENSBURG Germany Net EU contribution € 464 295,00 Address UNIVERSITATSSTRASSE 31 93053 Regensburg See on map Region Bayern Oberpfalz Regensburg, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 464 295,00