Project description
Photonics on-chip lasers that generate optical frequency combs
Optical frequency comb generators are specialised lasers capable of generating a spectrum of millions of equally spaced laser lines. Given their near-continuous spectroscopic coverage, these combs can measure near-exact frequencies of light. Since their development, only two decades ago for atomic clocks, they have revolutionised applications in fields from quantum metrology and timekeeping to molecular and astronomic spectrology. Their widespread use has been limited by the lack of cost-effective on-chip optical frequency comb generators. The ERC-funded LASIQ project aims to overcome this barrier by developing the first on-chip titanium-sapphire mode-locked laser capable of generating low-noise optical frequency combs in the 650-1100 nanometre wavelength range.
Objective
In LASIQ I will develop, for the first time, an on-chip titanium-sapphire mode-locked laser capable of generating low-noise optical frequency combs in the 650-1100 nm wavelength range.
Optical frequency comb generators are light sources capable of generating a spectrum of millions of equally spaced laser lines. Such light sources allow to down-convert optical frequencies (THz) to the microwave domain (GHz), enabling precision laser spectroscopy and the construction of optical atomic clocks. Theodor Hänsch and John Hall were awarded the Nobel Prize in physics of 2005 for developing the optical frequency comb in recognition of its impact on quantum metrology, timekeeping and fundamental physics. Since their initial development, they have revolutionized several other fields such as LIDAR (light detection and ranging), molecular spectroscopy, astronomic spectroscopy for exoplanet identification and ultra-low-noise microwave generation.
However, high-performance optical frequency combs are mostly based on expensive (>100 kEUR) and bulky (> 900 cm3) free-space or fiber-based mode-locked laser systems, which strongly limits their use in real-world applications. This has spurred an enormous research effort towards developing on-chip optical frequency comb generators. Currently, a large variety of integrated optical comb generators have been demonstrated, ranging from soliton microcombs to semiconductor mode-locked lasers. However, so far integrated optical comb generators cannot rival the performance of their table-top counterparts, severely limiting their application. In LASIQ, I will address this need by demonstrating titanium-sapphire mode-locked lasers on a millimeter-sized chip with a performance similar to that of the incumbent free-space solution.
The realization of an on-chip titanium-sapphire mode-locked laser will enable chip-scale supercontinuum sources, integrated optical coherence tomography systems, on-chip optical atomic clocks and dual-comb metrology.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics semiconductivity
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy planetary sciences planets exoplanetology
- natural sciences physical sciences optics laser physics
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2022-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
9000 GENT
Belgium
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