Project description
Improved LiDAR merges light and matter states
Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology has emerged as a powerful tool for 3D remote sensing applications. The reflection of pulsed laser light in the visible, ultraviolet and infrared spectra back to a detector enables generation of precise 3D information about the surfaces from which the light is reflected. Its applications are diverse, including precision agriculture, urban planning and environmental monitoring. Current systems are challenged by the ‘angular dispersion’ of thin-film filters, causing a shift in transmission wavelength that must be accommodated for accurate 3D sensing. The ERC-funded SPLiDAR project aims to overcome the angular dispersion problem of LiDAR with quantum optics: merging light and matter states to create angle-independent transmissive filters (polariton filters).
Objective
In the realm of advanced optical systems, particularly within the emerging field of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology, which are pivotal for 3D sensing applications across various sectors, a significant commercial challenge emerges from the inherent limitations posed by optical interference in thin-film filters. The core of this challenge lies in the phenomenon known as 'angular dispersion,' a fundamental constraint of interference-based structures in thin-film filter design. Angular dispersion refers to the shift in transmission wavelength of optical filters as the angle of incidence changes, typically resulting in a pronounced blue-shift. This effect, while intrinsic to the operation of optical interference, undermines the performance of LiDAR systems by requiring the filters to have sufficiently broad pass bands to accommodate the angular shift. The SPLiDAR initiative is set to revolutionize the landscape of photonic applications by introducing a groundbreaking approach that transcends the traditional constraints of angular dispersion. This approach harnesses the quantum optical phenomenon of merging light and matter states to create angle-independent transmissive filters, referred to as polariton filters here. This project is poised to redefine of optical filtering and sensing by introducing a novel class of spectrally sharp and angle-independent transmission filters, thereby overcoming the fundamental limitations of angular dispersion in conventional optical devices. The SPLiDAR project will leverage the team's profound expertise in thin-film optics, including transfer matrix and FDTD calculations and structure design optimization, along with a deep understanding of organic absorber properties and a wealth of experience in optoelectronics.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
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Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept GrantsHost institution
50931 Koln
Germany