Project description
Inching closer to a wireless, infrared era
The long-wave infrared band of the electromagnetic spectrum – covering the wavelengths ranging from 8 to 14 µm – offers a vast potential for high-end photonics applications, which remains largely untapped. In particular, free-space optical communication technologies operating in the long-wave infrared could offer unmatched speeds compared to guided propagation media. The EU-funded cFLOW project will lay the foundations for these technologies by combining photonic integrated concepts with quantum cascade lasers and detectors. The project plans to demonstrate devices operating at room temperature, with data rates in the 20-100 Gbps range. If successful, cFLOW will completely redefine the architectures for the wireless communications networks of the 21st century.
Objective
A vast potential for high-end photonics application remains untapped in the Long Wave InfraRed region of the electromagnetic spectrum (LWIR, 8-12μm). In particular, Free Space Optical (FSO) communications using LWIR wavelengths could present unmatched availability and speed compared to telecom and RF links, due to extremely low sensitivity to atmospheric perturbation. The cFLOW project will bring photonic integrated circuits concepts to Quantum Cascade Lasers and Detectors (QCL & QCD) technology in order to establish a scientific and technological landmark for LWIR FSO. We will demonstrate a coherent transmission with datarate in the 20-100Gbps range, based on devices operating at room-temperature: (i) a “telecom ready” LWIR QCL chip with record modulation speed (>20GHz), 100% modulation depth, tens to hundreds of mW output power and low RF power consumption. (ii) A high-speed (>20GHz) heterodyne sensor with a sensitivities three orders of magnitude higher than current solutions. The success of the cFLOW project will completely redefine potential architectures for the wireless communications networks of the 21st century.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
91767 Palaiseau Cedex
France