Fibre lasers have become highly prevalent due to their cost, stability and practicality. However, there are fluctuations inherent in the light that is output from a laser, also known as noise. This is a severe limitation when using fibre lasers for microscopy, spectroscopy or to generate quantum states of light.
We have developed a “plug-and-play” module that can be retrofitted to fibre lasers that are already deployed in the field, reducing the optical noise at the laser output down to a fundamental limit of classical physics.
The purpose of the Shot-noise Limited Optical Waveguide MOdule (SLOW MO) ERC Proof of Concept grant was to identify whether or not there were any commercial opportunities for this laser noise suppression module and to advance its technology readiness level (TRL) by engineering a robust demonstrator.
More specifically, our aims were as follows:
a) Build a demonstrator that can be taken out of the lab and shown to prospective customers or investors.
b) Advance our noise suppression module from TRL 3 to TRL 4. This will make the technology investor-ready so that it can be transitioned into a spin-out and additional funding can be obtained to sustain this once the PoC grant comes to an end. The investor-funded stage that follows on from the PoC will then develop the demonstrator to create a customer-ready product.
c) Develop the protectable IP required to make our noise suppression technology competitive.
d) Identify initial customers and narrow these down to at least one partner with whom trials can be performed. This will position the technology such that it can continue to progress from TRL 4 to TRL 5 after the PoC has concluded. (WP1 and WP4)
We have successfully built a robust demonstrator that was taken out of the lab to exhibitions where potential customers, investors and strategic partners were present. Before the PoC grant, our module was mounted on an optical bench in a lab and could not even be moved across the room without being disassembled. The demonstrator that was developed was transported in a standard suitcase on a coach and took 5 minutes to set up on arrival, without experiencing any detrimental effects.
The module is investor-ready, as verified by the responses given by investors at the National Quantum Showcase in 2021. However, through our engagement with potential customers, we discovered that commercial R&D departments within hollow-core fibre companies have already developed the protectable IP that we were hoping would be an outcome of this project. Despite this, our know-how with regards to noise-suppression and detector technology has proven valuable enough for one of these companies to be interested in potentially developing a strategic partnership with us. Discussions are still ongoing, but this grant has enabled us to reach a clear conclusion that a partnership with a pre-existing entity is the best route forward with regards to commercialising the technology. A spin-out should not be attempted due to the significant competitive advantage that the hollow-core fibre companies have.
Finally, we explored 20 different sectors in order to find potential initial customers. From the 194 contacts that we identified at the beginning, we successfully identified 3 companies in 2 sectors with whom more in-depth conversations were a possibility. The company with whom we have been discussing the potential for a strategic partnership would be where we would look to perform trials in the future, provided they remain keen to continue.
