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28 Jul 2006
Conventional designs of mid-IR lasers, which cover the range 3-5 micron, have required cooling to -200ºC. This R&D project aims to overcome such problems.
A consortium of eight partners led by QinetiQ has been awarded GBP 1 million ($1.86 million) funding from the UK government's Department of Trade and Industry to develop mid-infrared (MIR) semiconductor lasers.
Mid-infrared lasers operate at wavelengths in the range 3-5 microns, longer than the wavelengths of standard lasers currently in use, so they open up the prospect of a range of new opportunities in healthcare, environmental monitoring, manufacturing, and free space communications.
Potential healthcare applications include the treatment of prostate and cornea disorders and the development of a new instrument for medical imaging at the nanoscale that could be used for stem-cell identification and the early detection of cancer.
Until now the commercial potential of MIR lasers has been limited because they require cooling to -200ºC using expensive mechanical cooling techniques. A semiconductor laser consists of several layers to enable separate confinement of the charge carriers and the light. If the middle active layer, where the charge carriers are confined, is made thin enough to act as a quantum well, the laser can be made more efficient.
The consortium will use strained-layer engineering to develop a new laser with a highly efficient active region that can operate close to room temperature without the need for expensive cooling.
"QinetiQ is delighted to be leading this programme which has the potential to revolutionise the use of mid-infrared lasers," said Tim Ashley from QinetiQ, the program's leader. "It will transform these lasers from a niche role to a pervasive technology. The three year program has a strong commercial focus with the emphasis on testing prototype lasers in real systems to validate potential system improvements."
In addition to managing the consortium, QinetiQ will lead on the development of semiconductor material and device fabrication technology. Ring-laser expertise will be provided by Lancaster University, which has developed a novel Whispering Gallery Mode resonator and the theoretical modeling of semiconductor lasers will be conducted by Surrey University.
The consortium has a strong commercial focus, with the Centre for Integrated Photonics deploying its extensive experience on optical communication laser design and fabrication and Cablefree Solutions testing prototype lasers in free-space optical communications systems.
Procal Analytics will optimise laser devices for compact remote gas sensing instruments, which BP will field-test in the petro-chemical industry environment. Finally Anasys Instruments will test laser devices in a photo-thermal biomedical imaging system.
About QinetiQ
QinetiQ is an international defence and security technology company, formed in July 2001 from the UK Government's Defence Evaluation & Research Agency. The company has over 11,400 employees, who deliver technology-based services and exploit the company's capabilities in technology research by selling systems solutions, products, managed services and licences to government and commercial customers.
In February 2006, QinetiQ Group was listed on the London Stock Exchange and joined the FTSE 250 in June 2006. In the year to 31 March 2006, QinetiQ delivered a 39% rise in underlying operating profit to GBP 90.7 million on turnover which rose by 23% to GBP1,051.7 million.
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