Freiburg, Germany -- Infrared lasers and detectors are key to the development of high-performance systems for the security and aerospace sectors. Likewise, they play an increasingly important role in medical diagnostics, gas analysis and spectroscopy.

To advance the research and development of infrared technologies, industry experts meet regularly at the Freiburg Infrared Colloquium. After a pandemic-related break, the conference resumes its biennial rhythm: The 45th edition of the Freiburg Infrared Colloquium will take place on May 16 and 17, 2023, at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF in Freiburg.

The Freiburg Infrared Colloquium, which was originally scheduled for 2021, will now be held in its usual setting. About 100 international representatives from science and industry as well as experts working in the field of infrared photonics and optoelectronics are expected to exchange information on the latest developments and research results.

“After two difficult years, we are pleased to resume the valuable series of infrared colloquia on a regular biennial basis. The Freiburg Infrared Colloquium provides a unique forum to discuss relevant issues related to semiconductor emitters and detectors as well as their applications in related fields such as science and security, medical diagnostics or production and environmental control,” says Dr. Robert Rehm, conference chairman and Head of Business Unit Optoelectronics at Fraunhofer IAF.

The conference program covers both physics and materials science of infrared lasers and detectors as well as their manufacturing technologies and system aspects. Seven sessions on selected topics with a total of 28 oral presentations and one poster session with 18 poster presentations are scheduled over two days.

Infrared research at Fraunhofer IAF

Researchers of Fraunhofer IAF present various latest developments of the institute in the fields of photodetectors and semiconductor lasers. Dr. Raphael Müller will give an overview of the latest research results on antimony-based infrared detectors from the extended shortwave to the longwave infrared.

Dr. Frank Rutz presents developments by the researchers on highly sensitive photodetectors to be used in a single photon camera for active SWIR (short-wave infrared) imaging. This technology is an important component for non-line-of-sight (NLOS) imaging, which can explore objects even behind obstacles or outside the direct field of view, and plays a particularly important role in the fields of autonomous navigation and reconnaissance.

Quantum cascade lasers (QCL) are mid-infrared semiconductor devices with important applications in spectroscopy, security, and defense. Compact QCL modules, as realized at Fraunhofer IAF, offer high spectral resolution, excellent beam quality and output power in the watt range at room temperature. In his talk, Dr. Stefan Hugger will present Fraunhofer IAF’s latest research on quantum cascade lasers: The research team has succeeded in realizing a coherent beam combination of multiple quantum cascade lasers, which enables a significant increase in performance.

About Freiburg Infrared Colloquium

The Freiburg Infrared Colloquium is a biennial scientific conference on infrared lasers, detectors and optoelectronics. Since its inception in 1971, it has brought together renowned international participants from various branches of industry and science for the 45^th time. The two-day conference will provide a unique forum for discussing both currently relevant topics on the development of infrared technologies and their application in a wide range of industries. The Freiburg Infrared Colloquium serves the exchange of the different actors, the strengthening of international cooperation as well as the advancement of research and development of infrared technologies.