Imagine a giant, expensive laboratory laser shrunk down to the size of a computer chip. This technology creates a perfectly spaced 'comb' of light that acts like a high-precision ruler for measuring things. It allows us to see through biological samples or map environments with incredible detail without needing a room full of equipment.
High-precision optical frequency combs are currently too bulky and expensive for widespread use in portable sensing, 3D imaging, and LiDAR. This limits their application to laboratory settings rather than real-world industrial environments.
A chip-scale mode-locked laser (MLL) using heterogeneous integration on SiN platforms. It includes a broadband on-chip interferometer and high-resolution spectrometers for fiber sensor readout.
If you are a medical imaging company dealing with the difficulty of sensing in water-dominated biological samples — this project developed integrated frequency combs in the 800-1100 nm range that enable high-resolution optical coherence tomography.
If you are a LiDAR provider dealing with bulky and expensive laser systems — this project developed chip-scale mode-locked lasers that reduce system complexity and enhance stability for real-world deployment.
If you are a sensor integrator dealing with the need to read out Bragg sensors in fibers with high precision — this project developed a broadband on-chip interferometer and high-resolution spectrometers to automate this process.
Based on available project data, specific pricing is not listed, but the objective is to replace expensive systems with 'inexpensive highly miniaturized devices'.
Yes, the project has transitioned to the Ligentec platform to support wafer-scale scalability and standardized processing.
Based on available project data, the technology is being developed by a consortium including UGent and industrial partners, but specific licensing terms are not provided.
The project uses heterogeneous integration, specifically InP-on-SiN and GaAs-on-silicon nitride platforms, to put optical gain directly on a chip.
The project is active from 2024-08-01 to 2027-07-31.
The consortium is well-balanced for commercial transition, featuring a 50% industry ratio with 2 industrial partners and 2 academic/research entities. The presence of a spectrometer company (IBSEN Photonics) and the use of industrial fabrication platforms like Ligentec and imec indicate a strong push toward manufacturing readiness rather than just theoretical research.
Contact Universiteit Gent regarding the MOLOKAI project
Contact us to identify licensing opportunities for chip-scale frequency combs.
