Description:
Reference Number:1540
Background
Compound semiconductors form the basis of modern optoelectronics technology,
enabling specialised devices, such as semiconductor lasers, for applications in
areas as diverse as optical data storage, telecommunications, and displays.
VECSELs, a category of semiconductor laser, are becoming more and more popular
because they offer wavelength flexibility from UV to near infra-red and
Watt-level output in high-quality beams. However, existing VECSELs are
cumbersome, expensive and of limited performance. VECSELs can be made which
operate at a range of wavelengths including 670nm, 850nm, 980nm, 1060nm, 1300nm
(demonstrated) and 1500nm and 2.2um (in development) which all depend on the
same core IP. The Institute of Photonics team has established a strong
track-record in VECSEL research at an international level, and has proprietary
know-how and a sound portfolio of related IP. Researchers at the University of
Strathclyde have developed a high power VECSEL as a new generation of laser
sources for telecommunications applications to overcome the problems with
existing VECSELs. With the market so sensitised to developments in this area,
there is a real prospect of significant opportunity from exploiting this IP. The
funding for this work was supplied by a Scottish Enterprise Proof of Concept
award.
Technology
One way the new technology has been demonstrated is a custom optically-pumped
VECSEL in the 1.3 - 1.6¼m spectral band. It is based on the use of gallium
arsenide (GaAs); therefore it offers powerscalability and highly wavelength
versatile lasers that can be produced readily and cost-effectively from a
semiconductor technology base.
Key Benefits
The VECSEL concept combines the benefits of optical (diode) pumping and
external cavity geometry to offer power-scalable and highly-wavelength-versatile
lasers to be produced readily and cost-effectively from a semiconductor
technology base. In addition, it can be mode-locked to produce ultra-short
pulses. The extreme short pulse width makes it easy to achieve very high peak
laser intensity with low pulse energies. To sum up, the new technology has a
simple, compact semiconductor structure and produces a high power output with
high beam quality that meets commercial requirements for performance, packaging,
manufacturability and cost.
Markets and Applications
This new technology will be ideal for use in areas requiring efficient
coupling of power into optical fibres and accurate wavelength selection and
control, such as telecommunications. In the US alone, it is estimated that $23.4
billion was pumped into the communications sector in 2000, with long haul
communications generating revenues of approximately $10.3 billion. Despite some
decline since 2000, the telecoms market is still a large and a valid market, and
it will be an important target to address for commercialisation of these devices
in due course. The application of the new technology is not necessarily limited
to the telecommunications industry. The IP protects all wavelengths and there
are many other important applications to be explored. VECSELs could provide the
new source for large displays and for optical data storage. The new technology
has potential for use in medical applications, for instance, in photodynamic
therapy (PDT) for the treatment of cancer.
Licensing and Development
Recently, half a Watt has been obtained from a GaInNAs VECSEL at 1.3 microns,
this is the first time this type of VECSEL has been demonstrated anywhere in the
world. The commercialisation route for the VECSEL devices would be a mix of
possible company start-up (where the market was sufficiently well defined,
niche, low volume and high value) with licensing of the technology into other
areas where markets were higher volume, lower cost and more generic. The
technology is protected by patent applications filed by the University of
Strathclyde as WO2004/086578 and WO2004/086577. It may be possible to grant
licenses exclusive in particular sectors, e.g. telecommunications, optical data
storage and displays.
For further information, please contact Research & Knowledge Exchange
Services:
e: rkes@strath.ac.uk t: 0141 548 3707 f: 0141 552 4409
This project was supported by the Scottish Enterprise Proof of
Concept Programme. The Proof of Concept Fund supports the pre-commercialisation
of leading-edge technologies emerging from Scotland’s universities, research
institutes and NHS Trusts.