Public Funding for M Squared Lasers Limited

Tuberculosis is now established as the most important cause of death due to infectious disease, yet treatment has not improved in years. Relapse after successful treatment is the major barrier to shorter therapy for tuberculosis as has been confirmed by recent tuberculosis clinical trials where more bactericidal regimens have failed due to higher relapse rate. Through the use of background-free Raman spectroscopy the partners have demonstrated the ability to identify drug resistant tuberculosis cells. The aim of this project will be to develop a demonstrator system that can be more extensively trialled. The system will be further optimised for high throughput operation. Drug resistant tuberculosis has a significant burden on society and is estimated to cost £50,000--£70,000 to treat, almost 10 times that of 'normal' Tuberculosis. Combating drug resistant disease is considered one of the centuries most significant challenges, and requires tools such as these to make progress.

M Squared Lasers and the University of Birmingham are aiming to collaborate in the area of atom interferometric rotation sensors, in order to establish a capability in the strategically important area of quantum-enhanced navigation hardware. The partners have a track record of commercialisation and project delivery in atom interferometry and related gravimeter devices. The proposed work will build upon the partners' collective expertise and close working relationship built up over the last few years in collaborations through Knowledge Transfer Studentships, the Quantum Technology Hub for Sensors and Metrology and Innovate UK projects in atom interferometry and gravimetry. Quantum-enhanced navigation systems aim to deliver ground-breaking performance levels for a variety of applications. The use of atom interferometry for rotation sensing is intended to enable a step change in capability for a key subsystem in future quantum inertial measurement units.

Precision timing plays a vital role in the economy, from enabling satellite-free navigation to protecting the integrity of electronic financial trading. In this project, M Squared Lasers, together with the University of Sussex will develop a portable optical atomic reference based on trapped ions and an optical micro-comb. Both systems together can function as an atomic clock with a significantly improved accuracy compared with current commercial systems. This 12 month project will establish a commercial capability in this strategically important field, bringing the academic outputs into the industrial domain and towards practical deployment in a range of sectors.

Awaiting Public Project Summary

"The aim of this project is to develop an ultracompact frequency comb based on a microresonator to be used for frequency metrology and photonics applications. Microcombs can be used for optical frequency metrology, trace gas sensing, and as channel generator in telecommunication networks. Conventional laser based frequency combs can be used for highly accurate frequency metrology however their large SWaP characteristics preclude their adoption. A key application area is in the telecoms industry where data is transmitted at a number of closely packed wavelengths using dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) systems. The number of these channels keeps increasing and requires higher resolution spectrum analysers than the currently used systems. Researchers at NPL have demonstrated that a chip-based microcomb can be developed that is compact and portable and presents an ideal tool to service this need. It is well recognised that increasing broadband capabilities has direct benefits to the UK economy, with a recent government report finding for every £1 invested £20 is returned on investment. The microcomb can be used as a method of ensuring a lasers frequency is stable. Lasers are used across a range of industries and their precision is essential. A key goal of this project is to implement and test the microcomb on M Squareds main Ti:Sapphire laser system the SolsTiS. This will provide a rapid commercialisation route to an immediate market with an established customer base and sales and distribution network. Furthermore, the microcomb is an essential component to many quantum technologies in particular optical clocks, and would be used to increase accuracy of atom interferometric systems such as gravimeters, rotational sensors and accelerometers. M Squared is a key player in the commercial quantum technology landscape and the microcomb will play a key-enabling role across this sector. This project presents an opportunity for knowledge transfer from academic leaders in microcombs at NPL to experienced photonics commercialisation partners at M Squared Lasers. The immediate applicability of the microcomb offers a unique opportunity to disrupt industries with a quantum technology, and generate early returns on investment in order to gain traction for the technology in the telecoms industry and the quantum field in general."

About 30-60% of drugs are administered without clinical benefits, amounting to around £393bn per annum wasted globally. Patients have inherently varied responses to drug concentrations influenced by genetic background, metabolism, adherence to treatment plans and drug--drug interactions. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is the measurement of the concentration of drugs in biological fluids at timed intervals in order to maintain a relatively constant concentration of the medication. TDM is used for drugs that have a narrow therapeutic window with severe consequences from toxicity by over dosing or from not reaching therapeutic levels by under dosing. Currently TDM analysis use time consuming, costly methods such as High Performance Liquid Chromatography that require specialised personnel and dedicated laboratories. Recently an optical spectroscopy method has been demonstrated to identify and quantify drugs and their metabolites down to nanomolar concentrations. The aim of this project is to develop a system to be used for TDM at the point of care. The system would be rapid, easily administered by non-experts, low cost and can be used any time of day, as often as needed.

"M Squared aim to develop an ultrafast synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator (OPO) for three photon microscopy applications. The longer wavelengths of three photon microscopy allow it to image much deeper than current two photon methods, whilst being less phototoxic. This is particularly important in neurological imaging. The ultrafast OPO will use proprietary optical mounting methods developed at M Squared that reduce thermal drift and obviate the need for re-alignment. The proposed OPO will be pumped by MSLs low noise ultrafast Ti:Sapphire laser system -- Sprite XT that has industry leading compactness and low noise levels. The proposed system will operate at long wavelengths centred on 1700 nm and be applicable to a range of markets. The result of the easy-to-use Ti:Sapphire pumped ultrafast OPOs with unique wavelength flexibility, practical power, high output stability and excellent temporal and spatial quality, which open new possibilities for the practical deployment of OPOs in many applications in time-domain spectroscopy, optical microscopy, biophotonics and nanotechnology. The three-photon source will fit into M Squareds microscope system -- Aurora. The ultrafast OPO represents a truly enabling technology across a range of applications and markets. The system will build on M Squareds technical expertise and provide returns on investment through its microscopy and research customer bases."

"High-throughput screening (HTS) is a pre-clinical method used in drug design, drug discovery and biological research able to quickly conduct millions of chemical, genetic, or pharmacological tests. Through this process active compounds, antibodies, or genes that modulate a particular biomolecular pathway can be rapidly identified. Scientist have now accepted that 2D cell populations do not behave in the same way 3D cell populations behave and therefore it is intrinsically important to image them as they would exist in mammalian systems. As a result, drug discovery rates are dropping and there is a clear unmet clinical need for accurate 3D volumetric imaging. The aim of this project is to develop a technology that is able to rapidly image organoids and spheroids in 3D for the HTS industry standard multiwell plate to help high throughput screening better identify new drugs. The advent of spheroid and organoid models show promise for identification of new drugs and medicines however current imaging technology based on raster scanning confocal and wide field microscopy limits their use. The introduction of a low cost accurate volumetric 3D imaging system could revolutionise the drug discovery process. This would benefit a wide range of stake holders from UK photonics, microscopy, and pharmaceutical industries and healthcare systems and governments."

Quantum sensing technologies offer levels of measurement precision, accuracy and stability that exceed those offered by classical (or non-quantum) approaches. An area where this performance enhancement shows great potential is in positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) systems. An important subcategory of PNT systems are ones based on inertial navigation systems. These calculate a relative position from a known starting point based on continuous measurements of acceleration, rotation and time. Such systems are essential in environments where satellite navigation systems are either unavailable, such as when underground or underwater, or when they are actively denied. Currently, the long-term positioning accuracy of such systems is severely limited by the performance of the classical acceleration and rotation sensors that they use, even in state-of-the-art incarnations. The performance of rotation and acceleration sensors based on atom interferometry with ultra-cold atoms offer at least an order of magnitude improvement on the long-term positioning accuracy of such classical inertial navigation systems. Despite this potential, there are currently no commercially available inertial measurement units that deliver the benefits of cold atom acceleration and rotation sensing. Our project will change this through the delivery of a commercially viable demonstrator system that offers quantum-enhanced positioning capability in the navigation of trains. Deploying quantum-IMUs on trains is intended to increase both positioning accuracy and precision, and also offering an extra layer of resilience and redundancy to current state-of-the-art systems. This could have several benefits, including the reduction in delays and cancellations, increasing the density of train traffic on a given section of track, and also reduced costs of maintaining and upgrading current signalling systems.

Quantum sensing technologies offer levels of measurement precision, accuracy and stability that exceed those offered by classical (or non-quantum) approaches. An area where this performance enhancement shows great potential is in positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) systems. An important subcategory of PNT systems are ones based on inertial navigation systems. These calculate a relative position from a known starting point based on continuous measurements of acceleration, rotation and time. Such systems are essential in environments where satellite navigation systems are either unavailable, such as when underground or underwater, or when they are actively denied. Currently, the long-term positioning accuracy of such systems is severely limited by the performance of the classical acceleration and rotation sensors that they use, even in state-of-the-art incarnations. The performance of rotation and acceleration sensors based on atom interferometry with ultra-cold atoms offer at least an order of magnitude improvement on the long-term positioning accuracy of such classical inertial navigation systems. Despite this potential, there are currently no commercially available inertial measurement units that deliver the benefits of cold atom acceleration and rotation sensing. Our project will change this through the delivery of a commercially viable demonstrator system that offers quantum-enhanced positioning capability in the navigation of trains. Deploying quantum-IMUs on trains is intended to increase both positioning accuracy and precision, and also offering an extra layer of resilience and redundancy to current state-of-the-art systems. This could have several benefits, including the reduction in delays and cancellations, increasing the density of train traffic on a given section of track, and also reduced costs of maintaining and upgrading current signalling systems.

M Squared and the University of Strathclyde have embarked upon a highly productive strategic alliance in the area of neutral atom quantum computing. The collaboration targets the commercialisation of industrially-relevant quantum computing and simulation based on a jointly developed hardware and software platform. The neutral atom approach to quantum computing has emerged as a highly relevant and versatile candidate for quantum information processing through both analogue and digital computation and simulation. The compelling combination of high qubit gate fidelities, large-scale entanglement and scalability will enable this approach to address commercially-useful problems in accessible timeframes. M Squared have established themselves as a key supplier in cold matter approaches to quantum computing. The coordination and alignment of M Squared's technology roadmap for promising quantum computing architectures, with the ground-breaking research being undertaken at Strathclyde, provides a unique opportunity for the UK to take a leading role of the commercialisation of quantum computing. The feasibility study will complement large-scale investments into both the academic group and the industrial computing team and focus on enabling neutral atom-based analogue simulations in the commercial realm.

Quantum computing is considered a strategic technology by world leading economies. It will offer a completely new approach to information processing with significant societal, economic, and industrial gains projected. Accelerating economic and commercial gains requires addressing the gap between technology readiness to commercial interest. To de-risk commercial value propositions requires industrially accessible quantum platforms for test and demonstration. M Squared and the University of Strathclyde have embarked upon a strategic partnership in the area of neutral atom quantum computing. The collaboration targets the commercialisation of industrially relevant quantum computing based on a jointly developed hardware and software platform. The neutral atom approach to quantum computing has emerged as a highly relevant and versatile candidate for quantum information processing capable of analogue and digital computation. Glasgow has the key ingredients to be a global leader in quantum computing technology due to its world class universities; skill base; and global supply chain companies. M Squared have established themselves as a key supplier in neutral atom and ion-based approaches to quantum computing. The coordination and alignment of M Squared's technology roadmap for the photonics backbone of promising quantum computing architectures, with the ground-breaking research being undertaken at Strathclyde, provides a unique opportunity for Glasgow to take a take a role in the commercialisation of quantum computing. This project will complement large scale investments and focus on demonstrating neutral atom-based analogue computations for the purpose of accelerating commercial interest and economic opportunity.

Precision timing is key to all aspects of modern infrastructure, from the national grid, to telecommunications, to financial trading, through to global, national, and individual navigation systems. When we switch on our smartphones or satellite navigation systems, we are unconsciously using networked oscillators utilising the performance of current commercial atomic clocks. The exact sychronization of these oscillators is necessary to make much of today's technology work and it also underpins many precision experiments in research laboratories. As outlined in the UK Blackett Report on Global Navigation Satellite System dependencies, we are very dependent upon precision frequency and time transfer. However, these signals do not have guaranteed security, either through their ownership (the GPS system is run by the US Air Force) or due to the vulnerability of the wireless signal to hacking or jamming. There is an urgent need for a UK source of clocks to protect core infrastructure. Additionally, the development of a step-change in the accuracy and stability of timing and frequency sources will drive new technologies, including faster telecoms and ever more secure communication protocols, precision navigation for autonomous transport networks and earth observation techniques to monitor climate change. This project brings a team of leading UK universities with many decades expertise in atomic physics together with industry leaders specialising in optical systems engineering to deliver a world leading miniature optical system for atom cooling, trapping and probing. This innovative approach will generate a source of optically trapped strontium atoms suitable to deliver highly accurate time referenced to atomic standards. Ultimately, this technology could be employed in a fully isolated clock that is capable of providing a GNSS-surpassing timing standard at the heart of future autonomous vehicles and critical infrastructure networks.

Quantum enabled Gravity Gradiometry, the measurement of the rate of spatial change of the earth's gravity field, offers significant performance improvements over conventional gravimetry including much better signal to noise ratios (by cancelling out vibrations) and a method better suited to producing geodesy -- gravity maps. The GRADUATE project (gravity gradiometry for end user trials) aims to shrink and ruggedize the apparatus, realising appropriate SWAP (size, weight and power) to produce field deployable technology. Bandwidth improvements will allow for application as a survey tool in moving vehicles, the spatial resolution of measurements being dependant on the bandwidth. This is a particular consideration in airborne survey tools. The team assembled for the GRADUATE project to deliver a commercially feasible quantum gravity gradiometry tool Project lead CPI-TMD will bring their vacuum and sub-system integration capabilities as well as a strong commercial drive from their network of potential end users. M Squared are photonics and quantum technology solutions providers, who in 2017 made the UK's first commercial cold-atom gravity measurement and have continued to invest in maturing the technology. The University of Strathclyde quantum group are rated world class, and with an established record of collaborating closely with both industrial partners underpin this project with exceptional capability in the physics of innovative quantum devices.

ORSAM seeks to address the critical national infrastructure challenge of delivering cost effective, resilient, distributed timing within the telecommunications core and mobile access networks that we all depend on to deliver the emergency service network, data centre access and interconnect, Industrial IoT, financial transactions and nearly all other forms of data access, video streaming and communications. Fundamentally the modern communications network is critically dependent on local, and network level timing and synchronisation. Additive Manufacturing (AM), more commonly known as "3D printing", is a key emerging technology that can provide a step-change in the quest to make optomechanical devices lighter, less sensitive to their external environment and easier/cheaper to manufacture. AM allows the rapid, cost-effective manufacture of geometrically complex parts, featuring performance-enhancing structures that would be near impossible or extremely expensive and laborious to produce via conventional methods. So far, the application of AM within opto-mechanics has been extremely limited. Developing design methods and exploiting AM techniques for applications in optomechanical devices will be key to the future of the telecommunications and quantum industries. The current state-of-the-art in AM optical reference cavities, developed by the University of Birmingham represents a convincing proof-of-principle of the applicability of AM within the TFS sector and the potential benefits it offers, showing that an optimised, vibration insensitive cavity suitable for manufacturing via AM can be designed, simulated and constructed from Invar. Project ORSAM aims to take this further and fully exploit the benefits of AM to produce resilient and lightweight optical references for use in critical infrastructure in remote locations outside of laboratory settings. Proving the efficacy of AM for optomechanical components will open a new market within the quantum sector and extend its application into other areas such as sensing, medical imaging and analytical equipment.

Accurate timing knowledge has a variety of compelling use cases in the context of security and defence applications as well as in the wider economy. Improved access to clocks and reliable, accurate timing references have wide applicability across a number of systems and processes such as the urgent demand for clocks for the financial sector. The development of commercial optical clocks would reduce trading delays and limit the vulnerability of the financial markets. Strontium optical frequency clocks have demonstrated superior performance to microwave frequency atomic clocks, improving timing precision by 100x, offering a unique solution. However, the highly accurate signal from the lattice clock is not useful unless it can be distributed. On transmitting the signal into an optical fibre, vibrations in the fibre render the output frequency signal too inaccurate to remain useful as a time reference. The aim of this project is to engineer a practical and scalable phase-noise cancellation setup that can be used to distribute signals to multiple users at each timing node. PHASE-ZERO will demonstrate an engineered approach to noise cancellation, while improving on competitive offerings by delivering a more integrated system, resilient and better suited to end user applications.

Navigation has been at the heart of the UK's prosperity and international standing for centuries and this is closely tied to the nation's historic innovations in the science and engineering of navigation technologies. The strategic roadmaps associated with the UK National Quantum Programme have identified navigation as an area with the potential to benefit greatly from emerging quantum technology developments. As a market sector, navigation technologies underpin large swathes of the economic output of the UK, whilst also taking a variety of forms across the different platforms that depend upon it. This project seeks to develop and test a cold-atom based accelerometer unit that can deliver useful performance in challenging dynamic environments, including a variety of moving platforms.

Gravity surveys of construction sites are often legally mandated to check for features such as historically significant remains or uncharted utilities. However conducting these surveys is a role where the construction sector lacks resilience. This task is monotonous, but still reliant on a skilled job role where there are significant labour shortages. In spite of the survey being legally mandated, the results are often of low value, with the current state of the art sensing equipment is often inadequate to detect smaller underground features. In this project we shall demonstrate the world's first robotic quantum gravimeter, capable of performing a raster pattern across a site negotiating around obstacles, autonomously conducting the survey and improving resilience by reducing the personnel dependence. A successful outcome would also make the profession of surveying more accessible and inclusive.

In this proposal we propose to design, build and demonstrate a quantum magnetometer, with the ability to measure extremely weak magnetic fields such as those within the human body or local fluctuations in the earth's magnetic field. This industrial research project brings together a complementary consortium of industrial and research partners in the UK and Canada, each experts in their respective fields, including M Squared Lasers (specialists in laser systems for quantum applications), Dias Geophysical (specialists in environmental and exploration imaging), University of Saskatchewan (specialist in diamond NC centre chips), and University of Nottingham (specialists in simulation and design of field-stabilised environments for quantum sensing).

The UK has world leading capability in scalable, high fidelity qubit generation for quantum computing, with two particularly compelling approaches being neutral atoms and ion microtraps. These technologies, however, remain at low TRL because a viable commercialisation approach requires the provision of test beds available to the UK community, and test beds are unavailable owing to two technology barriers -- qubit scalability and fidelity. Providing these test beds requires inter-disciplinary expertise beyond any one company. Our vision for this project is to bring together a such world-leading multidisciplinary consortium of UK industry and academic partners -- the only group capable of overcoming the two barriers and creating a globally leading industry for commercial quantum computing and simulation hardware. The programme will show a transition from fundamental, academic TRL activity to scalable, commercial deployments of cold matter quantum information systems; overcoming the fidelity and scalability barriers via advancement of system manufacturability including microfabrication and vacuum hardware; development of the photonics backbone including advanced lasers for state preparation, qubit control and readout, requiring high levels of optical power, stability and noise suppression; and the design and delivery of electronics and control systems, including modular electronics and advanced control and sequencing hardware. The key objectives in overcoming the barriers as described above is to bring the technology to a level where pragmatic test bed facilities for the benefit of the quantum community can be realised. Commercially, by establishing the potential scalability of the technology the consortium will establish a supply chain cluster, evidencing the potential impact, and producing a roadmap to industrial production. The partners have extensive experience in the sector and can already demonstrate commercial deployment of relevant technologies across the global market for quantum information systems. Furthermore, the planned work can be expected to dovetail with existing national quantum computing infrastructure, to realise coordinated growth of the UK quantum computing sector for the wider benefit of UK plc, and trigger significant additional investment outside the project funding.

Precision timing plays a vital role in the economy, from enabling satellite-free navigation to protecting the integrity of electronic financial trading. The current state-of-the-art commercial timing systems use microwave frequency atomic clocks, but commercial optical frequency atomic clocks are expected to be available within the next 4 years, promising a 100x improvement or better over current technology. This will enable submarine navigation to improve from 2km accuracy over a 24hr period to 100m accuracy over several months. It will also prevent millions of £'s in losses due to timing errors in the financial sector.In this project, M Squared Lasers, together with the University of Birmingham, will design and build the core components of a commercial atomic clock based on the strontium atom. As forerunners in this field of new quantum technology development, we will develop compact and modular subsystems laser sources, optics assemblies and robust electronics packages that will accelerate commercialisation of this new state-of-the-art precision timing system.

Underground surveying is a rapidly growing sector ($5bn, 11% CAGR), driven by the construction industry needing to identify existing utilities such as sewers, electric cables, telecoms cables, gas and water mains prior to invasive excavating, drilling and tunnelling. Without these workers can easily strike pipes and cables, that risks lives, cost money and cause havoc for residents and road-users. It is estimated to cost the UK's economy £1.2bn p.a., and dissuades re-development of brown field sites. Concurrently, geophysical surveying is widely used in the mining industry, to locate oil reserves or mineral deposits, and for environmental monitoring of water tables and ice sheets.Cold atom gravimetry offers a potential step change in sensitivity to underground surveying, and a dramatic increase in capability to these industries.MSL's quantum gravimeter has already reached significant milestones in its development path within a commercial setting, being demonstrated in 2018 at a national showcase, and recently taking measurements on a barge in London. A key issue with the system is its susceptibility to environmental noise, a limitation of all quantum sensors. With this project MSL aim to comprehensively address these issues with a range of noise compensation subsystems.The output of this project will enable quantum sensors to make leaps forward in sensitivity within field settings, enabling faster commercialisation, and faster return on investment for the benefit of the consortium and UK plc.

The project aims to develop a compact cold atom gravimeter and identify routes to development for a space-deployable system. Space-based high precision gravimetry as offered by cold atom approaches is an emerging key enabling technology for a range of markets dependent on Earth observation. Furthermore gravimetry has a broad number of terrestrial applications from underground surveying to locating oil and mineral deposits. Although the levels of precision of cold atom gravimetry have been demonstrated, in comparison to current gravimeters the most prominent drawback is the systems size weight and power (SWaP) characteristics. SWaP requirements are seen as the key roadblock in the wider adoption of cold atom gravimeters, despite having a multitude of advantages over existing solutions. This project brings together routes to miniaturised, compact and space deployable subsystems to yield a compact cold atom gravimeter demonstrator. In 2016 flooding caused £1.6bn of damage, and accurate flood prediction could have avoided some of these costs and associated stress of losing homes. Accurate location of underground infrastructure could reduce traffic congestion that costs the UK £4.6bn per year.

A primary goal of the UK National Quantum Technology Programme is to target key milestones on the journey to practical, universal quantum computing. The partners are working together to develop commercial supply chains for key components, subsystems and devices for emergent quantum computing and networking platforms. The proposed project complements the work programme for the national hub in Networked Quantum Information Technologies (NQIT), led by the University of Oxford but encompassing all the partners as either participants or contributors, by developing the industrial role in the efforts of the national programme. The planned developments will help the industrial partners establish a native supply chain for critical components in the roadmap for the Q20:20 engine and beyond. The envisaged impact of fault tolerant quantum computing will have global significance and strengthening the UK's industrial participation in this area at this stage will ensure that researchers benefit from hardware capable of accelerating their own work. This value proposition will enable the companies to benefit immediately.

To develop and embed expertise in microscopy and biophotonics to enable a new proprietary microscope to be commercialised.

Precision timing plays a vital role in the economy, from enabling satellite-free navigation to protecting the integrity of electronic financial trading. The current state-of-the-art commercial timing systems use microwave frequency atomic clocks, but commercial optical frequency atomic clocks are expected to be available within the next 4 years, promising a 100x improvement or better over current technology. This will enable submarine navigation to improve from 2 km accuracy over a 24 hr period to 100 m accuracy over several months. It will also prevent millions of pounds in losses due to timing errors in the financial sector. In this project, M Squared Lasers, together with the University of Birmingham, will design and build the core components of a commercial atomic clock based on the strontium atom. As forerunners in this field of new quantum technology development, we will develop compact vacuum chambers, stable laser sources, and robust electronics packages that will facilitate wider adoption of a new precision timing state-of-the-art.

Femtosecond lasers are seeing wide adoption across a growing number of applications due to their ability to deliver precise high peak intensity energy. For microscopy high-resolution images are achievable and in micromachining high fidelity material processing with reduced recast and microcracking is enabled. Ultrafast lasers are increasingly taking over roles from other laser types and enabling new levels of precision in emerging and high value industries. A key restriction in the adoption of this leading tool is its prohibitively high price for wide adoption and many yet unexplored applications. Recently Fibre lasers have witnessed high growth as they have supplied a lower cost offering than traditional crystal based systems. Fibre lasers however suffer high levels of dispersion and restricted output powers. The aim of the present project is to investigate novel glass based laser system that could present a lower cost offering than Fibre lasers and disrupt the market. The aim of this project is to deliver a prototype glass based ultrafast laser that is low cost and demonstrate it in microscopy, where MSL has strong links, and micromachining that represents a large market and impact. Additionally the project will result in the establishment of a UK based supply chain.

ColdQuanta and M-Squared Lasers will develop a commercial supply chain for high-flux cold atom sources. In particular, the business partnership will take a modular approach to commercialising the high flux cold atom source which is a complex and critical element of cold matter systems. The modular commercial system will provide a robust and compact subsystem that will lower the barrier to entry and simplify the process of further system development and integration needed to address specific applications such as clocks, magnetic and electric field sensors, inertial sensors, navigation, and quantum information systems based on neutral atoms.

The emergence of nascent quantum technologies has been closely tied to the development of enabling laser sources. With commercial quantum technology applications on the horizon, the challenges in laser development move toward realising low-cost and low volume sources with the ruggedness and modularity required from a critical component in practical quantum technology instruments. This project will fuse the partner’s expertise in laser engineering, component optimisation and applications, with rapidly improving diode laser technology to achieve high performance laser output at a significantly reduced cost, suitable for widespread deployment.

The project will develop a novel terahertz (THz) detector which will be compact, inexpensive, room-temperature, and have high sensitivity. It will exploit recent breakthroughs in manipulating and interrogating atoms in Rydberg quantum states. The engineering challenge is to miniaturise and rapidly transition the technology from laboratory to product. To this aim, a prototype will be built and characterised to demonstrate the technical feasibility of the approach. Rydberg atoms have one or more electrons in hydrogen-like quantum states, and are characterised by strong response to electromagnetic fields, in particular to fields at THz frequencies (0.1-10 THz or 3000-30 µm), in effect acting as THz optical transducers. High-sensitivity THz detectors are typically bulky and require cryogenic cooling, making them unsuitable for many applications and severely limiting the uptake of THz technologies, especially in industrial settings. The Rydberg THz detector will address this problem, offering a transformative technology for THz sensing and imaging and providing a platform for industrial applications such as non-destructive testing and quality control, and security applications for the detection of chemical and biological agents.

The market for handheld and portable Raman spectrometers is rapidly growing (10% CAGR) whilst progress is being made towards the development of methods to overcome the background fluorescence that has traditionally held the method back. M Squared have developed a handheld Raman spectrometer for the authentication of whisky, and are adapting this technology for healthcare applications based on proprietary background subtraction techniques. Handheld spectrometers require high performance with enough power and spectral purity to allow accurate species identification, whilst being compact, robust and low cost. At present high precision laser sources used for high resolution spectroscopy have external cavities which are bulky limiting their use in the field. During this project the consortium will develop power scaled lasers based on innovative processes that make use of the unique qualities of compound semiconductors to deliver improved light intensity. The power scaled laser will be low cost and rugged, and able to provide high precision analysis for handheld spectrometry. The enabling of high precision handheld spectrometry will enable applications in precision medicine, as well as quality monitoring in the food & drink industry.

Novel low cost ultrafast lasers are enabling wider adoption of leading microscopes for life science research. Microscopes enable medical research to be undertaken and the development of new medicines that save lives. M Squared Lasers (MSL) have recently developed a novel semiconductor laser, that is capable of replacing Ti:Sa based lasers for ultrafast applications such as in microscopes. However, unsatisfactory gain material is holding this technology from reaching market. In this project we will develop a process for improving compound semiconductor material growth to enable effective thermal management for optimum laser emission intensity. This apparatus will enable M Squared to deliver a low cost ultrafast laser system to market. Furthermore, a strong regional and UK based supply chain will be developed.

The emergence of nascent quantum technologies has been closely tied to the development of enabling laser sources. With commercial quantum technology applications on the horizon, the challenges in laser development move toward realising low-cost and high performance sources with the ruggedness and modularity required from a critical component in practical quantum technology instruments. The project brings the academic excellence of the Imperial College London together with the industrial capacity and skill of M Squared Lasers to exploit this promising new innovation from the UK's research base.

The project will develop a compact, simplified and more robust apparatus for the preparation of cold atomic samples for a range of sensing and quantum computing applications. The project partners have successfully demonstrated the use of grating chip-based magneto-optical traps in a commercial environment. In validating the use of the grating chips with M Squared’s rubidium-locked laser source, the partners have laid the foundations for increasing the technology readiness level of this key component technology. The proposed project will see the UCA trap become part of a more integrated system, and will move the technology closer to the targeted applications. Additionally, it will emphasie the key role of a single, agile laser source as a key component in the quantum technology toolbox. This technique has wide relevance to the quantum technologies as it forms one of the building blocks for practical and low-cost, atomic sensing devices and quantum computers. The project brings the academic excellence of the University of Strathclyde together with the industrial knowhow of M Squared Lasers to exploit this world-leading innovation from the UK's research base.

Atom interferometers are at the heart of many quantum technologies, enabling high precision measurements of influences on clouds of cold atoms, such as motion, gravity, time, magnetic and electric fields. These capabilities have a wide range of applications including satellite free navigation, financial time stamping, medical imaging and geological surveying. The aim of this project is to develop a high performance laser that will be used to create, manipulate and probe the superposition state of the atom interferometer. By delivering a high power low phase noise laser the sensors capabilities are increased. The system will be demonstrated on inertial sensing that requires high powers and is particularly sensitive to phase noise. Quantum based inertial sensing units could pave the way to high precision satellite-free navigation for use in transport and mining.

The project aims to deliver an integrated distributed feedback laser as a key component in cold atom technologies. The partners will build on extensive expertise in microfabrication, packaging, electronics and application development to produce a highly functional yet low-cost and compact laser device suitable for use in a wide range of cold atom technologies. The project brings together three innovative Scottish companies, M Squared Lasers, Optocap and Kelvin Nanotechnology, with the Universities of Glasgow and Birmingham and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.

The ability to directly image gas emissions has significant application in areas as diverse as health and safety within workspace and public environment, security and process control. We will use bespoke laser illumination and a single pixel camera system, based upon the quantum inspired techniques of computational ghost imaging. The imaging device is based upon only a single pixel coupled to a spatial light modulator, similar to that used in video projection. The reliance only on single-pixel, rather than specialist detector array, means that the system is extremely low-cost and gives imaging opportunities across the short-wave and mid-infrared. The selectivity of target gas is set by the wavelength of the illumination source. This project combines the expertise of the University of Glasgow (through their quantum hub) in IR imagers with the optical source and commercialisation expertise of M Squared.

Optical lattice clocks offer superior performance (>100x) over competing technologies and have broad applicability in scientific research, satellite-free navigators and timing signals for financial trading. However, existing all-optical clocks are complex and expensive and have not met the needs of the markets. In this project we will develop commercial cold atom packages as an underpinning technology of all-optical clocks.

The project will develop a compact and simplified apparatus for the preparation of cold atomic samples for a range of sensing, timing and computing applications. This will be achieved by using a simplified appartus where mirrors are installed inside the cavity to control the light beams used for trapping. The device developed during this project will serve as a source of cold atoms. This device has wide relevance to the quantum technologies, because it forms one of the building blocks for practical and low-cost, atomic sensing devices and quantum computers. The project brings the academic excellence of Oxford University together with the industrial knowhow of M Squared Lasers to exploit this world-leading innovation from the UK's research base.

M Squared Lasers Ltd is a UK-based SME looking to establish links with research institutes and private enterprises in the Boulder, Colorado area. The town is home to a number of key players in the global cold atom research community and as an effective hub of activity in this field, represents a key strategic destination for M Squared whose core business is in the field of atomic and molecular optics. The opportunities to collaborate and establish commercial relationships based on our previous interactions are numerous and timely, given the company’s ambitions in future quantum technologies. The feasibility study will provide a platform for building strategic partnerships and gaining access to cutting-edge technologies, enabling senior technical and commercial management to engage with their US counterparts.

The ability to directly image gas emissions has significant application in areas as diverse as oil & gas, health and safety within the workspace, environmental monitoring, security and process control. Our aim is to develop an active, low-cost gas imager using a laser illumination source and a single pixel camera system. The imaging device is based compressive sensing using only a single pixel detector coupled to a spatial light modulator, similar to that used in digital data projectors. The reliance on a single pixel, rather than specialist infrared detector arrays, means the system developed can be extremely low-cost. Crucially, it can be extended all the way into the infrared where currently no cost-effective imaging solutions are available.

M Squared Lasers Limited is a UK-based SME, specialising in the manufacture of lasers and related systems. The company has identified an opportunity to work with a European research institute who are in a position to help commercialise a novel tunable mid-infrared laser source. The source will have direct applicability to M Squared’s core customer base in both the atomic and molecular optics and high- resolution spectroscopy markets. The proposed project is designed to explore the commercial opportunities for collaboration in this area and to establish links between the institutions. A long-term strategic partnership is envisaged and the project will enable senior management and technical staff to visit the institute and explore the opportunities, undertake due diligence and will greatly accelerate the time to market of a compelling technology development..

In a gravity meter based on atom interferometry, the atoms act as miniature test masses and are sensitive to gravity and motion. This is a quantum technology as it relies on the interference of the atoms with each other, a manifestation of wave-particle duality, i.e. the fact that matter can behave like a wave under certain circumstances; it is the quantum nature of the technique that affords it great sensitivity. This project will, for the first time, demonstrate an atomic gravity meter in a UK commercial environment. The expertise of M Squared Lasers in laser engineering and system integration will be combined with the academic excellence of the University of Birmingham to create a collaborative team capable of delivering the proposed commercial product. Gravitational sensors enable one to see through matter and below the ground. Applications can be envisaged in many sectors, from the detection of new oil and gas deposits, surveying unknown underground infrastructure such as pipes and cables, to monitoring the water table

Optical lattice clocks offer superior performance (>100x) over competing technologies and are required in scientific research, satellite-free navigators and timing signals for financial trading. However, existing all-optical clocks are complex and expensive and have not met the needs of the markets. In this project we will develop underpinning technology of all-optical clocks, stabilised-frequency laser systems, using novel laser sources. These sources are essential low-cost flexible tools to unlock the full quantum technology applications potential. COCLES will develop lasers with ever more demanding performance metrics. To complete a family of laser devices required by a full clock system.

Awaiting Public Project Summary

Since the invention of the microscope and observation of the first biological cell in 1665, our understanding ofbiology has been rapidly advanced through photonics-centred imaging and detection. World-leading photonicsgroups in the UK have uncovered a series of significant technical advances that will enable the comprehensiveimaging and detection of a range of molecular biological systems with unprecedented resolution. Theseadvances in biophotonics are set to transform the future of healthcare and improve everyones life by helpingus to understand the world better and move from a treatment to a prevention based healthcare system. Theseadvances will mark a global revolution in the next decades that will drive trillion $ markets. Working closelywith one of the globally leading UK Universities, M Squared has recently acquired intellectual property (IP) thatwill be transformational in the deployment of biomedical imaging, making it available to a wider range ofcustomers and markets and taking part in driving the healthcare revolution.

Almost from its discovery there have been grand hopes for Raman spectroscopy to be a ubiquitous tool for chemical analysis. It has the potential to identify substances easily and distinctly from fingerprint-like spectra. This can be done with simple photonic architecture, allowing for potential portable and miniaturised form factors. Unfortunately the overwhelming fluorescence background common to all analytes obscures the weak Raman signal and thus makes this dream unrealised. Finally wavelength modulated Raman spectroscopy (WMRS) represents an innovative solution that delivers fast, fluorescence-free Raman spectra. WMRS has a wide range of potential applications in the healthcare industry from discriminating between cancerous and healthy tissue, to determining drug concentrations in biological liquids and identifying the presence of inflammation and infection as well as a analytical technique for high throughput screening. This market study will aim to clarify the optimum development pathway for this technology in the healthcare sector.

In an atom interferometer, the atoms act as miniature test masses and are sensitive to gravity and motion. This is a quantum technology as it relies on the interference of the atoms with each other, a manifestation of wave-particle duality, i.e. the fact that matter can behave like a wave under certain circumstances; it is the quantum nature of the technique that affords it great sensitivity. This project will, for the first time, demonstrate an atom interferometer in a UK commercial environment. The expertise of M Squared Lasers in laser engineering and system integration will be combined with the academic excellence of the University of Birmingham to create a collaborative team capable of delivering the proposed commercial product. Gravitational sensors enable one to see through matter and below the ground. Applications can be envisaged in many sectors, from the detection of new oil and gas deposits, surveying unknown underground infrastructure such as pipes and cables, to monitoring the water table.

ColdQuanta will lead a collaboration to develop cold-atom-based inertial sensors as a replacement for current instruments that are based on classical technologies and establish the UK as the global leader in atomic gravity sensor technology. In the initial phase of this work, our objective is to develop a roadmap for commercialising this next generation of quantum-based gravity meters and identify a viable path for transitioning the relevant quantum technologies out of academic settings and into commercial venues.

Optical lattice clocks offer superior performance (>100x) over competing technologies and are required in scientific research, satellite-free navigators and timing signals for financial trading. However, existing all-optical clocks are complex and expensive and have not met the needs of the markets. In this project we will develop underpinning technology of all-optical clocks, the frequency comb, using a novel compact low-cost approach. The frequency comb can be thought of as an ‘optical gearbox’ that translates the fast optical frequency into a frequency where it can be measured with electronics and is a key requirement of optical clocks. We will develop novel technology suitable for frequency comb generation that is compact and low-cost.

Optical lattice clocks offer superior performance (>100x) over competing technologies and are required in scientific research, satellite-free navigators and timing signals for financial trading. However, existing all-optical clocks are complex and expensive and have not met the needs of the markets. In this project we will develop underpinning technology of all-optical clocks, stablised-frequency laser systems, using novel laser sources.

The project will develop a compact and simplified apparatus for the preparation of cold atomic samples. Conventionally, a multiple beam geometry is required to laser cool and trap atoms and, with this, comes a corresponding overhead of optical components within a mechanical framework. Here, we propose to use a novel approach in which all the beams required for cooling and trapping are generated by a single beam and chip configuration. The technique has wide relevance to quantum technologies as it forms the primary stage for all atomic sensing devices including gravimeters, inertial sensors and clocks. The project brings the academic excellence of the University of Strathclyde together with the industrial knowhow of M Squared Lasers to exploit this world-leading innovation from the UK's research base. We will take it closer to commercialisation by commissioning a chip trap within an industrial environment, enhancing the technique and demonstrating measurement capability.

Imaging of artwork is an important aspect of art conservation, technical art history, and art authentication. Many forms of near-infrared (NIR) imaging are currently used by conservators, archeologists, forensic scientists and technical art historians to examine the under-drawings of paintings, to detect damage and restorations, to enhance faded or over-painted inscriptions, to study artists’ techniques, to examine questioned documents, and as a non-destructive analytical tool for identifying certain pigments. We propose using an infrared optical parametric oscillator (a very broadly tunable source of mid-infrared light with exceptional spectral purity) to explore oil, acrylic and water colour paintings, specifically to realise an automated system than can scan in an artwork and detrmine its authenticity. Once proven in this challenging application, the technology we will develop will find utility in a range of diverse, impactful and timely end use applications in the wider fields of imaging for security, chemical sensing and environmental monitoring.

Encompassing a wide range of applications, quantum technologies will be a game changer in the next decades. A variety of potential applications have been identified and are eagerly anticipated by a diverse end-user base. Given the technological potential and ground-breaking nature of the underpinning physics there will undoubtedly be many applications that have yet to be conceived, representing an exciting opportunity for the long-term growth for UK companies that can form an integrated quantum technology supply base. M Squared is already engaged heavily with the academic quantum technology community and is well positioned to play a key role in the establishment of such UK-based supply chains through development of novel laser sources capable of meeting the needs of the integrators and end users. The proof of market study will provide a formal framework for investigating and evaluating the opportunities available and generating a technology roadmap and business plan in conjunction with key collaborators and industrial partners, with whom we will actively engage.

Confocal microscopy is one of the most widely used techniques in biosciences. High resolution images are produced through laser excitation of fluorescent molecules in the blue-green region of the spectrum. Lasers provide light at only a few fixed wavelengths and this limits the brightness of the image. M Squared proposes to overcome this limitation by developing a continuously tuneable laser source covering the whole region of relevance to confocal microscopy. The project will deliver a demonstrator using a novel approach. Given the size of the market, the potential return on investment over 10 years is well in excess of 100 times. M Squared is an early stage business whose growth is highly reliant on technological development and innovation. Funding from the TSB is essential to offset the risks of undertaking this ambitious research project.

A major challenge in fundamental biological research and the development of biotechnology is to measure heterogeneity in chemical composition at the cellular and subcellular scale in living cells and tissues. The current standard in biological imaging, fluorescence microscopy, provides chemical specific image contrast by molecularly targeted probes. However, these probes are too bulky for labelling small molecules such as lipids, carbohydrates, metabolites and many drugs that play essential roles in the function of living cells and tissues. Coherent Raman Scattering (CRS) microscopy has emerged as powerful tool to generate signals from vibrational spectroscopy to provide label-free mapping of biomolecules in real-time. However, due to the specialised laser requirements, this technique is currently confined to a handful of specialised laboratories with the resources and expertise to operate such laser systems. This project aims to develop a simple, compact module that will upgrade pulsed lasers currently used in biological microscopes to provide wider access to CRS imaging.

A compact continuous wave (CW) optical parametric oscillator (OPO) capable of tuning over key absorption features in the infrared (IR) is a highly desirable tool for spectroscopy of key atmospheric pollutants, narcotics and explosives. A system that can combine very broad coarse tuneability with smoothly tunable, narrow-linewidth radiation enables the detection and identification of a diverse range of substances with exceptional precision. Fitting the OPO into a single, adjustment-free and highly compact box makes it very attractive for applications both inside and, crucially outside of laboratory conditions. M Squared Lasers already manufacture a pulsed (broad linewidth) OPO, which is a compact broadly tunable source, and have combined this with their scanning system in order to produce hyperspectral images. The challenge is to produce significantly narrower linewidth by making a CW OPO. The project presents a disruptive change in this field, credible market potential and will address the needs of a wide range of important and timely applications.

Several markets are seeking solutions for an effective way of remotely detecting, identifying, quantifying and monitoring chemical emissions at ultra-low concentration levels. The overall objective of this project is to address these needs through the provision of a versatile, sensitive, standoff chemical imager. The project will focus on the development of a demonstrator based on the very recent development of the active heterodyne hyperspectral chemical detection method. The demonstrator development will allow the optimization of the active heterodyne detection technique and demonstrate chemical imaging capability for the first time. The development of the instrument will be accompanied by spectral modelling, processing algorithms integration, and a validation of low concentration chemical imaging methods in an application example of relevance to one of the target high-priority markets.

Awaiting Public Project Summary

This project brings together a consortium of complementary academic and commercial organisations, including: specialists in ultra-fast lasers, materials and orthopaedic implants. The aim is to develop new technology to allow surgeons to customise joint replacements at the time of surgery on the rare occasions when there is significant bone loss either from a failed implant that needs to be revised or from bone cancer. The technology will involve hand held lasers and new orthopaedic biomaterials tuned to be laser melted without raising the temperature of the surrounding bone. The technology developed during this project has the potential to transform treatment of these complex cases and has application in other fields requiring rapid maufacturing without raising temperatures.

Multi-colour, Multi-Photon fluorescence Microscopy (MCMPM) is a powerful technique for imaging living cells and tissues, which is used in many areas of biological and biomedical research, including cell biology, parasitology, developmental biology, cancer research and drug discovery. The widespread use of MCMPM is limited by the high cost and specialist knowledge required to operate the pulsed lasers at the heart of this technique. The goal of this proposal is to investigate the feasibility of using ultrafast mode-locked semi-conductor disk lasers (SDLs) as excitation sources for MCMPM. These lasers should be superior to the current industry standard combination of a Ti:Sapphire and OPO laser on the basis of compact lightweight design, turn-key operation, and significantly reduced price. The project will focus on identification of the most appropriate combinations of fluorophores to cover the widest range of biological applications, development of appropriate SDL prototypes, and comparison of SDL performance with Ti:Sapphire / OPO excitation. By lowering the cost of a multi-photon imaging system and improving its ease of use, the number of academic and commercial biological and biomedical researchers having access to this technique will increase. This has potential to positively impact the health care industry, and thereby benefit society at large

The microscope market was 2.7bn in 2011 and is expected to increase to nearly 3.4 billion in 2016. Multi-photon excitation (MPE) microscopy is the imaging workhorse of life science laboratories. An ultrafast laser is at the core of any MPE microscope and the state of the art for this is the Ti:Sapphire laser. While its output properties are highly desirable for MPE, its optical pump lasers are based on a complex, multi-stage wavelength conversion process, making Ti:Sapphire very expensive (£150k) and often impractical. This project will address these shortcomings by developing a low-cost laser for biomedical imaging. This will be achieved by leveraging recent advances in gallium nitride diode lasers emitting at 450nm (originally motivated by multimedia projection applications). Crucially, this laser will be suitable for OEM integration into microscope systems opening up new markets in comparison to status-quo where microscope and laser are discrete systems. The feasibility of this project has already been proven by means of a TSB feasibility study and an EPSRC KTA programme. This project forms an essential final step before commercialisation of the technology.

Awaiting Public Project Summary

High power continuous wave lasers, with tuneable single frequency light have numerous applications in high value markets. Presently the lasers available are of limited utility due to a number of factors. A Semiconductor Disk Laser based solution can potentially address all of these issues in a small compact and cost effective platform solution. A high power multi-element Semiconductor Disk Laser aligns closely with the photonics scope as it will be used in both industrial processing and biophotonics and provide advances in functionality, performance, size and cost reduction. The main technical challenge is that the proposed laser solution will require a change to the current laser architecture. This move to a multi-element laser represents a significant change from the normal paradigm and brings some significant challenges that must be identified and tackled.

Laser based measurements are increasing being used to extract gas parameters including concentration. If the target gas is present it will absorb laser power, this absorption is proportionally to the concentration of the gas. As well as measuring absorption, range to gas can also be measured by examining the time it takes for the laser pulses to travel, this is known as light detection and ranging (LIDAR). This can be extended by having two laser sources operating at closely spaced wavelengths, one wavelength is highly absorbent to the target gas the other is not. By comparing the detected values for both wavelengths the concentration can be determined, this is known as differential absorption LIDAR (DIAL). This work will develop a bench mounted DIAL system for gas concentration and range measurements.

Microscopes are widely used in biomedical research and use sophisticated techniques to probe biological tissue in fine detail. They give medical practitioners the insight into tissue samples to enable them to come to rapid and accurate diagnoses of medical conditions. A technique finding increasing use in microscopes is that of using a pulsed laser to illuminate the tissue sample. A fluorescent dye is injected into the tissue and acts as a “marker”; this means that it adheres to specific biological molecules and “lights up” when illuminated, thus revealing the position of the molecules of interest. Pulses of laser light are used to “excite” the dye, causing it to fluoresce, and, as these lasers can be tightly focussed, they enable pinpoint location of the molecules of interest. Typically, the laser sources used in this technique are large, expensive and complex pieces of apparatus, which can only be operated by highly, trained staff. What we propose to do is to develop a prototype laser system that delivers equivalent pulses of light at a fraction of the cost, in a package a fraction of the size, and in a form, which can be operated without any need for user intervention. M Squared brings to this field its existing track-record in commercialisation of robust, small-footprint, “hands-free” laser systems for industrial and research applications. We expect to make a significant impact on the market for biomedical research instrumentation; specifically, we aim to produce a small, inexpensive, and easy-to-use prototype laser system, which will displace the large, expensive, and complex systems that are currently in use. In doing so, we hope to make this powerful technology more affordable and accessible to a greater number of researchers and biomedical practitioners, and so improve the quality and international reach of biomedical research carried out in the UK.

LASER-CASK (Light Assisted Spirit Evaporation Reduction- Counter Angel Share Kit) combines the manufacturing expertise of leading whisky distiller William Grant and Sons with innovative laser solutions from M Squared Lasers. The project vision is to create a step-change in process efficiency for maturation of distilled spirits, including whisky, by utilizing a disruptive laser technology solution to quickly and practically detect evaporative "angels share" losses and tiny leaks from the highly variable wooden casks that are central to traditional whisky maturation processes. LASER-CASK could yield efficiency gains of >10% whilst also improving energy and environmental efficiency. Scotch whisky generated £4.23bn in export sales in 2011 and represents some 25% of UK food and drink exports. Exploitation of LASER-CASK would have major profitability gains for distillers, generate specialist lasers sales and create a disruptive international distillery services business opportunity.

A wide range of sensing applications in defence & security, oil & gas and medical diagnostics would greatly benefit from broadly tunable infrared light sources operating in the long-wave infrared (LWIR). To date, commercially available sources are mostly emitting in the mid-IR wavelength band. LWIR sources offer substantial benefits in terms of detecting more species and increased sensitivities through probing stronger, absorption features in the spectral fingerprint region (5-12micrometers). While there are a variety of approaches that could cover specific wavelengths in this spectral region, the optical parametric oscillator (OPO) format has the potential to dominate real world applications in the LWIR. OPOs combine high optical output, spectral purity and tunability, with the capability of being integrated into a compact, rugged and cost-effective device. These properties are critical in the target applications and are currently not offered by any other single source. The total market opportunity is estimated to be at least $250m pa with estimated sales of the order of 100-200 units pa within 3-5 years of market entry, generating revenues of c£5-10m pa. We propose to exploit recent advances in nonlinear materials (ZGP and OP-GaAs) to extend M Squared’s established portfolio of IR source and sensing solutions into the LWIR. Combining these novel materials with M Squared’s pioneering intracavity pumping scheme will enable a truly hands- free system that can be used in a wide range of applications. The project will have impact on multiple levels. On a social level, this disruptive technology can aid the detection of diseases and monitor air pollution, enhancing well-being and quality of life. In the environmental context, industrial emission can be monitored with the device. Lastly, there will be significant economic impact from M Squared being positioned as a market leader at the forefront of LWIR sensing solutions, resulting in increased employment and export.

SYNOPOSIS will develop an active, long-wave mid-infrared (LWIR) imaging system capable of catering for a wide range of applications including the detection of explosives, oil and gas prospecting and medical diagnostics. To date, active imaging systems operate mostly in the short-wave mid-infrared spectral region. Moving the technology to longer wavelength will enable access to the so-called molecular fingerprint region where the interaction with light and molecules is significantly stronger, therefore enabling higher sensitivity and specificity. The limiting factor in the context of LWIR active imaging technology has so far been the availability of practical LWIR light sources. SYNOPOSIS will address this issue by advancing the continuous-wave, intracavity-pumped, optical parametric oscillator into the LWIR by employing novel nonlinear materials such as orientation-patterned gallium arsenide and zinc germanium diphosphide.

A compact continuous wave (cw) optical parametric oscillator (OPO)capable of tuning over key absorption features in the infrared is a desirable tool for spectroscopy of key atmospheric pollutants, narcotics and explosives. A system that can combine broad tuneability with narrow linewidth allows probing of diverse substances with precision. M Squared Lasers already manufacture a pulsed (broad linewidth) OPO which is a compact, broadly tunable source and combines this with their imager to produce hyperspectral images. The challenge is to produce narrow linewidth by making a cw OPO. The inherent difficult is relaxation oscillations, which occur in the interplay between the OPO and the laser when they share a common resonator. We propose an internal SHG unit to suppress this.

Health and safety implications as well as risk of environmental pollution have always been associated with the oil and gas industry. This project will investigate the potential of active, hyperspectral imaging technology to address some of these issues. M Squared Lasers has recently introduced this technology in the form of an optical parametric oscillator based hyperspectral imager operating in the mid infrared. This system has the potential to identify leaks in pipelines and at petrochemical, storage and refinery sites at 100s of meter stand-off distances. While the oil and gas industry has recognised the potential of this technology, further experimental studies are required to demonstrate the full potential of this technology and highlight any further improvements/alterations that are required to bring this novel technology to the market.

Microspectrophotometry is a very useful tool in the forensic analysis of many kinds of trace evidence. It combines a microscope with a spectrophotometer so that the light absorption properties of a very small sample can be recorded. We propose replacing the traditional broadband lamp and optical grating with a tunable optical parametric oscillator (OPO). M Squared Lasers’s tuneable OPO, Firefly, and its associated scanner are designed to produce hyperspectral images at a distance. The aim of the project is to reconfigure the OPO and scanner to produce microscope type images with sub millimeter resolution in the mid-infrared. The resultant system can then image small samples whilst changing wavelength from 1.5um to 3.8um, thus exploring the composition of the subject material.

The project will leverage recent advances in the field of direct diode pumped titanium sapphire lasers. Typically pumped by complex laser systems, direct diode pumping has the potential to significantly reduce the complexity and associated costs of Ti:sapphire systems. This would be of great benefit for a variety of medical applications such as multi photon imaging. While the technology has been proven in a laboratory environment, further investigations are required to verify the feasibility of its commercialisation. The issues in this context are to overcome the limitations imposed by the limited pump power of the diode lasers which can potentially hinder the performance of these devices in fully engineered systems. M Squared intends to address these issues by modelling, system design and experimental investigations.

The project aims at the development of highly compact and ruggedized electronics that can be employed on spacecrafts and used in the context of environmental sensing using laser technology, specifically laser heterodyne radiometers. The quantum cascade laser is a laser source that is ideal for this application; however, so far no appropriate drive electronics that qualify for space missions have been developed. This project will address this issue by combining the world-leading capabilities in the design of electronics for laser systems of M Squared with the experience in space-born sensing applications at RAL Space Science and Technology.

We propose to construct a new type of Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) device, based on an external ring cavity. External cavities have already been utilised to expand the available tuning range of QCL devices. Indeed tuning from around 7 microns up to 11 microns has been demonstrated from an external cavity QCL (ECQCL). In addition the use of ring cavities to produce widely tuneable and highly stable single frequency laser light is well known (indeed M Squared produce a state-of-art Titanium:Sapphire laser product based on such a geometry). We propose here to leverage both of these approaches i.e. an external ring cavity, together with M Squared’s proprietary technologies in relation to low noise drive electronics and stable optical mounting, to produce a proof of concept ring ECQCL with state-of-the-art tuning range across the full infrared waveband (MWIR and LWIR) combined with exemplary spectral purity. A narrow linewidth ring QCL is an exciting platform technology which will both enable and significantly improve applications in key areas such as environmental sustainability, medicines and healthcare as well as defence and security. A product arising from a successful project outcome would be an innovative system offering significantly improved performance and functionality and be designed with inherent reliability, these features will be combined with a intuitive user interface to provide end users with a powerful new technology to drive new high value applications.

To develop a novel class leading high power laser source based on conical refraction (CR) crystal technology.

Awaiting Public Summary

Awaiting Public Summary