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European manufacturing platform for Photonic Integrated Circuits (EuroPIC) - Time to change

Area of relevance: 
The applications space for Photonic integrated circuits is very broad: Telecommunications, data communications, medical imaging, sensors, metrology and consumer photonics to name but a few.
Duration: 
1 August 2009 - 31 July 2012
Affiliation: 
Programme Co-ordinators: TU Eindhoven and Willow Photonics. Two EuroPIC consortium members, Oclaro (UK) and FhG-HHI (Germany) plan to open up their Indium Phosphide fabs to the generic approach.
Funded by: 
European Commission, EU

Abstract:

The objective of EuroPIC (www.europic.org) is to effect a fundamental change in the way applications based on photonic integrated circuits (PICs) in Indium Phosphide are designed and manufactured. The key development is to facilitate access by small companies (SMEs) to development and manufacturing of photonic micro-systems in the form of advanced but very cost effective PICs. EuroPIC intends to bring forth a new methodology; addressing the whole production chain from idea via proof of concept, design and prototype to production and application. The consortium will carry out research which will lead an open-access industrial generic foundry production capability for Europe; a new business sector with the potential for very significant future growth. This will be done by developing a generic technology capable of realising complex PICs from a small set of basic building blocks.

HELIOS - When photonics meet electronics

Area of relevance: 
Information and Communication
Duration: 
1 May 2008 - 1 May 2012
Affiliation: 
CEA-Leti
Funded by: 
European Commission, EU

Abstract:

The aim of the project HELIOS is to combine a photonic layer with a CMOS circuit by different innovative means, using microelectronics fabrication processes. The objectives of HELIOS are manifold: • Development of high performance generic building blocks that can be used for a broad range of applications: WDM sources by III-V/Si heterogeneous integration, fast modulators and detectors, passive circuits and packaging • Building and optimization of the whole “food chain” to fabricate complex functional devices.

Infrared supercontinuum sources for seeing the invisible - IR Lasers make the invisible visible

Area of relevance: 
Laser technology
Duration: 
1 September 2009 - 31 August 2012
Affiliation: 
NKT Photonics A/S, the Technical University of Denmark and the University of Aarhus
Funded by: 
Danish National Advanced Technology Foundation, Denmark

Abstract:

Light plays a crucial role in solving today’s main scientific and medical challenges. The molecules that define a disease, a pollution or an impurity in a food sample all have a characteristic optical fingerprint, which can be read by detecting the light that the sample absorbs. NKT Photonics have over the last five years build up a leading position within visible light supercontinuum sources for analysis of biological samples. Now NKT Photonics will together with researchers from the Technical University of Denmark and the University of Aarhus develop a new generation of lasers that have the same extreme bandwidth but cover the near infrared range from 2 to 5 µm. Such a laser does not exist today, but it would have vast potential within chemical and biological analysis, as all chemical and biological materials absorb light within this range. A main challenge for the project is that conventional silica fibers have strong absorption and cannot be used for this area.

Nanosun & Nanovolt – Optical Nanostructures for Photovoltaics - Nanostructures give photovoltaics a boost!

Area of relevance: 
Energy
Duration: 
1 January 2006 - 31 December 2012
Affiliation: 
Martin Luther Universität Halle, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz, Friedrich Schiller Universität Jena, Fraunhofer ISE Freiburg, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Universität Stuttgart, Universität Paderborn, RWTH Aachen
Funded by: 
German Research Foundation (DFG). German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany

Abstract:

Photovoltaic is assigned to a sustainable energy supply and it has by far the highest potential of all renewable energy sources. The protection of our environment, resources and climate and the access to high quality electrical power in the developing countries are main aspects. A reduction of expenses of the power generation by photovoltaic systems is the key for an accelerated market launch and distribution of this innovative technology. For a notable reduction of costs a significant enhancement of the efficiency of the solar cells and the modules is necessary. The design of optical properties of materials by novel methods of nanotechnologies, like the use of optical nanostructures, is a development which has influenced significantly optoelectronic devices within the last decade. Although photovoltaics needs new feasible concepts for an increase of the efficiency, this development was ignored by this field.

LafueSol – Laser Joining of Glass Tubes for Solar - “Sunglasses” – laser made!

Area of relevance: 
Environment
Duration: 
1 June 2009 - 31 May 2012
Affiliation: 
LZH
Funded by: 
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), DE

Abstract:

A new laser based joining technology for the production of solar receivers is being developed which will substitute the conventional flame technology and increase the energy efficiency of the process. Due to the reduction of the energetic losses typical for the burner production, the energy demand can be decreased and faster heating can be achieved. This results in an increase in productivity. In order to transfer the process technology it is necessary to automate the process. For this purpose, the temperature field during the joining process needs to be captured and processed in a control loop for the process. In order to be able to produce storable and cost-effective components, it is further necessary to carry out a residual stress analysis during the cooling processes and also to analyze their influence. A prototype will demonstrate the fully automated process.

OLED100.eu - OLED lighting can help save the planet!

Area of relevance: 
Lighting
Duration: 
1 September 2008 - 31 August 2011
Affiliation: 
Various in Europe (Integrated Research project), project submitted by Philips Research Laboratory Aachen, Germany
Funded by: 
European Commission, EU

Abstract:

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are efficient light sources with new exciting features. OLEDs can cover large areas, they are extremely thin, fully dimmable, and instant-on. There are various colours available and the quality of the emitted light is high. Furthermore, OLEDs can be made transparent or flexible. OLED100.eu, an integrated research project funded by the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme, brings together a consortium of experts from leading industry and academic organizations to accelerate the development of OLED technologies for lighting applications in Europe. Since almost 20% of the world’s electrical power consumption is due to lighting, there is a tremendous energy saving potential when efficient OLEDs are used instead of conventional light sources. The attractive design features of OLEDs will help to increase the acceptance of this technology.

LaserTron - Lasers give CT a new face

Area of relevance: 
Health
Duration: 
1 April 2005 - 31 March 2008
Affiliation: 
Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen, Germany
Funded by: 
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany

Abstract:

The intention of the Lasertron consortium was to develop the basic principles of a locally-excited laser-driven high-current electron source as one of the key-components for future X-ray devices. These devices will find application especially in Computed Tomography (CT), where high-power X-ray sources are needed, combining high brightness and high modulation capability. The advantages for CTs are an increase of temporal and spatial resolution of the 3-D images and simultaneously a decrease of dose rate for patients. The project comprised on the one hand the analysis of applicable electron emission mechanisms, such as photo-electrical emission with wavelengths from IR to UV and plasma-based electron emission. Both realized by Laser radiation. Emission currents of more than 1 A where produced with a plasma cathode, based on a Laser-induced discharge plasma and grid controlled electron emission.

Development of low-cost technologies for the fabrication of high-performance telecommunication lasers (DeLight)

Area of relevance: 
Information and Communication
Duration: 
1 September 2008 - 31 August 2011
Affiliation: 
Tampere University of Technology, Finland
Funded by: 
European Commission, EU

Abstract:

The FP7 ICT project DeLight (www.delightproject.eu) is developing advanced structures and technologies for the low-cost fabrication of high-performance telecommunication lasers. Surface gratings a thousand times smaller than the diameter of human hair are used to generate ultra-pure light, while multiple laser sections provide direct-modulation speeds capable of sending the content of approximately 10 full DVDs per second (43 Gbit/s). The DeLight project removes the need of epitaxial overgrowth, employed in the current fabrication techniques of distributed feedback (DFB) and distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) lasers, by using surface gratings.

Collaborative research project “EXPRIMAGE“ - Automated multi-dimensional tissue diagnostics for improved prognosis assessment and therapy of cancer

Area of relevance: 
Health
Duration: 
1 August 2007 - 31 July 2011
Affiliation: 
Carl Zeiss MicroImaging GmbH, QIAGEN GmbH, WITec GmbH, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg- Eppendorf, RWTH Aachen, Friedrich- Schiller-Universität Jena, Germany
Funded by: 
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF; within the scope of the "Biophotonics" research programme), Germany

Abstract:

While pathologists can safely distinguish tumorous from healthy tissue by microscopic inspection of tissue sections, their prognosis of the course of disease unfortunately remains vague in many cases. The “Exprimage” research network aims to change this by establishing novel parameters for cancer diagnostics. For this purpose, the latest methods in optics and molecular biology are integrated into a novel diagnostic platform. Here, tissue diagnostics is brought to a new level by implementing digital microscopy and automated image recognition. Further diagnostic parameters are supplied by biomolecular analysis, optical measurements of cell elasticity and Raman spectroscopy. In the course of the project, these methods are applied to ten thousands of tissue sections and the results judged in a synoptic review.

SPEKTRALAS: Improvement of the spectral characteristics of high-power diode lasers - Pimp your diode laser!

Area of relevance: 
Production
Duration: 
1 September 2008 - 31 August 2011
Affiliation: 
DILAS Diodenlaser GmbH, Mainz-Hechtsheim, Germany
Funded by: 
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany

Abstract:

Spectrally stabilized high brightness diode lasers enable power scaling concepts in the field of high brightness laser modules. Therefore direct material processing and the increase of the pumping efficiency of solid state lasers can be realized by the implementation of this technique. In frame of the SPEKTRALAS project the increase of the output power of high-power diode lasers including multimode single emitter and diode laser bars with DFB-structures or external cavity feedback are investigated. The global target of the project is the manufacturing of diode laser modules with 95 % power inclusion in less than 1 nm spectral bandwidth. Laser diodes with 100 µm facet width, 10 W output power and a conversion efficiency of 60 % will be produced. Laser prototypes will be developed based on single emitters and arrays (bars) with a maximum amount of 19 emitters each. One field of application of diode lasers with narrowed spectra is pumping of solid state lasers.