Aston targets spectroscopy revolution with optical frequency comb devices

Based at the University’s Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies (AIPT) the project, which has received £1.6m of EPSRC funding, aims to revolutionise spectroscopy by driving the development of a new family of light sources based on Optical Frequency Comb (OFC) technology: laser sources which act as ultra-precise optical rulers for measuring exact frequencies of light.

The Aston team, led by AIPT director Professor Sergei Turitsyn, will both develop novel advanced optical frequency comb technologies and explore feasibility of the developed methods in several fields of major practical importance.

One area of interest is within the food supply chain and agricultural technology where the technology could be used to prevent contamination by detecting toxic or noxious substances. Other applications include high speed optical communications, monitoring greenhouse gases concentration outdoors, gas concentrations in industrial settings, optical sensing, and many other applications across many industrial sectors.

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The project is being run in partnership with the Universities of Nice Sophia Antipolis and Lille in France and involves industrial partners including BAE Systems, Xtere, Thales, OFS, Highways England, Eblana Photonics, Pilot Photonics and Branscan.