The project is a large international collaboration effort aimed at the development of advanced active ion doped and passive nonlinear optical materials based on II-VI single crystalline layers for use in particularly compact integrated and robust mid-infrared laser systems operating in the mid-infrared wavelength region between 2 and 18 microns.

This novel type of lasers will produce intense ultra-short light pulses characterized by ultra-broad spectra that can be used for sensing and imaging. Such compact integrated high power photonic light sources have never existed before. They can be compared only to semiconductor-lasers and provide a powerful alternative to quantum cascade lasers, the operation of which is limited due to relatively narrow achievable bandwidth (~5 THz  vs. ~50 THz in this new class of lasers), on one hand, and to longer than 3.4 microns wavelength due to material reasons, on another hand.

Compact microchip frequency combs are long sought after in industry and are of particular importance for biomedical applications, environmental sensing, oil and gas sensing and imaging in self-driving cars. The first fundamental studies and proof-of-principle of this technology have been carried out by the NTNU team. Also, the applicability of the envisaged laser sources towards important industrial problems – for example, to sensing in oil and gas industry – has been verified in the successfully completed feasibility study projects co-funded by the Norwegian industry, STATOIL (EQUINOR) and an NTNU spin-off ATLA Lasers AS. These works were primarily done on bulk crystalline materials. Combined with the recently developed by the applicants MBE method of producing these laser crystals this opens up an avenue towards new microchip laser design, and eventually, electrical pumping.