At Chalmers University, the Photonics Laboratory at the Department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), with about 35 researchers, works on optoelectronics, ultrafast optics, and fiber-optical communication. A strong research focus is on ultraviolet (UV) and blue surface-emitting devices, such as vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs), photonic-crystal surface-emitting lasers (PCSELs), light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and resonant-cavity LEDs (RCLEDs). The Photonics Laboratory’s expertise includes device design and simulation, laser fabrication, and material and device characterization. They have developed a novel thin-film lift-off process for AlGaN-materials based on electrochemical etching, which allows the integration of III-nitride thin films with various photonic structures, such as dielectric cavities with improved quality factor. These advancements have enabled the demonstration of the world’s first blue VCSEL with a high-contrast grating for polarization pinning, thin-film flip-chip UVB LEDs, and the shortest emission wavelength at the time from an optically pumped VCSEL at 310 nm. More recent work includes optically pumped UVC VCSELs below 280 nm and the first optically pumped UVB and UVC PCSELs. In the QU-PIC project, a research team from Chalmers University, under the leadership of Prof. Åsa Haglund, collaborates with TUB and UGent to develop the lift-off technology based on electrochemical etching to demonstrate the world’s first integrated external cavity UVC laser. Chalmers works closely with TUB to optimize AlGaN heterostructures for electrochemical etching and strain management, which is crucial for achieving a high-yield release of the AlGaN gain membrane. Following the optimization of the lift-off process, Chalmers and UGent will jointly transfer the gain chip onto the photonic integrated circuit using the µ-transfer printing technology from UGent. Qu-PIC
Chalmers Tekniska Hogskola AB
Corporate Presentation
Role in the project
