Vector Photonics completes Innovate UK project
Innovate UK-funded LOCAL project has produced ground-breaking, multi-wavelength, data centre laser
Vector Photonics has successfully completed the Innovate UK-funded, ‘Lasers for Communications Applications’ (LOCAL) project. This eleven-month project developed 1310nm, all-semiconductor, surface emitting lasers for next generation communications and data centre applications. This is a huge growth market, driven by the proliferation of mobile devices, the Internet of Things (IoT) and 5G.
David Childs, director of product development at Vector Photonics, said: “The LOCAL project was a huge success, with the resulting 1310nm, all-semiconductor, surface emitting lasers delivering to plan, despite the Covid pandemic. Not only did the devices exhibit excellent optical performance, with a side-mode-suppression ratio of 40dB, but they also supported four wavelengths between 1298 and 1340nm, on the same wafer - a break-through in the industry. This led to Vector Photonics delivering a post-deadline presentation at the International Semiconductor Laser Conference (ISLC) this year.
“Innovate UK funding reduces early-stage development risk. The £175k we received for the LOCAL project funded the successful development of the 1310nm laser prototypes. This established a business case to proceed with commercialisation of this revolutionary, new, semiconductor laser technology.”
Innovate UK’s Sustainable Innovation Fund supported project LOCAL, in collaboration with project partner, the University of Glasgow.
