VCSELence Torino established to advance semiconductor technologies
About Optica
26 January 2024
VCSELence Torino established to advance semiconductor technologies
“VCSELence Torino” is a Center of Excellence (CoE) that was established in December 2023 in Torino (Italy). The scientific-technological goals of “VCSELence” are the investigations of a special type of semiconductor laser structure, the so-called vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) towards applications in high-speed optical fiber data transmission links and in optical sensing. Relaying on a well-established physical and technological background of VCSELs, VCSELence targets the experimental exploitation of these devices pushing the application beyond the current limits. This will be achieved by performing highly sophisticated modelling of the in-laser phenomena supported by in-house experiments with final tests of the device in the entire system.
The “VCSELence Torino” unites the particular competences of several participating groups at DET (Department of Electronics and Telecommunication at Politecnico di Torino) at LINKS Foundations and at IEIIT-CNR (Istituto di Elettronica e di Ingegneria dell'Informazione e delle Telecomunicazioni del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche). They are all worldwide leaders in the field of sophisticated optical, electrical and spectral characterizations, modelling and advanced applications of semiconductor-lasers covering all wavelengths for the optical communication bands and for optical sensing. The scientific goal is to advance the understanding of the dynamics of the coupled photon-carrier system in these opto-electronic emitters by joint theoretical and experimental investigations. This will allow the achievement of improved devices designed on-demand, exploiting their ultimate limits and going far beyond the actual state-of-the-art.
“VCSELence Torino” is open in offering its services of modelling, design, characterization and system testing on a worldwide platform by collaborating with all technology-driven and application-oriented groups. This will result in internationally-leading research, in the spirit of collaborative opportunities with innovative companies.
“VCSELence Torino” relies on an already existing large variety of European and world-wide funded projects with universities and companies and it intends extending them to the benefit of the society. Thanks to the participation of Politecnico di Torino, VCSELence can involve in the research activities also undergraduate and graduate students assuring a high-level education platform to the students.
VCSELence builds on the existing photonics infrastructure of Links and Photonext (Interdepartmental Center for Applied Photonics of Politecnico di Torino) where it shares a 300 square meter lab and expresses the intent to become a significant player in the development of knowledge and expertise in the field of application of semiconductor technologies that will give benefit to Italy’s economy. It is expected that the new center will also play an important role in advancing quantum physics-based technology and the ability to apply it to the advantage of society. VCSELence can become an example of fruitful collaboration between academia, business and industry to bring competitive advantage to Torino and Piemonte.
Dr. Pierluigi Debernardi of CNR with 25-years of experience on VCSELs added: “Our Center of Excellence will be the research building for all scientists involved in modelling, design, technology and application of these low-cost semiconductor lasers, working together on the advancing of semiconductor optics research and optoelectronics.”
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