Science Daily December 10, 2018
Researchers in Austria produced quantum cascade lasers which generate a frequency comb in the infrared range. With the help of an electrical signal of a specific frequency the quantum cascade lasers can be controlled to emit a series of light frequencies, which are all coupled together. The system is robust and can withstand temperature fluctuations, or reflections that send some of the light back into the laser. It can be easily miniaturized. The entire measuring system can be accommodated on a chip in millimeter format. The chip could be placed on a drone to measure air pollutants or glued to the wall to search for traces of explosive substances in buildings. The chips could be used in medical equipment to detect diseases by analyzing chemicals in the respiratory air…read more. TECHNCAL ARTICLE
The laser system developed at TU Wien creates many frequencies with equal spacing between them. Credit: TU Wien