High Brightness Semiconductor Lasers

Our research

The team conducts research in laser physics and engineering of optically-pumped semiconductor lasers, particularly semiconductor disk lasers (also known as vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting-lasers, or VECSELs).

The group is led by Prof Hastie, who has built the team’s activity in ultra-narrow linewidth semiconductor lasers for metrology following an EPSRC Challenging Engineering award in 2011. She subsequently joined the leadership team of the UK National Quantum Technologies Hub for Sensors and Metrology (2014-2019), leading the high performance lasers work package, and continues to lead this work in the follow-on Hub for Sensing and Timing (2019-2024). These grants support our research into compact, high stability semiconductor laser systems with:

• novel wavelength emission in the UV, visible and IR spectral regions;
• high spatial and spectral brightness;
• advanced wavelength flexibility and tunability;
• ultra-narrow linewidth and low noise.

by investigating

• novel semiconductor materials;
• novel material processing;
• intracavity techniques, including non-linear and tunable crystalline Raman conversion, and spanning ultraviolet;
• novel frequency stabilisation techniques; and
• engineering and development of laser systems and cavities.

with application in:

• lithography;
• metrology;
• quantum technologies;
• optical clocks; and
• fundamental science.

Who we work with

We work closely with the Compact Solid-State Lasers Team, led by Prof Alan Kemp. We collaborate with Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics (FCAP) in Glasgow on a number of projects, including laser cavity engineering and packaging, and PhD studentships.

 Our academic collaborations include:

• University of Sheffield
• Tampere University of Technology – Prof Mircea Guina
• City University of New York – Prof Maria Tamargo
• University of Birmingham – Prof Kai Bongs, Dr Yeshpal Singh

Our projects & grants