Bio:
Kasper Van Gasse is an Associate Professor at the Photonics Research Group of Ghent University and imec. His research is focused on the advancement of laser integration on photonic integrated circuits, driven by the demand for highly scalable and high-performance laser systems. This demand emerges from the need for increased performance in applications such as LIDAR, as well as optically controlled quantum technologies such as trapped ions, color centers and cold atom systems. Supported by the ERC Starting Grant LASIQ, he aims to realize this new generation of on-chip laser systems by the integration of solid-state gain materials with existing low-loss photonic platforms. Such integrated laser systems could transform fields that demand high performance laser system, that can be manufactured in high volume and at low cost.
He obtained his PhD grom Ghent University in Photonics Engineering for which he was awarded the Nokia Bell Scientific Award 2020. Before starting his research group at Ghent University and imec he was a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics and Stanford University. At Stanford University, he co-developed the thin-film crystalline titanium-sapphire platform in Jelena Vučković’s Nanoscale and Quantum Photonics Lab.
Abstract:
High-performance, compact, and scalable laser systems are essential for a wide range of future technologies, such as LIDAR and quantum systems. While laser integration on photonic integrated circuits has already transformed transceiver technology, substantial potential remains untapped. In this work, we present a novel titanium-sapphire-on-insulator technology that brings the exceptional capabilities of table-top solid-state lasers to millimeter-sized photonic chips.
Titanium-sapphire is unique among laser crystals, offering the widest optical gain bandwidth (from 650 to 1100 nm) and supporting ultra-short pulse femtosecond lasers and widely tunable lasers. Traditionally, these systems have been confined to specialized labs due to their size and high cost. Titanium-on-insulator enables these powerful laser systems to be realized on a chip and pumped with affordable, commercially available green laser diodes. Additionally, we demonstrate both an ultra-wideband optical waveguide amplifier and a tunable laser with an exceptionally broad tuning range. Our optical waveguide amplifier enables, for the first time, pulse amplification up to 2.3 pJ and peak powers reaching 1 kW, opening the door for ultra-fast optics on a chip.
