EIC Pathfinder Open project, UiT key partner, March 2024-Feb 2028
UNISON develops a scalable, broadband platform for mid-infrared (3–12 µm) spectroscopy by combining on-chip frequency combs based on cascade lasers (ICLs and QCLs) with low-loss Si/Ge nanophotonic circuits. This enables a new generation of compact and highly sensitive spectrometers.
About the Project
- Innovations:
- Hybrid integration of electrically driven ICLs/QCLs with Si/Ge photonics
- Frequency comb generation via electro-optical and nonlinear effects in Si/Ge circuits
- On-chip dual-comb spectroscopy with a novel, integrated sensing region
- Applications: Simultaneous detection of greenhouse gases and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with unprecedented performance in a compact, scalable form.
- Consortium: Led by Paris-Saclay / CNRS, with partners including ETH Zürich, Université de Montpellier, TU Wien, Politecnico di Milano, Sensirion, and UiT.
Our Contribution
At UiT – the Arctic University of Norway, we focus on the design and implementation of the core Si/Ge-based sensing element. This sensing region is where the gas sample interacts with the guided light, and its performance is crucial for sensitivity and selectivity. Beyond design, we collaborate closely with project partners to integrate our sensing element into the broader system and to demonstrate the first complete on-chip dual-comb spectrometer in real-world applications. Through this work, UiT plays a central role in ensuring that UNISON achieves not just proof-of-concept, but a functional, field-ready platform.
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