A Flexible Infrared Laser for Versatile Analysis Applications

Modular Laser System A Flexible Infrared Laser for Versatile Analysis Applications

2025-08-05 From | Übersetzt von KI 2 min Reading Time

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The further development of laser systems, as they are used in spectroscopes, for example, is often expensive. To provide innovative applications especially for small and medium-sized enterprises, the Fraunhofer IZM developed a modular laser system for multispectral analyses.

Demonstrator of the QuantumCascade project. The thin glass board developed and manufactured by Fraunhofer IZM has a base area of 80 mm x 100 mm. The integrated lasers and drivers can be controlled via a programmable interface.(Image: Fraunhofer IZM) — Demonstrator of the QuantumCascade project. The thin glass board developed and manufactured by Fraunhofer IZM has a base area of 80 mm x 100 mm. The integrated lasers and drivers can be controlled via a programmable interface.
(Image: Fraunhofer IZM)

Infrared spectroscopy is used in many areas, such as geosciences, the recycling industry, or medical technology. The accuracy and complexity of spectroscopic analysis methods have significantly increased over the past 20 years. Current devices that use light with various wavelengths to perform multispectral tests are bulky and stationary. Corresponding handheld spectroscopes would enable field applications. However, their development and miniaturization are costly and require extensive expertise.

Project QuantumCascade: A Modular Solution

This is where the QuantumCascade project comes in. A modular, high-performance laser system integrated onto a glass substrate would reduce development efforts for novel devices, as manufacturers could rely on a versatile and reliable light source. By using quantum cascade lasers (QCLs), the wavelength range between 2 µm and 15 µm, the mid-infrared spectrum (MIR), can be accessed. Up to three QCLs can be programmed to emit pulses of just 5 nanoseconds, which are particularly important for the spectroscopic analysis of organic substances.

Technical Integration and Development

In addition to the actual lasers, laser drivers are also embedded, which were developed in collaboration with the partner Laser Electronics LE GmbH. This is complemented by integrated optical beam shaping and transmission with aspherical optics and fibers that are specifically tailored to the MIR spectrum.

Thanks to the novel construction concept, where each of the QCLs is housed in a temperature-stabilizable cavity in the glass, the closely spaced lasers can be independently adjusted and stably operated in their temperature and thus their wavelength. The integrated electronic drivers and control circuits are mounted on a thin-film-metallized glass substrate using industrial soldering processes, which, through selective laser etching in the µm range, is structured so that the optical components can also be directly integrated. The high degree of integration enables the entire system to be encapsulated. As a result, it can also be used in harsh environments or disinfected for medical applications.

During the development of the laser system, the research team was able to draw on experiences from the predecessor project PhotMan, in which a versatile fiber-optic sensor system was realized. QuantumCascade further develops a thin-glass platform established at Fraunhofer IZM, which allows optical and electronic components to be integrated and efficiently coupled.

QuantumCascade was a joint project between the Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration IZM and Laser Electronics LE GmbH. It ran from June 1, 2022, to March 31, 2025. The Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB) funded the project at Fraunhofer IZM as part of a Pro FIT project financing under project number 10184209 with 390,990 € (428,000 USD), including funds from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). (heh)

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Date: 08.12.2025

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