Mid-IR SpecTRometry with QuAntum Dot Lasers (MISTRAL)

Quantum dots are tiny structures of semiconductor materials 1 million times smaller than a sand grain that can emit light. Their properties (emission wavelength) can be controlled by the choice of semiconductor composition and by adjusting their size. The use of Quantum Dots (QDot) in lasers technology started in the 90s. This is a relatively new area and, although only a few suppliers worldwide exist, they have very attractive properties for commercial gas sensing. Cascade Technologies designs and manufactures gas analysers based on advanced laser technology for a range of markets: environmental monitoring, gas process industries, food industries, pharmaceuticals. One of the commercial limitations of these systems is their manufacturing price (one of the main components being the price of the laser), the laser performance and the laser’s emitting wavelength availability. In this project, Cascade Technologies and Lancaster University will work together to design, build and test QDot lasers relevant to gas sensing applications. The access to new wavelengths in the mid-IR region would mean that Cascade would gain access to different markets. A reduction in price of the