Quantum Waveguide Infrared Photodetector

Dual-comb spectroscopy (DCS) employs optical frequency combs to precisely analyze trace amounts of gasses or liquids, making it a key method for gas and chemical detection. However, its reliance on high-speed, low-noise photodetectors cooled by liquid nitrogen hinders integration onto a chip. Current solutions like HgCdTe face integration challenges, bulkiness, and cryogenic dependency. Our initiative focuses on developing a new class of photodetectors based on NIST Patent No. US 11,271,023, designed for room temperature operation and tailored for DCS applications. These detectors will seamlessly integrate with chip-scale optical frequency comb sources, enabling mass production and commercial viability. This program directly addresses the mandate and intentions of the NIST SBIR program. Our effort supports EMode Photonix’s growth, advances NIST’s metrology mission, and unlocks economic opportunities tied to NIST IP. The societal and market impact is substantial, offering a compact detector for commercial gas sensing via DCS. The technology’s versatility extends beyond industries, fostering miniaturization for portable and wearable devices, enhancing efficiency, and democratizing access to high-precision measurement technology.