Julian Hayes: Chromacity was a spin-out from The Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences (IPAQS), part of Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, U.K. Formed in 2012, IPAQS undertakes world-leading research in photonic physics, engineering photonics, and quantum sciences. The Ultrafast Optics Group, led by Professor Derryck Reid, is a pioneer in the development of tunable nonlinear infrared optical parametric oscillators (OPO).
The team consisting of Professor Reid and Dr. Carl Farrell had developed a novel and patented ultrahigh-efficiency oscillator core for its tunable infrared OPO. Seeing an emerging market opportunity for tunable infrared ultrafast OPOs across a wide range of research activities, Professor Reid, Dr. Farrell, and fellow researcher Dr. Christopher Leburn formed Chromacity in 2013.
Chromacity Ltd. manufactures both fixed-wavelength infrared femtosecond fiber lasers and picosecond optical parametric oscillator (OPO)-based tunable infrared laser systems. They are used principally for scientific and industrial research, including spectroscopy (materials analysis), microscopy (biological imaging), defect detection, pollution monitoring, and a broad variety of quantum applications.
LFW: What types of lasers are you offering for quantum work?
Hayes: Chromacity's lasers are used across the quantum space. The ability to generate and detect quantum states of light using entangled photons is a rapidly expanding research area in the development of next-generation secure communications, both for guided wave and free-space systems. Our 1040 ultrafast femtosecond laser is an important tool used to create entangled photons via spontaneous parametric downconversion in nonlinear crystals.
Single-photon light detection using superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) is a frontier technology for quantum optics and optical quantum applications. SNSPDs that operate in the mid-infrared offer the potential of improved performance for quantum sensing, LiDAR, and deep space communications. The Chromacity ultrafast OPO lasers are an ideal match, offering the opportunity for researchers to test the sensitivity and temporal characteristics of the latest-generation mid-infrared SNSPDs.
Our lasers are an essential element of research into hyperspectral quantum imaging systems, using quantum-correlated beams. This technique uses correlated signal and idler photons created by a high peak power pulsed laser like the Chromacity 1040 to image through lossy scattering media, such as biological systems or objects embedded in other materials.
LFW: What kinds of applications are your lasers enabling?
Hayes: Biological imaging modalities such as two-photon microscopy or second-harmonic generation imaging require surprisingly high-intensity laser excitation, typically exceeding 40- to 50-kW peak power. However, this level of power is easily delivered by today's advanced ultrafast lasers with ultrashort pulse-generating capability. Increasingly, potential users are migrating to more robust, smaller, more power-efficient, and significantly lower-cost femtosecond-pulse fiber laser solutions like the Chromacity 1040 and 920. These compact desktop patented fiber lasers deliver ultrastable long-term performance with optimal pulse quality for high-contrast imaging performance and are rapidly replacing traditional high-power water-cooled Ti:sapphire lasers.
Chromacity's tunable infrared lasers are enabling a step change in capability for open-path pollution measurement, helping to deliver real-time, in-the-field measurement of greenhouse gases (CO, NO, CH), ammonia, and other atmospheric pollutants. Traditional techniques are slow and require physical sampling of the gases, leading to contamination of the instrument and inability to measure remote sites. Chromacity's tunable bright infrared laser beam offers the potential for unprecedented insight of wetland/estuarine areas, landfill sites, or any industrial site, and can be used within emerging sectors in the drive to net-zero, such as the large-scale use of ammonia as an energy carrier.
LFW: Fun fact about the company?
Hayes: Chromacity is a Scottish company, embedded within the Edinburgh photonics community. But at its core is a group of engineers from the Shetland Islands. The Shetland Islands is an archipelago off the northern coast of the U.K., on the same latitude as parts of Alaska. It was occupied by the Vikings and ruled by Norway until the 15th century, when it was pawned to Scotland in lieu of a dowry. It is also the windiest place in the U.K., recording an annual average wind speed of 7.5 m/s. Uniquely, it has 55 lighthouses, which is why Chromacity names its lasers after lighthouses. The Viking heritage is still very strong, which is why you'll find members of the team nurturing beards in the autumn for the annual Up Helly Aa winter fire festival.
LFW: Are you seeing anything interesting emerge within the quantum realm right now?
Hayes: The recent announcement by the U.K. government of a £160M (~$178M) investment in the creation of five quantum hubs, and the Netherlands' Quantum Delta NL program are exemplars for governments and industry working together to create a vibrant ecosystem for quantum technology development and exploitation. The challenge for everyone is to bridge the gap between fundamental research and practical solutions. In some areas, being able to create a commercial product seems a long way off. However, there are signs a few quantum technologies are beginning to see the light of day. Quantum key distribution (QKD) systems used for communications networks are a production reality. And quantum spectroscopy looks like it is on the verge of generating a step-change in capability compared to existing systems, and with real-world practicality. Governments and, more importantly, investors will need to see more successes if the current high level of investment in quantum technologies is to be maintained.