It’s faster, more affordable, and easier to tune than existing precision lasers. The breakthrough could transform technologies like Lidar in self-driving cars and gas detection systems.

Laser Light Powers Modern Tech
Laser technology plays a crucial role in modern science and engineering, especially in applications that rely on precise measurements or rapid data transfer. It is the foundation for technologies such as self-driving cars, fiber optic communication networks, and systems that monitor air quality by detecting trace gases.

A team of researchers led by Associate Professor Johann Riemensberger from the Department of Electronic Systems at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) has now developed a new kind of laser designed to overcome several of the challenges found in current models.

Compact and Cost-Effective Innovation
“Our results can give us a new type of laser that is both fast, relatively cheap, powerful, and easy to use,” says Riemensberger.

The findings, recently published in Nature Photonics, describe a major advance achieved through collaboration between NTNU, the Swiss École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), and Luxtelligence SA.

Self-Driving Cars and Air Quality Detectors
Traditional precision lasers tend to be bulky, costly, and complicated to adjust. “Our new laser solves several of these problems,” says Riemensberger.

This improvement opens the door for use in self-driving vehicles, which rely on a sensing method called Lidar to detect and measure the distance to nearby objects. Lidar works by analyzing the time it takes for light from the laser to reflect back or by detecting slight phase changes in the returning light wave. The new laser performs these measurements with remarkable accuracy, within roughly four centimeters.

The researchers also achieved promising results when testing the device for detecting hydrogen cyanide gas in the atmosphere. This chemical, also known as “hydrocyanic acid,” is extremely poisonous even in small amounts, making rapid detection critical for safety and environmental protection.