Laser startup Vector Photonics reveals it has received £1.6 million ($2.2 million) of new equity investment that will go toward the commercialization of its Photonic Crystal Surface Emitting Lasers (PCSELs). The company also delivered a paper this week at the Compound Semiconductor International Virtual Conference that described results of a demonstration that Vector Photonics asserts backs its assertion that PCSELs outperform conventional VCSELs and edge-emitting lasers (EELs).
According to the company, PCSELs are based on a 2D grating structure (the “photonic crystal”) that scatters light linearly and orthogonally. The laser feedback is in-plane and light emission is out of plane and emanates from the laser’s top surface, as do VCSELs. This combination is unique to PCSELs, Vector Photonics says, and leads to significant advantages in data rate, wavelength, and power performance. PCSELs also can be manufactured in a manner similar to EELs, the company adds (see “Startup Vector Photonics touts potential of Photonic Crystal Surface Emitting Lasers” for more).
Vector Photonics, a spin out of the University of Glasgow, says that PCSELs can benefit a variety of applications, from data center networks to additive manufacturing, including metal and plastic printing; LiDAR; and optical sensing. The new funding comes from three specialist funding companies: Foresight, the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S), and Equity Gap. In combination with government grants of £2.4 million ($3.3 million) received previously, Vector Photonics has now raised £4 million ($5.5 million).
“Each investment company adds its own unique value to our business and will have board representation,” commented Neil Martin, CEO of Vector Photonics. “Foresight invests in high growth-potential companies with innovative and transformational technologies via the Foresight Scottish Growth Fund and Foresight Williams, a joint venture with Williams Advanced Engineering. UKI2S is a specialist deep-tech seed fund focused on spin outs from the UK’s research base. Equity Gap is an angel investment syndicate, investing early in new technology businesses throughout Scotland.”
PCSELs are really fast
Meanwhile, Dr. David Childs, director of product development at Vector Photonics, delivered on April 12 the results of a technology demonstration that marked the first speed measurement of a PCSEL. Dr. Childs reported that the PCSEL exhibited speeds that align with the company’s device modelling. Vector Photonics says that PCSELs have the potential to be more than 2X faster than a VCSEL equivalent and 3X faster than a DFB laser equivalent.
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