Hamamatsu Photonics release wavelength-swept quantum cascade laser

This breakthrough stems from the 'Development of sensing technology for detecting extremely weak signals to realise an IoT society' project supported by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO), a national research and development agency in Japan. Combining this new QCL with a drive system developed by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) will help achieve high-speed operation and simplify the peripheral circuit design, allowing it to be mounted into equipment as a light source in portable analysers. The company claim this will make the analysers small and lightweight enough to carry anywhere.

This project also aims to increase analyser sensitivity for detecting sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) as well as simplifying maintenance. Doing so, will allow its use in applications for stable long-term monitoring of volcanic gas components near the craters of volcanoes. The company state that other applications include detecting toxic gas leaks in chemical plants and sewers as well as making atmospheric measurements.