Dr. Richard Taylor, CEO and founder of Vector Photonics, stated, “This is a major breakthrough for Vector Photonics, demonstrating that our technology is a commercial reality in real-world applications. We believe this demonstration is the most advanced application of a PCSEL to date, raising its technology maturity level (TRL) from 4/5 to 6/7.” The use of this technology in open space means it can operate successfully under varying environmental conditions—temperature, humidity, precipitation, and wind turbulence—and over considerable distances. Previously, only laboratory experiments under ideal conditions and simulations had been conducted.
PCSELs are a new type of laser that combines the high power of side-emitting lasers with the speed and surface emission of VCSEL lasers. They are highly advantageous for free-space optical communication systems due to their ability to emit narrow, high-brightness beams with excellent quality and low divergence, which is essential for minimizing signal loss over long distances. Unlike conventional laser sources, PCSELs combine surface emission with a coherent single-mode output, enabling efficient coupling in free-space optics without the need for complex beam-shaping elements.
These characteristics position PCSEL as a next-generation laser source for compact, free-space optical communication systems. This advancement from Vector Photonics will enable faster and more secure internet connections between buildings, campuses, and even satellites, without relying on cables or radio signals. Thanks to its wide wavelength flexibility, spanning from ultraviolet to far-infrared, PCSEL technology can also be applied in artificial intelligence data centers, LiDAR systems, and additive manufacturing (3D printing).
The free-space optical communication system was designed and built using Vector Photonics PCSEL by the Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics , part of Fraunhofer UK. A data transfer rate of 50 Mbps was demonstrated over a distance of 500 meters, with error rates below standard error correction thresholds. This doubles the specifications required for the experiment, although it falls well short of the maximum possible performance of PCSEL, which has an inherently high data rate.
Dr. Gerald Bonner, principal investigator at Fraunhofer CAP, commented: “This project has been a great opportunity to apply Fraunhofer CAP’s capabilities in the development of optical systems and to help Vector Photonics demonstrate the growing maturity of PCSELs and the potential of this important diode laser technology in optical communications.”
