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DYNAMOS develops fast (1 ns) and widely tunable (>110 nm) lasers, energy-efficient (~ fJ/bit), broadband (100 GHz) electro-optic modulators, and high-speed (1 ns) broadcast-and-select packet switches as photonic integrated circuits (PICs). DYNAMOS meets the expected outcome objectives and call scope by proposing the development of low energy (few pJ/bit) PICs, which are integrated into modular and scalable subsystems, and subsequently utilized to demonstrate novel data centre networks with highly deterministic sub-microsecond latency to enable maximum congestion reduction, full bisection bandwidth (lower congestion) and guaranteed quality of service while reducing cost per Gbps.

The proposed network offers optical circuit switched reconfiguration and guaranteed (contentionless) full-bisection bandwidth, allowing any computational node to communicate to any other node at full-capacity. DYNAMOS builds on recent developments in III-V optoelectronics, thick silicon-on-insulator waveguide technology, and silicon organic hybrid (SOH) modulators. It co-develops the entire ecosystem of transceivers, switches and networks to boost overall performance and to reducing the total cost of data exchange, instead of focusing on the improvement of individual optical links or interfaces. The objectives of DYNAMOS perfectly match the major photonics research & innovations challenges defined in the Photonics21 Multiannual Strategic Roadmap 2021-2027.

There is an absence of lasers with the necessary wavelengths and characteristics to access the possibilities for deeper high-resolution biological tissue imaging in the third bio-window between 1650 nm and 1870 nm. Motivated by recent breakthrough results in multi-photon imaging at twice the depths currently achievable, we will meet the urgent need for new sources to address the outstanding research questions in this spectral region. Results will guide and enable instrument development in this appealing and relatively unexplored biophotonics imaging wavelength range.

The AMPLITUDE consortium proposes a new concept of label-free, multi-modal microscopy and endoscopic imaging operating in this new wavelength region with multiple imaging and spectroscopic technologies, including NIR confocal reflectance microscopy, multi-photon microscopy and spontaneous Raman spectroscopy.

By progressing ultrafast fibre laser developments at 1700 nm, we will deliver new imaging capabilities in an appropriate form factor and at cost suitable for widespread adoption. This will be further enhanced by providing additional output at 850 nm using second harmonic generation from one integrated laser device.

This will enable a pioneering new compact and efficient multi-modal capability combining confocal and non-linear imaging techniques, overcoming performance limitations in medical and biological imaging applications, including improved pathohistological staging of tumours and in-vivo endoscopic assessment of depth of lesion invasiveness. Deeper multi-photon microscopy with autofluorescence imaging of cellular metabolic conditions, whose aspects are tightly related to cellular functioning and to cancer, implemented in tandem with Raman spectroscopy will provide exhaustive characterisation of the examined tissue at morphological, metabolic and molecular levels, allowing in-vivo optical biopsy for bladder cancer diagnosis, grading and staging.

The continuous growth of the global population has been remarking the need of early detection systems to prevent the spread of epidemics as well as to improve the standards of living. The emerging demand of sensing technologies has prompted researchers and industrial companies to develop devices able to monitor medical, food, water, and environmental safety/quality indicators in an efficient, simple, and reliable way. While high sensitivity and selectivity must be guaranteed, compactness, user-friendliness and low-cost are key characteristics to enable the use of the sensing technology for point-of-care diagnostics without the need for trained personnel [1].

Among state-of-the-art methodologies for pollutants detection, optical sensing has emerged as one of the most simple, versatile, and powerful approaches for analytical purposes. However, a major obstacle towards the development of a portable system has been the use of bulky optical components (e.g. lasers and optical fibers), which are necessary to ensure a good sensing capability. In particular, huge interest has been attracted by functionalized metallic surfaces based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR), as extremely sensitive, label-free, quantitative systems for real-time detection of single or multiple analytes. However, the need of a fine and precise control of the angle of the incident light ended up in the use of not-portable optical components in the final sensor [2].

In this scenario, organic optoelectronic components might enable the definition of new miniaturized detection schemes to boost the advent of compact optical sensors for on-site analysis, given their inherent capability of smart monolithic integration in nm-thick multi-stack devices on almost any surface.

Here, we report an unprecedented ultra-compact system endowed with optical and plasmonic sensing capabilities through the smart integration of (i) organic light-sources such as organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) or transistors (OLETs), (ii) an organic light-detector such as organic photodiode (OPD) and (iii) a sensing nanostructured surface such a nanoplasmonic grating (NPG) [3]. The components and the layout of integration were suitably designed to make the elements work cooperatively in a reflection-mode configuration. In particular, the OPD was vertically stacked onto the source electrode of the OLET thus providing electrical switching, light-emission and light-sensing capability in a single organic multilayer architecture. When coupled to the NPG, a multifunctional system with SPR-sensing ability was obtained at a remarkably high level of miniaturizationat a sensor size as low as 0.1 cm3, arising from the direct fabrication of the NPG onto the encapsulating cap of the light-emitting/-sensing platform [4].

Once finalized into a working prototype and operated with standard solutions, the sensor is calibrated by providing quantitative and linear response that reaches a limit of detection of 10−4 refractive index units. Analyte-specific and rapid (15 min long) immunoassay-based detection is demonstrated for targets relevant for the milk chain. By using a custom algorithm based on principal-component analysis, a linear dose–response curve is constructed which correlates with a limit of detection as low as 3.7 µg mL−1 for lactoferrin, thus assessing that the miniaturized optical biosensor is well-aligned with the chosen reference benchtop SPR method.

[1] R. Dragone, …, S. Toffanin Frontiers in Public Health, 2017, 5, 1.

[2] M. Prosa, ..., S. Toffanin Nanomaterials 2020, 10, 480.

[3] M. Bolognesi, ..., S. Toffanin Adv. Mater. 2023 2208719

[4] M. Prosa, ..., S. Toffanin, Adv. Funct. Mater. 2021, 31, 2104927.

A high power 1.8 kW laser providing from picosecond down to femtoseconds pulses at repetition rates up to 1GHz with excellent beam quality will be developed and brought to the market at highly competitive costs enabling widespread industrial uptake. By harnessing the unique characteristics of patent protected tapered double-clad fiber amplifiers power-scaled multichannel laser, unparalleled high-power beam qualities, and pulse energies 2.5-250µJ will be achieved. Using the state-of-the-art highly stable laser diodes as seed lasers allowing parameter flexibility by ultrafast electrical control of pulse duration and repetition rate will a broad range of high-power laser processing application requirements to be met. An extremely stable advanced all-fiber based configuration allow development of a compact ultrashort pulse laser system. A newly-designed delivery fiber utilising cutting-edge technology of high purity glass material fabrication will be used to capable of handling the very high power ultra-short pulses, preserving beam quality over several meters distance. Pioneering technology based on 3D nano-imprint lithography will be exploited to produce coherent beam combining optics and fiber-facet-integrated micro-lenses for advanced beam shaping elements to elongate voxels. Together these will provide laser pulse delivery via patented polygon scanner technology capable of handling high-power pulses at speeds of up to 1.5 km/s. These will enable demonstration in automotive and renewable energy sectors of ultrafast 3D ablation, low-thermal welding of dissimilar metals and faster cost-effective cutting of ultra-hard materials. Exploitation in the form of high-power laser processing systems will immediately follow, benefitting from the unmatched performance data and detailed cost benefit and investment case analysis performed.