Nexus participates in airborne hazard detection project
The IARPA-funded SAURON initiative aims to use laser technology and integrated photonics to build devices that can recognise dangerous chemicals in the air
Integrated photonics company Nexus has teamed up with partners from both industry and academia to develop a project aimed at enhancing public safety through advanced airborne hazard detection. The Standoff Aerosol measUrement Remote Optical Network (SAURON) has won funding from the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA).
The SAURON project seeks to harness the potential of frequency comb lasers – a Nobel Prize-winning technology – to detect a wide array of airborne threats, including industrial pollutants and chemical warfare agents. This initiative aims to significantly improve the ability to monitor air quality and ensure safety in crowded urban environments and industrial settings.
The SAURON team comprises engineers and scientists from the University of Colorado Boulder, the California Institute of Technology, and the University of California Santa Barbara, as well as industry partners LongPath and hQphotonics.
Over the next three and a half years, the SAURON team will work on refining frequency comb laser technology, combining it with integrated photonics to achieve greater sensitivity and compactness. The project will leverage Nexus’ expertise in advanced heterogeneous integration, ensuring the development of scalable and efficient detection systems.
