Innovation Europe > News > Innovation EU Vol2-1 > Optoelectronics Research Centre

The Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) of Tampere University of Technology is the leading nanophotonics research centre in Finland. The core business of the Optoelectronics Research Centre is to study and develop novel epitaxial compound semiconductor heterostructures, light-emitting and light-modulation devices, and ultra-short-pulse and cw high-power fibre lasers.

The Optoelectronics Research Centre also develops thin-film deposition methods based on the use of ultra-fast fibre lasers, high-power vertical external cavity surface-emitting lasers (semiconductor disk lasers or VECSELs) for high-power applications, and UV nanoimprint lithography (NIL) for fabricating sub-100 nm surface reliefs cost-effectively for nanophotonic components. The most recent studies are concerned with high-efficiency III-V multijunction solar cells, and with the development of antimonide-based compounds for long-wavelength devices. The ultimate goal of the research conducted at the Optoelectronics Research Centre is to transfer knowledge and technology to society.

The Optoelectronics Research Centre was founded 10 years ago, employs 50 researchers and has an estimated budget of about E6m for 2010. Investments in scientific equipment amount to over E20m, which makes the Optoelectronics Research Centre one of the best-equipped academic research units in Finland. With five commercial MBE reactors and complete optoelectronic device processing and characterisation facilities, the Optoelectronics Research Centre is the largest university-based research centre in Europe in the molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) crystal growth technique. The Optoelectronics Research Centre research portfolio consists of more than 25 research and collaborative projects, including European Space Agency and EU FP7 projects and it aims to further expand its participation in EU projects. The Optoelectronics Research Centre is a partner of EU Photonics21 and COST MP0803 and MP0805 networks.

The Optoelectronics Research Centre has been exceptionally successful in achieving innovative scientific results (over 650 publications in 1999-2009), developing new technologies, and transferring know-how to industrial use. It has played a seminal role in creating a new laser manufacturing industry in Finland. Five spin-off companies – Coherent-Finland, Modulight, EpiCrystals, Corelase, and RefleKron – have been established based on the research done at the Optoelectronics Research Centre. Two of these spin-off companies are now owned by the world’s biggest laser manufacturers, namely Coherent and Rofin-Sinar. In addition, licensing the technology has been one way to commercialise the research.

To exploit and disseminate its scientific achievements, the Optoelectronics Research Centre set up the Laser Competence Centre Finland (LCC Finland - see www.lccfinland.fi) in 2005. The LCC Finland Network offers its member companies research equipment and expertise at low cost. The Centre ensures that these companies regularly receive the latest technology news and other services and have access to custom-tailored training of their engineers and clients in relevant technologies. LCC Finland also provides an effective dissemination channel for the companies’ own services and products. LCC Finland is a member of EU MINAM, IVAM, EPIC, and AILU networks.

In 2008 the Optoelectronics Research Centre won an Honourable Mention at the national InnoFinland contest, awarded by the President of the Republic of Finland, for commercialising optoelectronics based on compound semiconductor technology.

Committed to partnership for high-quality research

The research interests at the Optoelectronics Research Centre include:

• Theoretical simulations (waveguides, laser diodes, VCSELs);
• Dilute nitride / Antimonide–based materials and devices;
• Advanced MBE growth techniques (growth on nano-patterned surfaces, advanced techniques for metamorphic growth);
• Fibre components (customised WDM couplers, FBGs, tapers);
• High-power, mode-locked and Q-switched fibre lasers operating at 1 mm, 1.5 mm and 2 mm wavelength ranges;
• Laser diodes for narrow linewidth and high-power operation, including VCSELs and NIL assisted DFBs;
• SESAMs and SDLs (electrically and optically pumped);
• High-efficiency III-V solar cells;
• Nano-imprint lithography and photonic nanostructures;
• Plasmonics and metamaterials.

For more information on the Optoelectronics Research Centre, contact:

Dr Pekka Savolainen, Director
Optoelectronics Research Centre
Tampere University of Technology
PO Box 692
FI-33101 Tampere
Finland
Tel: +358 40 718 8033
E-mail: pekka.savolainen@tut.fi
Websites: www.orc.tut.fi - www.tut.fi