Abstract:
Ultrafast lasers are an extremely versatile tool for fabricating integrated devices in transparent materials, particularly in the fields of microelectronics, advanced packaging, and integrated photonics. Their potential is especially relevant in the emerging field of quantum sensing, which is currently transitioning toward industrialization and practical applications. By leveraging ultrafast lasers, it is possible to fabricate nearly all passive components of integrated photonic circuits on glass-based substrates. Furthermore, these circuits can be coupled with quantum sensors, such as vapor-cell-based devices, providing a scalable manufacturing route for miniaturized architectures of quantum sensors.
This talk presents an overview of possible manufacturing techniques, illustrated through a demonstrator of a quantum-based gyroscope. Such a device represents a breakthrough in navigation, with transformative applications in autonomous driving, navigation of small aerial vehicles such as drones, and defense-related Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) capabilities - particularly in scenarios where Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) may be compromised through jamming or spoofing.
Speaker - Dr. Tobias Menold:
Dr. Tobias Menold heads the Systems Engineering Department at the IFSW (University of Stuttgart). He is currently establishing a research group focused on laser-based manufacturing processes for integrated photonics and quantum technology components. Previously, he worked as a research engineer at Robert Bosch GmbH, where he developed laser-based microfabrication processes for micromechanical sensors and quantum sensors. He also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Tübingen, focusing on quantum sensing with warm alkali vapors, in particular spin-exchange relaxation-free (SERF) magnetometry.
