July 19, 2024: India is poised to reach a new milestone in its quantum optics capabilities with the forthcoming production of multi-channel, tunable laser system technology platforms by nexAtom Research and Instruments, a spinoff company from the prestigious Raman Research Institute (RRI).
This development promises to significantly reduce the costs associated with high precision laser systems crucial for quantum optics laboratories, marking a pivotal advancement in India’s quantum technology landscape.
At the core of quantum optics laboratories worldwide are high precision laser systems, essential for cutting-edge research and applications in quantum-enabled technologies. However, the prohibitive costs have long hindered widespread adoption in both research and industrial sectors.
RRI, known for pioneering precision laser systems required for quantum applications, has licensed its technology to nexAtom Research and Instruments, marking a critical milestone as the first spinoff from the institute. The licensed technology includes a provisional Indian patent for a ‘Standalone laser system with frequency tunability and precision control’.
India’s ambitious Rs. 6,000 crore National Quantum Mission (NQM), launched last year, underscores the nation’s commitment to fostering an ecosystem conducive to quantum-based technology solutions. RRI’s contribution is crucial in this endeavor, aiming to facilitate seamless integration of quantum technologies into future applications.
The tunable lasers, branded as External Cavity Diode Lasers (ECDL), serve as precise spectroscopic tools designed to address quantum systems in both research and technology laboratories. These tunable laser systems are anticipated to play a pivotal role in advancing quantum communication, quantum technology, quantum systems, and metrology – all key themes of the Department of Science & Technology-led NQM.
RRI Spinoff NexAtom to Produce Precision Laser Systems for High-Tech Labs
nexAtom commenced development of its tunable laser system around 2017, pioneering control electronics technology from analog to digital modes. “Our system offers versatile applications in fields such as medicine, remote sensing, geo-mapping, space, and marine navigation, eliminating the need for additional auxiliary systems that inflate costs,” explained Subodh Vashist, Founder and System Design Expert of nexAtom.
The company’s laser systems can be procured as fully integrated packages or subsystems, enhancing cost-effectiveness and accessibility across various user requirements.
Professor Sadiq Rangwala, from RRI’s Light and Matter group and Principal Technical Advisor to nexAtom, highlighted the venture as a template for academic entrepreneurship in India’s burgeoning quantum domain. “This initiative contributes to establishing a robust scientific ecosystem, critical for supporting the future National Quantum Mission,” he emphasized.
Drawing strength from RRI’s Quantum Interactions (QuaInt) lab, with over two decades of expertise, nexAtom aims to foster high-quality, affordable solutions beyond academia’s confines. “Our lab’s multidisciplinary approach and quantum systems interactions have catalyzed the development of multiple products, enhancing research capabilities in quantum physics,” noted Prof. Rangwala.
In addition to precision tunable laser systems, nexAtom’s product portfolio includes precision time taggers for quantum applications, ultra-fast seed fiber lasers for pulsed laser applications, and Q-switched fiber and diode lasers vital for diverse industrial applications like metal 3D printing.
As India gears up for significant advancements through the National Quantum Mission, the demand for customized lasers and associated instruments is expected to surge. This development will drive the need for skilled professionals capable of developing indigenous quantum technology-based solutions, emphasized Subodh Vashist.
“To ensure the development of reliable laser systems, we require skilled engineers and PhDs capable of thriving in an interdisciplinary environment,” added Prof. Rangwala, underscoring the critical role of skilled manpower in advancing India’s quantum technology ambitions.
