NEWAVE

This project aims at exploring new operation modes for micro- and nano-lasers for integrated photonics. These are based on polaritonic waveguides (GaN), an "all-in-one" active medium that is very different from usual semiconducting active layers, thus revisiting in depth the laser mechanisms. They provide a very strong gain, low absorption losses and a self-focusing non-linearity. The challenge is to control the laser dynamics by patterning photonic crystal waveveguides in order to realise continuous-wave or pulsed laser sources (with an ultra-low energy per pulse), and then a topological laser including an intra-cavity optical isolator. Our consortium presents a critical mass in terms of human ressources and scientific expertises, as well as the growth and processing facilities, the models and simulations, and the spectroscopy setups in order to be competitive at the international level and reach the project objectives.