Quantum chip generates 22 THz mid-infrared light, voltage-controlled

Researchers at Stanford University have created an optical device that generates 22 THz of mid-infrared light on a chip, a frequency previously difficult to achieve with compact technology. The device, an optical parametric oscillator integrated on thin-film lithium niobate, emits broadly tunable radiation between 2.7 and 3.4 µm, a spectral range vital for environmental, chemical, and biological sensing. This work establishes a platform for compact, widely tunable mid-infrared sources, potentially enabling more portable and accessible sensing applications. The team reports this device achieves electrical control of emission wavelengths, ranging from coarse, multi-THz scales down to continuous, sub-100-GHz tuning. The device operates between 2.7 and 3.4 µm. This spectral range is particularly crucial for applications in environmental monitoring, chemical analysis, and biological sensing, where identifying specific molecular signatures relies on precise mid-infrared illumination. The…