Professor Patané, who led the sensor research, highlighted the importance of the findings: “For the first time, this work brings together the generation of femtosecond UV-C laser pulses and their rapid detection using two-dimensional semiconductors. Remarkably, the sensors show a linear to super-linear photocurrent response to pulse energy—an especially valuable trait that opens the door to UV-C photonic technologies operating on femtosecond timescales across a broad range of pulse energies and repetition rates.”

Figure 1. Ultrafast UV Laser Sends Signals in Trillionths of a Second.

Professor Tisch, who led the development of the laser source, stressed the importance of efficiency, explaining that the team used phase-matched second-order processes in nonlinear optical crystals to generate UV-C laser light with high efficiency. This strong conversion performance represents a major milestone and establishes a platform for further optimization and scaling toward a compact UV-C system. Emphasizing accessibility, Tim Klee, a PhD student at Imperial, noted that a UV-C source that is compact, efficient, and easy to use would greatly benefit the broader scientific and industrial community, helping to accelerate research in UV-C photonics. Figure 1 shows Ultrafast UV Laser Sends Signals in Trillionths of a Second.

By combining the generation and detection of femtosecond UV-C laser pulses, this work paves the way for a new class of technologies. The high sensitivity of two-dimensional semiconductor sensors could enable fully integrated platforms that merge UV-C light sources and detectors on a single chip, with potential applications such as free-space communication between autonomous and robotic systems. Because these components are compatible with monolithic integration in photonic integrated circuits, the approach could also support a broad range of uses—from broadband imaging to ultrafast spectroscopy—all operating at femtosecond timescales.

Why Ultrafast UV Light Matters

Modern communication and imaging technologies are constantly pushing toward faster speeds and higher precision. Ultraviolet (UV) light, especially in the UV-C range, offers unique advantages because of its short wavelength, which allows it to carry more information and resolve finer details than visible light. Until now, generating and detecting UV-C signals at extremely fast timescales has been a major technical challenge.

Communicating in Trillionths of a Second

The new laser operates on femtosecond timescales—each pulse lasts just a trillionth of a second. At these speeds, information can be encoded and transmitted far faster than conventional optical systems. This effectively pushes communication into a new regime, where data transfer happens almost instantaneously compared to current technologies.

A Breakthrough in Detection

Equally important is the ability to detect these ultrafast signals. Researchers used two-dimensional semiconductor sensors that can respond quickly enough to keep up with the laser pulses. Unexpectedly, these sensors showed a linear to super-linear response to pulse energy, meaning they become even more effective as signal strength increases—an ideal property for reliable ultrafast communication.

Compact, Efficient UV-C Laser Design

The team achieved efficient UV-C light generation by using phase-matched nonlinear optical crystals. This high conversion efficiency is a key milestone, making it possible to shrink the system into a compact, practical UV-C laser source. Efficiency also opens the door to scaling the technology for real-world devices rather than lab-only setups.

Future Applications and Impact

Together, ultrafast UV-C generation and detection enable entirely new technologies. Potential applications include free-space communication between autonomous systems and robots, advanced broadband imaging, and ultrafast spectroscopy. Because both the lasers and sensors can be integrated into photonic chips, the research lays the foundation for next-generation UV-C photonics operating at unprecedented speeds.

Source: SciTECHDaily

Cite this article:

Priyadharshini S (2025), New Ultrafast UV Laser Communicates in Trillionths of a Second, AnaTechMaz, pp. 442