Global semiconductor developer BluGlass Limited has signed an agreement with Macquarie University (project lead) and defense company Aurizn to develop and test a new laser-based method to measure subsurface water temperature and depth. BluGlass will provide visible gallium nitride (GaN) lasers to the project, partially funded by an Australia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA) Seed Grant to support the commercialization of visible lasers in maritime applications.
The project will develop and run commercial trials of fully functional blue ocean LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology to improve maritime situational awareness in defense and environmental settings where satellites and marine buoys are currently used. Blue ocean LiDAR will improve detection of underwater objects, provide increased accuracy in predicting coral bleaching events, and refinement of climate modeling technology.
While invisible infrared (IR) lasers have gained mass adoption in fiber-optic and space communications, they are ineffective in sub-marine applications, as their wavelengths are almost entirely absorbed by water. Underwater laser communication and remote sensing require visible lasers in shorter wavelengths, typically between violet and green.
BluGlass will provide high-power multi-transverse-mode devices for the ocean LiDAR, targeting useable underwater wavelengths in the blue and aqua-marine ranges. The project will harness the advantages visible GaN lasers have over current lower-power and solid-state lasers, such as compact size, high power conversion efficiency, low manufacturing cost, wavelength tunability, beam divergence control, lifetime, and ability to shift wavelength rapidly.
Professor Sakkie Pretorius, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at Macquarie University said: “This collaborative project with BluGlass and Aurizn perfectly aligns with Macquarie University’s world-class expertise in laser technology. In developing blue ocean LiDAR technology, we’re helping create solutions that address real-world challenges, from improving maritime defense to enhancing our understanding of coral reef health and climate change.”
Jim Haden, BluGlass CEO, added: “As one of only a few GaN laser manufacturers globally, BluGlass is pleased to partner with Macquarie University and defense company Aurizn to co-develop next-generation LiDAR technology for subsea defense and civil applications. The project leverages each partner’s unique development and commercial strengths to combine leading-edge photonic and detector technologies in novel applications with significant market potential. We are excited to see our BluGlass GaN lasers deployed in underwater environments for field testing and validation.”
Project lead, Dr. Ondrej Kitzler, a Research Fellow in the MQ Photonics Research Centre at Macquarie University said, “Invisible infrared lasers are widely used in terrestrial remote sensing and communications, but their wavelengths are largely absorbed by water. To use lasers for remote sensing and communicating underwater, visible lasers at shorter wavelengths between the violet and green spectrum are needed. The unique semiconductor lasers developed by BluGlass operate between 420 to 520 nanometers, making them ideal for these demanding applications,” Dr. Kitzler says.
Aurizn’s Chief Scientist, Dr. Peter Amerl, added: “This project builds on the development of remote electro-optical sensing systems that Aurizn has spearheaded in partnership with Defence. We look forward to applying our expertise to help guide the project to ensure suitable outcomes for both Defence and National Security use.”
While BluGlass’ revenue from the partnership is immaterial, the project has significant technological and commercial potential. Following successful completion of the project, the parties intend to enter formal negotiations to progress the blue ocean LiDAR prototype to commercialization, production, and manufacturing.
The project aligns with the Company’s target markets and technology development roadmaps, including development collaborations the Company is working on with UC Santa Barbara as well as the CLAWS Hub led by North Carolina State University (NCSU), as part of the Microelectronics Commons program for defense and dual use technologies run by the US Department of Defense.
