Advancing Navigation and Sensing with Indium Phosphide Integrated Photonics

Abstract

Integrated photonics is emerging as a key enabling technology for next-generation sensing and navigation systems. By integrating multiple optical functions on a single chip, photonic integrated circuits (PICs) can deliver compact, highly sensitive and energy-efficient solutions for applications ranging from space systems to autonomous platforms.

This webinar will present recent advances in indium phosphide (InP) integrated photonics, highlighting how this technology enables the development of innovative photonic building blocks operating at near- and mid-infrared wavelengths. Through examples from the INPHOMIR project, speakers will showcase progress in monolithic integration, photonic device development and sensing architectures, including applications such as optical gyroscopes and advanced sensing technologies.

The session will provide insights into how European research is pushing the boundaries of photonic integration and contributing to the development of more precise, reliable and scalable sensing and navigation solutions.

  • March 27, 2026

  • 14:15 – 15:30 (CET)

Agenda

  • 14:15-14:20 Welcome to the 2nd Inphomir Webinar

  • 14:20 -14:30 INPHOMIR: project overview and objectives | Lorenzo Mancini (GEM ELETTRONICA)

  • 14:30 – 15:00 Optical gyroscope in monolithic indium phosphide | Leijtens, Xaveer (Eindhoven University of Technology)

  • 15:00 – 15:30 Mid-infrared photonic integration and nonlinear optics on InP | Prof. Mikhail A. Belkin (Technical University of Munich, Germany)

  • 15:30 Conclusions

Agenda

Biography

Dr. Lorenzo Mancini is a researcher at the Photonics Research & Applied Navigation Sciences laboratory of GEM Elettronica. His work focuses on the development of fiber-based and integrated photonics solutions for inertial and remote sensing.

Abstract: Photonics Research & Applied Navigation Science Lab, GEM elettronica

In this intervention the HORIZON Europe funded project INPHOMIR is introduced and discussed. Its objectives and scope are detailed and reviewed in context of the state of the art of integrated photonics solutions for navigation and remote sensing technologies. The most relevant results achieved in the first 2 years of project life will be addressed, along with the strategy and expected outcomes envisioned for the full project life cycle. The industrial potential of the technologies explored by INPHOMIR will be also discussed.

Biography

Xaveer Leijtens is an associate professor in the department of electrical engineering at the Eindhoven University of Technology. His main research focus is on photonic IC design for applications in communication and sensing.

Abstract: Optical gyroscope in monolithic indium phosphide

The indium-phosphide material system provides light generation, amplification, detection and modulation at telecom wavelengths. We exploit active-passive butt-joint regrowth to combine those functions on a single monolithic wafer. With these building blocks a fully integrated optical gyroscope on chip can be fabricated. Although this is an optical gyroscope it only has electrical connections to the outside world.

In the presentation the fabrication processes will be introduced, as well as the design of specific photonic building blocks that are used in the optical gyroscope. The progress and results that have been obtained so far will be presented and the ongoing work is outlined.

Biography

Mikhail A. Belkin is a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the Technical University of Munich. His research interests are in the field of mid-infrared and THz optoelectronics, integrated photonics, nonlinear optics, and metamaterials. Prof. Belkin is a Fellow of the IEEE, OSA and SPIE.

Abstract: Mid-infrared photonic integration and nonlinear optics on InP

In the mid-infrared (mid-IR, λ ≈ 3–15 μm) spectral region, room-temperature intersubband lasers, detectors, modulators, and other components have been successfully demonstrated on the InP platform. Consequently, InP emerges as a natural choice for the realization of mid-IR photonic integrated circuits. I will report on fabrication and mid-IR optical characterization of InGaAs/InP and GaAsSb/InP dielectric waveguides and more advanced passive photonic components. Frequency mixing measurements reveal high Kerr nonlinearity and low group velocity dispersion in both InGaAs/InP and GaAsSb/InP waveguides at mid-IR wavelengths. Leveraging on these properties, we demonstrate mid-IR supercontinuum generation with record-low pump powers. Finally, I will describe the first monolithic integration and optical coupling of dissimilar intersubband active regions on a single InP crystal.

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