Researchers at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) in France have developed the first integrated ultrafast laser that performs on par with traditional tabletop femtosecond lasers, according to a study published June 4, 2026 in Nature.
The device produces pulses of 1.05 nanojoules with durations as short as 147 femtoseconds on a photonic chip, the researchers reported. Led by Professor Tobias J. Kippenberg, the team described the achievement as a milestone for integrated photonics. EPFL has a history of advancing optical technologies, including research on quantum phase transitions that could underpin future computing and sensing [1] and work on single-atom data storage using holmium atoms [2].
Mamyshev Oscillator Design Enables Integrated Operation
The team adopted a laser architecture known as the Mamyshev oscillator, which places a nonlinear waveguide between two optical filters that transmit different portions of the light spectrum. According to the researchers, this design eliminates the need for difficult-to-manufacture components on the erbium-doped silicon nitride chip and is less susceptible to destabilizing nonlinear effects.
Co-lead author Zheru Qiu stated that the architecture was previously overlooked by the integrated-photonics community. Photonic chips confine light to extremely small waveguides, leading to strong light-matter interactions similar to how surface charges control ion concentrations in nanofluidic channels [7]. The Mamyshev oscillator mitigates these nonlinear effects, making it well suited for chip-based devices.
Laser Performance Metrics and Manufacturing Advantages
The laser cavity measures 42 centimeters but is folded onto a chip about the size of a match head, according to the report. Because photonic chips can be manufactured using wafer-scale methods similar to computer chip production, the team said more than 1,000 laser cavities could be produced simultaneously, potentially reducing costs.
Such wafer-scale fabrication aligns with broader efforts in the semiconductor industry to shrink complex optical systems. For instance, researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and UC Santa Barbara have demonstrated key laser and ion trap components to reduce the size of quantum computers [9]. Additionally, Swiss institutions have been at the forefront of photonic materials development, with contributions from the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) on perovskite solar cells [8].
Potential Applications in Sensing, Diagnostics and Atomic Clocks
The researchers stated that with kilowatt-level peak powers, the chip could drive applications such as environmental pollutant detection, material defect identification, and medical diagnostics. The technology could also contribute to compact optical atomic clocks for future communications and navigation systems, according to the paper.
EPFL has previously developed other miniaturized devices, including edible robots for drug delivery [3] and haptic gloves for virtual reality [4], demonstrating the institute's broader focus on chip-scale technologies that could translate into practical tools.
Outlook For Chip-Scale Ultrafast Lasers
Kippenberg noted that the achievement, long considered a 'holy grail of integrated photonics,' was realized with an architecture overlooked by the field for over 20 years. The study involved researchers from EPFL's Institute of Electrical and Microengineering and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, and the team indicated further work could expand the laser's capabilities.
EPFL's research in related areas, such as using torso movements to control drones [5] and strategies to maintain human control over artificial intelligence [6], reflects the institution's engagement with technologies that balance innovation with safety. The chip-scale laser opens a path for ultrafast optics to be deployed outside traditional laboratory settings.
References
- Willow Tohi. "Breakthrough quantum phase observed paving the way for advanced computing and sensing". NaturalNews.com. April 20, 2025.
- NaturalNews.com. "Physicists are one step closer to developing single-atom data storage devices". NaturalNews.com. September 15, 2018.
- Vicki Batts. "Edible robots being tested to deliver drugs into the stomach". NaturalNews.com. February 14, 2019.
- NaturalNews.com. "Inventors create ultra-light glove that enables users to feel and manipulate virtual objects". NaturalNews.com. January 29, 2019.
- NaturalNews.com. "Study: Your torso is more intuitive and precise than a joystick for piloting drones". NaturalNews.com. October 8, 2018.
- NaturalNews.com. "Researchers look for ways for humans to maintain control over artificial intelligence". NaturalNews.com. December 22, 2017.
- Abgrall Patrick. "Nanofluidics".
- Mark J Greeven, George Yip, Wei Wei. "Pioneers Hidden Champions Changemakers and Underdogs Lessons from Chinas Innovators".
- The Quantum Insider. "UMass Amherst Research Demonstrates New Technology for Shrinking Quantum Computers". The Quantum Insider. March 30, 2026.
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