Integrated hYperfrequency probes for the assessment of electromagnetic radiations at high sensitivities - Industrial development laboratory. – SYRAH-lab

In the context of 5G deployment, radiofrequency (RF) electric fields are bound to invade our daily lives. This generates an important need in electric field detection at high resolution and sensitivity and over wide spectral ranges (from 10 Hz to 100 GHz): addressing this challenge is both a health, security and business issue.
SYRAH-lab aims at establishing a long-term collaboration between the FEMTO-ST Institute and Kapteos to develop a new generation of probes dedicated to the sensitive and high-resolution detection of radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EM). This objective will be achieved by integrating compact integrated photonic architectures developed by FEMTO-ST into Kapteos’ minimally invasive EM probes. SYRAH-lab's objectives include the development of generic manufacturing technologies, and real-time characterization platforms for manufacturing optimisation.

SYRAH-lab will provide a legal framework for the valorisation of the joint products and also a physical laboratory dedicated to the probes developments, with cutting-edge equipment for pigtailing, packaging, and optoelectronic characterisation. The dedicated premises will be located within the TEMIS-SCIENCE building in Besançon, near the MIMENTO technology centre, where technological developments will be carried out.

SYRAH-lab combines the expertise of Kapteos and FEMTO-ST. Kapteos is an SME company, expert in electromagnetic fields detection. The company is the market leader for measurements in harsh environments (cold plasmas, MRI, high voltages), thanks to its fully dielectric optical probes based on electro-optic (EO) materials. Kapteos wishes to extend its range of expertise and products to new markets by increasing the resolution and sensitivity of its current probes.
FEMTO-ST, through its optics department, is an internationally recognized expert in the design/manufacturing/characterization of electro-optical circuits, and more particularly in lithium niobate (LiNbO3). FEMTO-ST has already produced LiNbO3 EO probes with integrated optical microguides for the ultra-sensitive detection of magnetic fields, covering the interests of both partners.

SYRAH-lab has three research axis, organised in three sequences. 1. In the short term, transfer of LiNbO3-microguides-based probes to industry. The manufacturing technologies are already mastered. Dynamic characterization techniques will be developed to validate the probes performance during manufacturing. This first milestone will consolidate Kapteos' advantage in its markets by increasing the robustness of the probes, and by providing a micrometric spatial resolution. 2. In the medium term, integration of passive microwave functionalities enhancing electro-optical interactions on the guides and allowing a two orders of magnitude gain in sensitivity (target sensitivity: 100 µV/m/sqrt(Hz)) compared to current probes, which is strategic to open the way toward new markets. The development of technologies which are adapted to the production of guides in cubic EO materials is the second objective: these materials are crucial to optimize the stability of measurements toward environmental fluctuations. 3. In the long term, the EO probes will be microstructured for ultra-wideband operation [10 Hz to 100 GHz].

Thus, SYRAH-lab proposes a new generation of compact integrated EO platforms and associated services, which will enable ultra-high resolution diagnostics in harsh environments as well as simple & low-cost certifications of 5G broadband equipments. SYRAH-lab developments also target a strategic positioning for future RF needs.