The femto-iCOMB based PMOs generate ultra-low noise microwave and optical signals, unachievable with conventional electronics at much reduced size, weight, cost and power, which opens up entirely new applications. Like PMO in autonomous driving, providing low noise microwaves from a very small form factor device with simultaneous optical output that can be used to distribute the microwave signal on an optical carrier in the car enabling large area radar for a high resolution radar sensor enabling level 4 and 5 autonomous driving.

Clearly, the possible markets for  femto-iCOMB technology are enormous, beyond what we can demonstrate in this proposal, ranging from advanced ADCs for next generation communication systems, to point of care sensor technology, to LIDAR for autonomous driving. All these application areas are large global markets and it is important that Europe is in a leading position in these new markets by strengthening its photonics and semiconductor industry, which creates high paying jobs. A cost-effective sensor technology based on femto-iCOMBs can also be a major component in environmental monitoring systems like LIDAR.

Since the femto-iCOMB platform opens a completely new area within size, weight, cost, power and performance of incredibly miniaturized optical and microwave sources, this will surely pave the way to new applications we cannot foresee up to now! What can be done with the femto-iCOMB platform in terms of signalling, signal processing and sensing within a smartphone?