Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF
The further development of Fraunhofer's successful activities in the United Kingdom and the expansion of cooperation with British research institutions and companies: These are the goals of Fraunhofer UK, whose board of directors met on October 15 at Fraunhofer IAF in Freiburg. Also present was the Fraunhofer Center for Applied Photonics CAP, which is based at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. Fraunhofer CAP was founded in 2012 as a spin-off of Fraunhofer IAF. Both institutes are closely linked and combine their expertise in optoelectronics and quantum technologies.
Fraunhofer IAF and CAP combine their competences in the realization of laser-based measurement systems and the development of high-precision quantum magnetometers. They jointly developed an integrable infrared spectroscopy measurement system that enables contactless and fast scanning in the millisecond range. As part of the Fraunhofer lighthouse project QMag, which was coordinated by Fraunhofer IAF, Fraunhofer CAP also developed diamond micro-optics and waveguides for addressing nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond and using optical characterization methods to evaluate NV centers for magnetometry. It thus performs essential preliminary work for the realization of the project goal: an imaging scanning probe magnetometer based on NV centers in diamond.
About Fraunhofer UK and Fraunhofer CAP
Fraunhofer UK Research Ltd., based in Glasgow, Scotland, pools Fraunhofer activities in the UK. Fraunhofer CAP, which has grown steadily since its inception in 2012 and has collaborated on more than 200 projects with more than 100 corporate partners, is legally part of Fraunhofer UK.
Fraunhofer UK and Fraunhofer CAP have made valuable contributions to technological developments in the UK. Through productive collaboration with both UK and global research institutions and commercial enterprises, the institutions have been able to actively participate in international knowledge and technology transfer. Fraunhofer CAP is developing state-of-the-art lasers and optical systems for applications in the fields of energy, security, environment, sensors, space, life sciences and quantum technologies. Thereby, it contributes to sustainably improving Europe’s technological sovereignty and society. The importance of Fraunhofer CAP to the UK’s quantum ecosystem was highlighted repeatedly in the UKs quantum technology strategy document.