UNISON: Universal sensor based on electrically-pumped mid-infrared spectrometer on silicon chips
EIC Pathfinder Open project, UiT key partner, March 2024-Feb 2028
UNISON develops a scalable, broadband platform for mid-infrared (3 – 12 µm) spectroscopy by combining on-chip frequency combs based on cascade lasers (ICLs and QCLs) with low-loss Si/Ge nanophotonic circuits. This enables a new generation of compact and highly sensitive spectrometers.
sCENTsor: Ultra-sensitive and compact gas sensor
The Research Counil of Norway, Commercialization project – Proof of Concept
Jana Jágerská/UiT Project Leader, April 2024 – March 2027
Many high-precision trace gas sensors are large, expensive, and confined to labs. sCENTsor aims to change that. Building on earlier work (MicroSense, sCENT, TFS UiTrace), our team has designed novel ultra-thin, free-standing membrane waveguides operating in the mid-infrared that enable on-chip detection down to parts-per-billion (ppb) levels, including identification of different isotopes and their ratios.
WRAPS: Waveguide Raman Spectroscopy for Polar Iron Sensing
European Research Executive Agency, MSCA-PF
Jan Viljanen Project Leader, 2024 – 2026
The ambitious goal of WRAPS is to develop an optical measurement technique to monitor and quantify dissolved iron in glacial meltwaters. The objectives are to (i) introduce an on-chip waveguide design for liquid Raman sensing to develop a portable but sensitive measurement device, and (ii) create an identification and calibration model that can quantify dissolved iron in glacial waters.
UiTrace: Ultra-sensitive Integrated Trace gas sensors
Tromsø Research Foundation, TFS Starting Grant
UiT Project Leader, July 2018 – December 2025
The UiTrace project built on the fundamental advances of the MICROSense and sCENT projects, aiming to translate “high-risk – high-gain” photonic concepts into applied, compact sensor systems for trace gas detection.
Concluded Projects
sCENT2: Micro-Scale Photonic Trace Gas Sensor
ERC Proof of Concept project, European Research Council
Jana Jágerská/UiT Project Leader, April 2024 – September 2025
This project set out to address key technological and commercialization challenges associated with bringing on-chip trace-gas spectroscopic sensors developed within the ERC StG sCENT, TFS UiTrace, and RCN MicroSense projects to market. Our goal was to evaluate critical components of a viable product ecosystem—from photonic integration and packaging to fluidics and early market assessment.
sCENT: Cryptophane-Enhanced Trace Gas Spectroscopy for On-Chip Methane Detection
ERC Starting Grant, European Research Council
Jana Jágerská/UiT Project Leader, January 2018 – December 2024
The main objective of the sCENT project has been to develop sensors on a chip scale but capable of ppb-level sensitivity and selectivity comparable to that of state-of-the-art laboratory instruments. This breakthrough was made possible through pioneering work in mid-infrared photonic integrated waveguides, enabling a thousand-fold increase in sensitivity over existing on-chip sensors.
MICRO-Sense: Mid-Infrared CRyptophane-enhanced On-chip Sensor
FRIPRO – FRINATEK Young Research Talents, The Research Council of Norway
Jana Jágerská/UiT Project Leader, April 2017- November 2022
The primary objective of MICRO-Sense was to develop an integrated methane sensor of unprecedented sensitivity based on a photonic microchip with an innovative free-standing waveguide design optimized for maximum optical field interaction with the surrounding environment; The sensor was planned to be optimized for identification and quantification of methane emissions in the Arctic.
