Building on over 30 years of laser research and development, BRL was established in 2015 in Longmont, Colorado as a cutting-edge research facility. BRL is focused on the development and testing of advanced photonic and electronic devices. These new technologies have applications in millimeter-wave/terahertz metrology, wireless communications, molecular spectroscopy, and other interdisciplinary fields. This page shares our research vision, recent progress, and showcases the capabilities of our lab. Our diverse team of scientists possess expertise in many areas including photomixing for mmW/THz generation, compact and chip-scale device design/fabrication, frequency metrology, optical frequency division, oscillator injection locking, and fiber laser systems.

BRL is committed to IMRA America’s broader mission of achieving “World Harmony through the Development and Sharing of Science and Technology.” At BRL, we patent novel devices/methods and publish our findings in peer-reviewed journals. We also communicate results at international conferences. Our work also includes collaborations with both academic and industrial partners. Together, these activities invent new technologies for a brighter future.

mmW/THz Metrology

Dual wavelength Brillouin laser (DWBL)

We are developing tools and techniques to perform precise measurements of frequency and stability. This endeavor includes research of cutting-edge laser technology. We currently operate a dual wavelength Brillouin laser (DWBL) that sets the standard for differential phase noise from 300GHz to 3THz:

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41566-024-01513-z

Microcomb based mmW/THz oscillator

We investigate integrated photonics technologies, including micro-ring resonators, to generate very high repetition rate frequency combs. Such microcombs can be used as a frequency ruler for lasers, spectroscopy, and frequency stability transfer. BRL has developed low-noise mmW/THz sources based on microcomb technology:

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41566-021-00790-2

Wireless Communication

Photonic methods of generating mmW/THz radiation will enable future technologies. One example is beyond 5G wireless communications, which will utilize mmW/THz carrier frequencies. BRL recently carried out a demonstration of ultra-high speed wireless data transmission utilizing a microcomb source:

https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0146957

Molecular Spectroscopy

Precision spectroscopy of molecules is a technology enabled by low noise mmW/THz sources. BRL is pushing the boundaries of precision in stabilizing frequency references to the quantum rotations of molecules such as N2O and OCS:

https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0175547


Schematic of a photonic mmW/THz oscillator stabilized to a molecular rotational transition