York physics Professor A. Kumarakrishnan has received two grants to advance and commercialize his cutting-edge work in laser technology.
An atomic physicist, Kumarakrishnan has partnered with Scintrex Ltd – makers of geoscientific instruments and industrial gravimeters – to develop engineering prototype laser systems for commercial applications.
Graduate Student Matthew Weel aligning Titanium:Sapphire Ring Laser
“Once developed, these laser systems will be of significant use for precise gravity measurements, precision spectroscopy, lidar transmission and instructional modules, which, in turn, may well lead to further discoveries in atmospheric studies and pollution monitoring,” said Kumarakrishnan. “Uniquely, the systems can also be tuned to a desired frequency without the need for human intervention.”
The two grants stem from programs dedicated to supporting innovative research with commercial potential. Kumarakrishnan received a combined $169,000 from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Idea to Innovation program and an Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) Voucher for Commercialization.
A. Kumarakrishnan
The financial support recognizes the research stemming from York’s Faculty of Science. , Kumarakrishnan’s research has been driven by a large team of students comprised of seven PhD students, four master’s level students and 32 undergraduate students
“It is very exciting to see such dedicated students,” Kumarakrishnan says of his research team.
The group acknowledges sustained support from Hassan Jaferi of Innovation York.
To learn more about Kumarakrishnan’s research, visit his lab website.