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French National Research Agency projects and European Programmes

ANR

European Programmes

 

ANR

 

02/01/2016 to 01/31/2019

Design and realization of new and compact gyromagnetic components with optimized performances

The joint laboratory project INO-GYRO (joint laboratory between public research organism and pme/eti) associates Xlim laboratory with the private company INOVEOS (located in Brive). It has been selected  at the ANR call of November 2015. It’s goal is to design and make new compact gyromagnetical devices with optimized performances (isolators, circulators…). The partners will be working on the development of innovative circulators / isolators by developing a reliable and quick conception method that will reduce the time of experimental development. They will also look into power devices. Three research axes are studied: the development of a reliable methodology for the design of massive circulators, the miniaturization of non-reciprocal devices, the modelization of power devices.
Contact: thierry.monediere@xlim.fr
 
12/01/2015 to 11/30/2018

Highly tunable, high power, efficient terahertz source based on dual-frequency-synchronous Tm-doped fiber-laser source

TERATUNE is a PRCI project that involves XLIM and the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (Jena IPHT, Germany).TERATUNE aims to realize the first THz source based on dual frequency pulsed fibre laser technology that is widely tuneable (100 GHz–10 THz).
Contact: philippe.roy@xlim.fr

 

10/01/2015 to 09/30/2018

Passive Imaging through multipleXing device based on timE reversaL

Contact: cyril.decroze@xlim.fr

 

04/01/2015 to 10/01/2018

Optical Propagation and Disordered Amplifying Media

The aims of the POMAD project are more general and directed toward the understanding and mastering of light field transmission through disordered amplifying material. The topics will be studied both by theoretical and experimental approaches considering propagation through bulk scattering media as well as through multimode waveguides (both described by transmission matrices in linear regime). Nonlinear behaviors related to gain saturation will be more particularly explored. Gain level and signal input power will constitute two means of control in complement of the coherent spatial modulation of the fields performed with an SLM. The applications foreseen are connected with modal division multiplexing in optical communications and with remote sensing based on pulsed high energy laser. The POMAD project gathers researchers from XLIM (Limoges), Institut Langevin (Paris) and Laboratoire Kastler Brossel (Paris).
Contact: vincent.kermene@xlim.fr

 

10/01/2015 to 09/30/2018

Solar cells using lead-free hybrid perovskites

This project aims at developing lead-free perovskite semiconductor materials for third generation photovoltaic cells. More specifically, the project focus on the advanced understanding of charge generation mechanisms, as well as on the demonstration of efficient and stable solutions. The consortium is composed by XLIM, the CEA-INAC (coordinator), and the FOTON laboratory.
Contact: johann.boucle@xlim.fr
 
03/02/2015 to 03/01/2018

Plasma photonic for the realization and industrialization of UV/DUV tunable fiber laser source

The GPPMM group of XLIM research institute has recently achieved a seminal work in the development of the first stable microwave plasma confined in the micro-scale core of a hollow-core photonic crystal fibre. This work has been undertaken in collaboration with the LPGP lab of Orsay and under a granted project, named “UVfactor”, funded by the ANR-DGA agency under the ASTRID 2011 call. During this project, several important milestones were achieved as illustrated by the high rate of publications generated (5 peer-review articles, 15 international communications including 3 invited papers, 1 patent application and the Rank Prize Funds 2014). Among which, we count i) the development of a new class of state-of-the-art HC-PCFs, ii) the discovery of innovative plasma dynamics allowing to sustain microwave-driven microplasmas in such HC-PCFs with no damage to its structure, with relatively low temperature and high ionization rate, thus offering room for power scaling-up, and iii) the first demonstration of microstrip lines driven micro-plasma in HC-PCF technology, providing a compelling proof-of-concept to miniaturize the technology. All of these recent technological breakthroughs clearly show the potential of this emerging science that lies at the frontier of gas-plasma field and the photonics but also its ability to industrialize in a relatively short time as evidenced by the level of maturity achieved during the ASTRID project which has progressed from the proof-of-concept level to a TRL between 3 and 4. Indeed, these developments allow us now to go further towards the achievement of novel and highly-compact tunable ultra-violet (UV) fibre laser sources. The result will then fulfill the longstanding wish to cover the UV/DUV spectral range in the lost efficient manner, and invigorate the UV/DUV laser technology which has stagnated since the 70s. Consequently, the present Plasma-PMC project aims at capitalizing on the outstanding results obtained during the UVfactor grant in order to move to the development of a novel platform for industry. The proposed laser sources will be designed to meet the growing needs from both the military community for the pollutants detection, dangerous targets or the bio-defense applications by spectro-plasma and the medical field especially dermatology for the treatment of vitiligo and psoriasis which affects more than 3 million people in France. To address this purpose, our interest within the framework of the ANR Maturation meets the three following objectives: i) the choice of the gas mixture to reach all the benefits associated with the tailoring of photon emission in UV/DUV range (wavelength and spectral intensity), ii) the miniaturization of the concept to integrate the product into systems or even making an easy-to-use source and finally iii) the power scaling of the source associated to a transverse singlemode. In the same time, another task will be dedicated to lead a market research in order to analyze more precisely the need and modify if necessary some parameters of the final product. In this context, the consortium is composed of i) the two academic partners who have initiated this joint-venture (XLIM/GPPMM and LPGP) by through the ANR ASTRID “UVfactor” grant, ii) a new partner (SPCTS lab) mastering the research in the synthesis of ceramics to address the stakes involved about the power scaling. Finally, the expected outcome of the Plasma-PMC project will fit perfectly the patent portfolio held by the company GLOphotonics which includes several patents relating to almost all key elements of the final product as the manufacture of HC-PCFs, the fabrication of photonic gas cells based on gas-filled HC-PCFs and the manufacture of gas-based lasers sources. Therefore, the company GLOphotonics was naturally identified as the preferred industrial partner to integrate this project with the ultimate aim of achieving the first fibre component Plasma-PMC and the associated UV/DUV gas laser prototype.
Contact: f.benabid@xlim.fr
 
10/01/2014 to 09/30/2018

3D Virtual Platform for wireless sensor Network simulation

The PERSEPTEUR project has evolved from an alliance of laboratories recognized by the CNRS for their research on sensor networks and their interactions, physical and spatial modeling of the radio channel, and the cooperation with the company Virtualys specialized in 3D representations of urban structures. PERSEPTEUR aims to study and develop tools based on open urban descriptions and allowing the visualization of the characteristics of radio signais that cover a wide technological spectrum. ln addition to spatial aspects, the project aise aims to integrate temporal aspects that are based on mobility scenarios. This project intends to answer various questions such as the use of space and frequencies and its optimization. lt aise intends to give access to the information to the citizens (for instance on the existence and levels of radio signals) and to help deploying reliable monitoring services (like gas, light or other resources) by distributed sensors with a feedback to inhabitants.
Contact: rodolphe.vauzelle@xlim.fr
 
10/01/2014 to 03/31/2018

Ceramic Optical Fibres for Laser Applications

The aim of the FOCAL project conducted by three laboratories (CEMTHI, SPCTS and XLIM), is the achievement of ceramic optical fibres for laser applications. Unusual ceramic are implemented in order to efficiently reach the IR-MIR spectral domain while being compatible with fibre drawing process.
Contact: georges.humbert@xlim.fr

 

10/01/2014 to 03/31/2018

Safety Intelligent Sensor for Cobots. A mechatronics interface connecting joints of manipulator robots, ensuring the safety of physical man / robot-robot interactions.

The major objectives in the sectors of manufacturing and handling services concern the improvements in terms of reducing financial costs, increase quality and productivity; new societal and environmental issues should be taken into account: safety and environmental impact and lack of skilled labor for the production of heavy or highly specialized tasks. A possible way to meet these challenges consists in the use of collaborative robots (cobots) to assist and work with human operators. But proximity between robots and people raises problems related to the safe operation of robots. These brakes could be removed through appropriate technologies at low cost that make market robots inherently safe. The solution proposed in this project is a generic mechatronic device with its innovative operating systems performing the function of biomimetic joint. This system will allow cobots to adapt their behavior to secure the environment and the task by ensuring the adaptive damping functions in case of impacts like a biological articulation, modeling of physical contact and fast data transmission. The scientific objectives are to provide a compliant and compact device to adaptively manage the impacts on segments of a robot, to estimate online the mechanical contact impedance for a predictive control managing security. This will consist in selecting from the measurements, the best model structure and afterwards identifying the parameters. Physiological phenomena will be considered. Technological locks are related to the miniaturization of the product by suitable choice of mechanisms and materials, the search for compromise between computing power, space and thermal dissipation of embedded electronics.
Contact: fabien.courreges@xlim.fr
 
10/01/2014 to 01/31/2018

New methods of Raman spectroscopy for biological agent analysis

In many situations, one would like to be able to detect in real time the presence of some microorganisms of interest in a given sample. For armed forces in operation for instance, it may be crucial to swiftly detect the occurrence of highly pathogenic germs aerosolized by the enemy. Though exquisitely selective and sensitive, molecular biology based assays are too slow to fulfil this requirement whereas spectroscopic techniques used in the currently available sensors intrinsically suffer from lack of selectivity and/or sensitivity. Numerous reports suggest that it may be feasible to extract robust signatures of bacteria species from their Raman spectra, and that these signatures may be used to identify them at the species level. A promising avenue therefore consists in the integration of a Raman scattering based spectrometer into a flow cytometer. In order for such a device to achieve a limit of detection consistent with the operational needs, it should be able to reach a throughput in the range of several thousands of particles per second. Its selectivity will depend in turn on the quality of the spectra acquired at this rate. However, the acquisition duration that is currently needed to yield spectra with the required quality is incompatible with that rate. The goal of the NEOSPRAM project is to develop new methods of non-linear Raman spectroscopy, compatible with the requirements of high throughput flow cytometry, and allowing at the same time the acquisition of Raman spectra of biological agents at a rate in the range of several thousands per second, a signal-to-noise ratio, and a spectral resolution consistent with their classification at the species level. Using an original physical approach, we first intend to suppress the non resonant background that is currently one of the main obstacles to the integration of multiplex coherent anti-Stokes scattering (M-CARS) spectroscopy into a high throughput flow cytometer. In parallel, we will develop a new method of multiplex stimulated Raman scattering (M-SRS) based spectroscopy consisting in the combination of a monochromatic pump and a supercontinuum Stokes beams. With the aim of increasing the species-specific information content of the spectra of the biological agents used in this project, we will then develop a new multimodal Raman spectroscopy that will allow us to acquire multidimensional Raman spectra. We will develop a new robust and cheap setup and laser compact source within the frame of this project. Finally, we will assess the added value of these new methods by applying them for classifying at the species level the biological agents used in this project. Using multivariate analysis tools, we will compare our results with the state-of-the-art. We will conclude this project by proposing a set of technical requirements that a Raman activated cell sorter used for biosurveillance should fulfil.
Contact: philippe.leproux@xlim.fr

 

01/01/2014 to 12/31/2017

Design of Future Integrated Smart-RF transceivers

DEFIS-RF is a four years collaborative project for enhancing and developing research and higher education on the Design of Future Integrated Smart Radio Frequency Transmitters. It relies on an already established extensive collaboration between XLIM labs and the Thales group for more than 20 years. In particular, this proposal aims at widening and enriching the existing common lab AXIS, a joint effort between XLIM and Thales Alenia Space (TAS, a Thales – Finmeccanica joint venture) in the frame of the development of technologies for space applications. DEFIS-RF aims to boost this fruitful collaboration to establish a major center of excellence, at the international level, for research and higher education in the design of analog high frequency devices, circuits and systems. The project will develop researches which match needs of the whole Thales Group. Indeed, facing the challenges posed by the evolution of future telecommunications and radar systems which will require more flexibility, more integration and more efficiency, analog RF transceivers will see deep changes. Those changes require paradigm shifts in the architectures of the systems as well as in the use of breakthrough technologies such as GaN devices, microsystems and packaging. DEFIS-RF aims to address those paradigm shifts both from the viewpoints of research and higher education in order to provide the French and European industry with first class engineers who will be able to push innovation in this domain. To achieve those goals the project is organized in three technical and scientific strategic axis which are: reconfiguration and adaptability of RF front ends for flexibility of the embedded systems, heterogeneous integration of electronic functions and energy efficiency of the front-end. It is structured in seven Work Packages (WP) which cover: the components involved in the Front Ends -Filters (WP4), Power Amplifiers (WP5), heterogeneous integration techniques and simulation tools (WP1), micro and nano systems (WP3) and subsystems architectures (WP2). Higher education aspects are addressed in the WP6 in collaboration with the doctorate school of the University, engineering schools and masters. The goal of this higher education program is to increase the number and the level of engineering students and PhD students who choose this domain. This point is crucial to maintain and increase the competitivity of French and European industry through innovation. Higher Education Modules (HEM) that will be developed within the framework of the DEFIS-RF project will be available on line to encourage the enrollment of distant students and promote lifelong learning. The governance scheme, consisting in a management board which reports to the ANR and the steering committee advised by a scientific committee which gathers scientists from the stakeholders as well as representative of French agencies and invited external scientists. Management tasks are addressed within the WP0. The project gathers teams from the University of Limoges and Thales and will be animated by the chair holder who has a strong experience in industry-university collaboration at the international level. Moreover we aim to establish collaborations with partners at the national and international levels:  engineering schools for education and labs such as III-V labs and CINTRA (common lab between Thales, CNRS and NTU Singapore) as well as European universities to strengthen the visibility of the DEFIS-RF project.

Contact: raymond.quere@xlim.fr

 

01/01/2014 to 12/31/2017

Multidimensional System: Digression on Stability

The MSDOS project questions the stability and stabilization of multidimensional systems also known as nD systems. It is aimed at expanding both the theoretical and practical aspect of the field. MSDOS is decomposed into 6 different tasks. Three tasks are indeed devoted to advance the theory of multidimensional systems in stability and stabilization: one based on the Lyapunov theory, one focused on repetitive systems and one using a fractional representation approach. The last three ones are focused on the practical aspects of the field: first the results obtained will be applied to study other infinite dimensional systems using an nD approach, second a set of packages will be proposed for analysis and synthesis problems, and simulation of nD systems, third the creation of a complete course on multidimensional systems will be available at least in one of the partner laboratory. The project should significantly help creating a stronger community of researcher in France around this exciting field which is one of the main goals of the project on par with the obtained theoretical advances. The work will be handled by four different partners with complementary skills starting with LIAS in Poitiers (and LATP in Marseille), INRIA Saclay-Île-de-France in Paris, XLIM (Limoges) and an international collaboration with ISSI (Poland).
Contact: thomas.cluzeau@xlim.fr

 

02/01/2014 to 11/30/2017

Compact and integrated agile antennas based on tunable ferroelectric materials

The aim of the project MAESTRO is to design and realize integrated compact and low power consumption reconfigurable antennas exploiting the agility of ferroelectric materials changing their dielectric permittivity upon the application of an external electric field through a non-linear dielectric effect. To reach both low power consumption and the best trade-off between miniaturization and efficiency, wireless communication devices have to reach a 3D integration (move toward on-chip reconfigurable antennas). The main objective of the MAESTRO project is to assess the potential of ferroelectric materials to get rid of the limitations of current agile components (consumption, reliability and reduced response time, non-linearity etc.). Ferroelectric materials have the dual advantage of enabling the design of agile antennas and, thanks to thin film deposition techniques, a 3D integration of the antenna and its tunable function.
Contact: valerie.madrangeas@xlim.fr;laure.huitema@xlim.fr

 

12/01/2013 to 05/31/2017

Quantum dot sensitized p-type wide band gap semiconductors for photoelectrochemistry

Quantum dot sensitized p-type wide band gap semiconductors for PhotoelectrochemistryThe objective of the QuePhelec project is to fabricate and study the assemblies of quantum dots (QDs) on wide band gap p-type semiconductors (SCs) for the use in photoelectrochemical (PEC) systems. The project is based on a consortium associating XLIM, the CEA-INAC (coordinator), the CEISAM, and the IM2NP laboratories.
Contact: johann.boucle@xlim.fr

 

10/01/2013 to 03/31/2017

Ultra-high BRightness Infrared Sources

UBRIS2 aims at developing innovative ways towards the realization of high-power ultrafast laser systems at the exotic wavelength of 2 μm. To build high-energy laser system, we will explore two approaches based on optical fiber lasers with tailored dispersion map. The project gathers researchers and engineers from XLIM, CORIA, PHLAM/IRCICA and LPN with proven expertise in design and fabrication of rare-earth-doped and dispersion-tailored optical fibers (XLIM and PHLAM/IRCICA), semi conductor saturable absorber mirrors (SESAMs at LPN) and femtosecond oscillators and amplifiers (CORIA, XLIM). Furthermore, the company NOVAE is in charge of the development of two products based on the project’s findings.
Contact: sebastien.fevrier@unilim.fr

 

10/01/2013 to 03/31/2017

Lambda-based Access and Metropolitan PassIve Optical Networks

LAMPION project aims at demonstrating the feasibility of developing a Wavelength Division Multiplexing Passive Optical Network (WDM PON) system with the purpose to use it in mobile fronthaul (Cloud Radio Access Network context) and Dense WDM metropolitan networks. WDM PON provides the ability to associate one wavelength to a single user which could be of any type (business, long distance network termination, mobile network termination, access network termination). Commercial systems are available with transmission bit rate of 1,25Gbit/s but didn’t reach a wide market yet. Indeed the cost of the technologies developed so far reduced the usage of the WDM PON in the access networks and moreover WDM-PON hasn’t been standardized by the institutions. LAMPION proposes extend the performances of a DWDM PON system in terms of bit rate (up to 10Gbit/s) and reach (>80km). The WDM technology chosen in LAMPION project is based on self seeded Reflective Semiconductor Optical Amplifier (RSOA) since it brings advantages in terms of cost using colourless and identical devices at each termination of the network and moreover simplified wavelength operation: the wavelength is automatically and only set by the connection to a channel of a multiplexer associated to a mirror, both of them placed in the infrastructure of the network. This operation creates an external cavity source whose length vary according to the distance between the multiplexer and the mirror. Special efforts will be put in the project to study the quality of the source created by the self seeded RSOA and will lead to determine specific ways to improve its performances in transmission. Furthermore, new RSOAs will be developed and a complete evaluation of those components will be performed. To enhance the transmission performances, optical amplification will be experimentally tested and Forward Error codes will be developed specifically for this technology. Finally, in order to prove the feasibility of the system, RSOAs will be integrated in small form factors (SFPs or XFPs) with associated service cards and FEC embedded. LAMPION will disseminate its progress and results towards standardization bodies, scientific conferences and journals, and a final event to demonstrate a field trial.

Contact: christelle.aupetit-berthelemot@xlim.fr

 
02/03/2014 to 02/02/2017

Circuits for RObust CommUnication System in the millimeter wave range based on GaN-on-Si- substrate

Gallium Nitride (GaN) devices are foreseen as the next generation of RF power transistor technology in the millimeter wave range. The project aims at the design, realization and test of robust circuits in Ka band based on the AlN/GaN on Si technology with outstanding performance for civilian and military applications. The scientific objective of the Post-Doc is the DC and RF characterization of AlN/GaN/AlGaN HEMT devices to derive an electrothermal model as well as a noise model to establish a AlN/GaN/AlGaN double heterostructure transistor design library. Development of mmW AlN/GaN/AlGaN -on-Si discrete devices will be performed at Institute of Electronic, Microelectronic and Nanotechnology (IEMN). A full characterization of different power cells will be performed in order to propose a nonlinear modeling of the transistors. Different tests will be considered in the strategy. Models will be extracted from the following measurements of power cells (pulsed I-V measurements down to 400 ns pulse duration, S-parameters measurements in the frequency range 70 kHz-65 GHz, frequency and time domain Load-Pull measurements at three frequencies (4 GHz, 10 GHz and 18 GHz - those measurements are performed during the modeling process in order to tune the model obtained from I-V and S-parameters measurements), frequency Load-Pull measurements in the millimeter frequency range to verify the performances of the model obtained at such high frequencies, noise figure measurements up to 40GHz). The objective of this task is to provide highly accurate nonlinear models which are capable to take into account both the high frequency performances of the transistors in various operating regimes (pulsed, modulated, switched) and the low frequency characteristics which result from thermal and trapping effects. In addition to the previous characterizations (I-V, S-parameters, Load Pull) a special set of tests will be performed in order to assess the LF frequency characteristics, namely through very low frequency S-parameters measurements and thermal impedance measurements. Those thermal measurements will be used to calibrate the 3D thermal simulation of the transistors chosen for the design. The transistors will be directly measured on-wafer in order to extract accurate models for the design kits. The extracted models (for Si substrates) will be implemented in the CAD software ADS for the design of the amplifiers. Finally the nonlinear models will be obtained in the two I-V zones where the drain current is respectively positive and negative. This will allow to use the model for the design of cold-FET based mixers. A particular emphasis will be given to the accuracy of the model for intermodulation prediction. This implies a careful verification of the derivatives of the nonlinear model for the bias points chosen, for power amplifiers and mixers. Nonlinear models will be updated from the comparison of simulated and measured characteristics of the circuits realized. The aim of this work is to demonstrate that this technological approach (AlN/GaN/AlGaN HEMT device on Si substrate) has high potentialities to realize circuits for robust communication system in the millimeter wave range based on GaN on Si substrate. In collaboration with IEMN, some demonstrators (HPA, LNA, mixer) will be realized during the project.
Contact: raymond.quere@xlim.fr; jean-christophe.nallatamby@xlim.fr

 

10/01/2014 to 01/31/2017 - request for 12 months extension

FUNdamental Properties and Optimization of MEMS Contacts for High Power Handling

The FUNCHIP project aims to determine the physical limits of parallel plate electrostatic actuators used in MEMS RF switches, and optimize the thermal behavior of these components. Applications targeted in this project include active antennas for Radars, in which RF - MEMS relays would protect the RF front heads efficiently, while having reduced losses. Technological roadbloacks concern power handling, which must be greater than 20 Watts between 6 and 20 GHz, with over 1 Billion cycles reliabilities. With the maturation of research in this area, the keys for achieving such performance are emerging. The electrostatic actuator which is used for opening and closing the relays must generate large forces. This allows using very stiff, fast structures, and insensitive to adhesion. Furthermore, the resistance between the two electrodes when the relay is closed, is lower when the pressure is important. For a given power level, the temperature elevation at the contact point is related to the resistance of this point (and therefore to the force generated by the actuator) , but also to the ability of the substrate to remove the heat generated . The FUNCHIP project addresses these two aspects, the actuator, and thermal managment (packaging and the switching time will not be addressed in this project).For a given voltage, the electrostatic actuators parallel plate MEMS see their strength increase progressively as the gap separation between the plates decreases. Thus, small separation gaps permit reaching large forces. This increase is limited byelectrical breakdown phenomena that not well understood today because the physics of submicron breakdown (Paschen effect, for example) has been little studied. Beyond the effects of the ambient gas, the nature of the metals used for the electrodes, their roughness, and layout affects their behavior. The FUNCHIP project will investigate systematically the properties of metals commonly used in microelectronics and test the breakdown strength of several simple test vehicles. Leakage current measurements will also look more finely into the physical phenomena involved in order to determine the nature of these currents. We will be able to determine gaps heights that ensure a reliable and optimal operation of these actuators. To optimize the thermal behavior of the relay, substrate transfer techniques will be used. Using thin substrates will directly improve thermal performance of micro- switches. However, these thin substrates will reduce the cross section of access lines to micro- switches, and therefore increase losses, and the mismatch between the switch structure and input lines.Through electromagnetic and thermal simulations, we will find an optimal compromise to achieve a component with good thermal characteristics and low losses. The last part of the project will be devoted to design and implementation of a micro switch following the previous results. Specifically, we will build a micro switch with a powerful electrostatic actuator, with a gap as small as possible, on an optimized substrate. The micro -switch will be tested at high microwave powers to targeted levels from thermal simulations. With available imaging techniques to LAAS, we can validate our simulations and have effective design rules for power applications adapted to defense applications.
Contact: pierre.blondy@xlim.fr

 

01/01/2014 to 12/31/2016

Towards a Photonic Bandgap Gyro

The main goal of the project is to assess the possibility to build a compact, low-cost, and robust medium performance (1 deg/hr bias stability and 0.01 deg/sqrt(hr) random walk) gyroscope. Such a novel product would indeed fill an existing market need, in the aerospace domain. This gyro would be based on an innovative architecture of resonant fiber-optic gyro (R-FOG) using hollow core photonic bandgap fiber (HC-PBF). This main goal can be subdivided into the three following goals: 1. Development of an innovative R-FOG structure based on an original laser and servo-loop system. This consists in developing an original resonant fiber optic gyroscope architecture based on a single frequency low noise semiconductor laser source. The originality relies in the ways in which the laser frequency will be locked to a cavity resonance and in which the Sagnac effect is extracted while getting rid of the lock-in region problem without adding any bias instability. 2. Building an R-FOG cavity using commercial HC-PBF with an improved finesse. HC-PCF are thought to be the solution to the problem of Kerr effect induced bias instability occurring usually in resonant fiber optic gyros. Indeed, in such fibers, light propagates mainly in vacuum, thus reducing the effective Kerr effect coefficient by a large factor. But the problem now is to build a good cavity (in terms of finesse and transmission at resonance) based on such a fiber. In order to close the cavity, we intend in an initial approach to couple light from free space to the fiber using an adapted lens. The cavity is then closed using a bulk mirror. This approach has several advantages in terms of cavity optimization for an optimal reduction of the random walk of the gyro. 3. Designing improved HC-PBF for better gyro performances Even if we expect to improve the gyro performances a lot using commercial HC-PBF, there exists an important improvement possibility by designing specific fibers for gyro operation. Among the important characteristics of the fiber, the backscattering losses are certainly the most important for gyro operation. Consequently, our aim here is to work mainly on the backscattering properties of the fibers. This consists in two main actions: i) reducing the backscattering losses during propagation and ii) reducing the backscattering losses at the entrance of the fiber, in which light is either coupled from free space or through a splicing with standard fiber. To this aim, we will work on the design and fabrication of specific and original HC-PBFs. During the course of this project, we expect to have to overcome the following scientific and technological bottlenecks: 1. The development and successful operation of the modulation/demodulation and servo-loop architectures aiming at operating a medium performance R-FOG with enough bias stability, low enough random walk, and relative immunity to lock-in. This will consist in developing a clever digital opto-electronic architecture 2. The realization of a cavity based on commercial HC-PBF with a finesse compatible with a medium performance R-FOG operation. The difficulty here lies mainly in the design of the coupling optics, the optimization of the cavity optics, and the handling of the polarization eigenstates of the cavity. 3. The design and realization of improved HC-PBF for R-FOG operation. The main improvement we aim at compared with commercial fibers lies in the reduction of backscattering losses. The difficulties here lie as well in the design (number of cells, control of surface modes, reduction of splicing backscattering losses, reduction of the Kerr effect,…) of the fiber as in the control of the technology to build these fibers (control of the fiber shape at the nanometer scale,…). Ultimately, the product that we eventually want to develop would be a medium performance gyro. Consequently, during the course of the present project, all gyro architectures will be tested on a rotating table.
Contact: georges.humbert@xlim.fr

 

11/01/2011 to 07/31/2016

Optical combs for photonic waveform synthesiser and frequency control

The project aims to develop and exploit the emerging technology of integrated photonic confining diluted or gaseous media to create innovative photonic components and systems for the development of ultra-wide frequency combs, resonators and photonic atomic clocks.

Contact: f.benabid@xlim.fr

 

European Programmes

 

06/01/2016 to 05/31/2019

Integration of new and improved MAterials for Smart millimeTER-wave Sensors

The project is focusing on the integration of new and improved components with tailored properties by tuned surfaces and coatings, i.e. ferroelectric and phase change materials (PCM) inside on-chip reconfigurable millimeter-wave sensors (57 GHz to 64 GHz), while developing the concept into a marketable product. We are targeting novel devices integrating intelligent and advanced functional materials by exploiting both the agility of ferroelectric materials (permittivity change under an electric field) and the capability of PCM to transform reversibly and fast between distinct low- and high- resistivity states without need for power to maintain their existing OFF or ON state. The main objective is intended to meet the future requirements for high frequency sensors, devices and antennas with cutting-edge capabilities: reconfigurable, highly integrated, safe, efficient and low consumption. “Smaller and smarter” by cross disciplinary approach is one of the key-target addressed by the project.
Contact: laure.huitema@xlim.fr

 

02/10/2016 to 02/09/2019

HIgh throughPut lasER-based processing of DIamond And Stilicon

Micromachining is a strategic technology for many European manufacturers and the continuous challenge of competition is driving research and innovation efforts into technologies and solutions that will deliver higher productivity at lower cost in many industries. In parallel, the explosive progress in ultra-short pulse (USP) laser and photonic technology has afforded an opportunity for rapid acceleration of the rate of adoption of laser micromachining. HIPERDIAS will demonstrate USP laser-based material processing at unprecedented (high-throughput) levels of productivity and precision. The challenge is not only to achieve high productivity at moderate levels of precision or highest quality at low speeds, but to reach both targets at the same time.
Contact: f.benabid@xlim.fr

 

06/01/2015 to 05/31/2019

Development and demonstration of monitoring strategies and technologies for geological disposal

Based on the outcomes of the MoDeRn Project, the overall objective of the Modern2020 Project is to provide the means for developing and implementing an effective and efficient repository operational monitoring programme, that will be driven by safety case needs, and that will take into account the requirements of specific national contexts (including inventory, host rocks, repository concepts and regulations, all of which differ between Member States) and public stakeholder expectations (particularly those of local public stakeholders at (potential) disposal sites). The work in the Modern2020 Project will address the following issues: i) Strategy: development of detailed methodologies for screening safety cases to identify needs-driven repository monitoring strategies and to develop operational approaches for responding to monitoring information; ii) Technology: carry out research and development (R&D) to solve outstanding technical issues in repository monitoring,  which are related with wireless data transmission technologies, alternative long term power supplies, new sensors, geophysics, reliability and qualification of components; iii) Demonstration and Practical Implementation: enhance the knowledge on the operational implementation and demonstrate the performance of state-of-the-art and innovative techniques by running full-scale and in-situ experiments; iv) Societal concerns and Stakeholder Involvement: Develop and evaluate ways for integrating public stakeholders concerns and societal expectations into repository monitoring programmes.
Contact: jean-louis.auguste@xlim.fr

 

PHC Proteus BioEPIX-Biocybernetics

01/01/2016 au 12/31/2017

Neurostimulation vs. Electroporation: comparison of ultrashort pulsed electric field effects in excitable and nonexcitable cells

New methods of neurostimulation are a significant driver of discovery in neuroscience that also lead to therapeutic approaches that reduce human suffering. A classic example of this is the pioneering use of deep-brain electrical stimulation for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, which is also now used to treat many other maladies. Despite its long history and success, the mechanism by which electrical deep brain stimulation works is still subject to debate. Nevertheless, it is clear that the temporal characteristics of the stimulation waveform, amplitude and pulse duration are parameters that clinicians can vary to gain desired therapeutic effects that depend on the type and positioning of electrodes and condition being treated. Commercial systems typically use pulses in the hundred microsecond (us) to millisecond (ms) regime and there is a trend towards exploring shorter pulse widths given their increased focality in stimulation, ability to selectively stimulate axons of different size, and their decreased demands on battery-power in implantable stimulators. Ultrashort pulsed electric fields (micro- to sub-microsecond) may therefore have increasing applications for neurostimulation. With the use of shorter electric pulses and need to increase voltage (following chronaxie ‘strength-pulse width relations’), the safety of such extracellular stimulation should be considered given that the electric fields near electrodes can be high, exceeding the kV/m range. The tissue effects of ultrashort pulsed electric fields have not been studied extensively in the context of neurostimulation, but have been investigated thoroughly by investigators interested in exploiting electroporation-based phenomena for electrochemotherapy and cancer therapeutics. There is now substantial evidence from the electroporation community that intense ultrashort pulsed electric fields in the us to nanosecond range (nsPEF) affects cell physiology, however, at the moment, there are few studies on the influence of such pulses on neurons or other excitable cells. In non-excitable cells, pulse durations in the >100 ns range appear to transiently or irreversibly permeabilize and depolarize the plasma membrane, stimulate intracellular calcium signals and extracellular calcium entry, depolarize mitochondria and can induce apoptosis, depending on the amplitude and characteristics of the pulse. All these applications are based on extensive preclinical in vivo and in vitro work. However, as mentioned most of the knowledge about electroporation has been gained from studies performed on lipid bilayers, vesicles and non-excitable cells in vitro. Therefore fundamental questions remain about the response of excitable cells to electroporation: Is the threshold for membrane permeabilization same for excitable and nonexcitable cells? Does survival of nonexcitable cells depend on electric field and pulse parameters in a similar way as of excitable cells? Finally, if excitable cells are permeabilized and they survive, is the function/excitability of these cells changed? If yes, is it changed just for a short period of time and preserved on longer time scales? All these questions have not yet been systematically investigated and have not been adequately answered. The answers are important because any differences in permeabilization could be used with great advantage in selective electroporation in treating prostate cancer sparing nerve bundles thus reducing comorbidity and complications in current prostate cancer treatments.The overall strategy of this project is therefore to leverage the complimentary knowledge of the two partner teams to gain a deeper understanding of ultrashort pulse electroporation effects on excitable cells. This approach may lead to a deeper understanding of neurostimulation mechanisms, insights into the safety of brain tumor treatment with pulsed electric fields, as well as, improved and safe delivery of genes to muscle tissue that could yield important advances in DNA vaccination and therapeutic gene delivery in humans.

Contact: rodney.oconnor@xlim.fr

 

07/01/2014 to 06/30/2017

COEXISTENCE OF RADIOFREQUENCY TRANSMISSION IN THE FUTURE

The project aims at allowing the simultaneous use of spectrum by various applications and avoiding the quality of service degradation due to the interferences. Xlim C2SNL Team is involved to study the opportunity of using reconfigurable high selectivity integrated filters to enhance the Zigbee receivers sensitivity.
Contact: julien.lintignat@xlim.fr

 

09/01/2012 to 02/28/2017

New Technologies for Tunnelling and Underground Works

The NeTTUN Consortium of 22 Industrial, Research & Development laboratories and SME organisations across 9 countries in Europe will enable groundbreaking change in the construction, management and maintenance of tunnels in pursuit of the goals of NMP.2011.4.0-2, FP7 Framework Programme for the European Commission. Titled New Technologies for Tunnelling and Underground Works or NeTTUN, the collaborative project will address key scientific and technical aspects of tunnel construction to respond to the increasing societal demands and the huge capital investments related to underground development. XLIM participates to ther development of an advanced multi-sensor ground prediction system for TBMs to enable fast, frequent and effective detection in the ground ahead of the excavation face.
Contact: michele.lalande@xlim.fr

 

10/01/2012 to 09/30/2016

Quantum sensor technologies and applications

This training network focuses on the development of modern quantum sensors based on precision measurements of inertial forces, electro- magnetic fields, and time. Important ideas and major contributions to current research in this field have originated from atomic physics and quantum optics. The topics covered are gravitational probing, rotational sensing, field probes, and atomic clocks, with potential future applications ranging from fundamental science to geological exploration, navigation and medical diagnostics. The consortium will train a cohort of young researchers on the physics of atomic clocks and interferometers, which form the basis of quantum sensors, and several techniques to realise technologically relevant devices. The envisioned designs incorporate micro-structured components for trapping and guiding of atoms and photons. With this approach we aim for a high level of integration and advantageous parameter regimes, which will widen the range of possible applications by addressing aspects of sensitivity and bandwidth of measurements, alleviating access restrictions to points of interest, and improving mobility for field applications. We complement the range of topics by including surface probes, field sensitive microscopes, and molecular spectroscopy, deepening the connections to other scientific disciplines.  The partner consortium is an exceptional combination of industrial and academic stakeholders, ranging from technology suppliers to users, supported by, e.g., the European Patent Office and the Research Policy Institute to assist the innovation process. The research training covers physical principles and technological aspects from development to implementation, with input from industrial partners on truly relevant needs. It is complemented by training on societal aspects, intellectual property rights, and transferable skills training, thus addressing a wide skill set that unites technical expertise with an innovative mindset.
Contact: f.benabid@xlim.fr