Prof. Rui Yang – inventor of the interband cascade laser – visits our laboratory

On 28 July 2025, the TeraERC group at Wrocław University of Science and Technology had the pleasure of welcoming Prof. Rui Yang (Professor of Electrical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, USA) for a research visit. Prof. Yang is the inventor of the interband cascade laser who has greatly contributed to the NASA’s Curiosity tunable laser spectrometer, which detected methane on Mars!

The visit provided an opportunity to exchange ideas and discuss research on semiconductor lasers, with particular interest in interband cascade lasers (ICLs) and their potential for advanced photonic applications. Our research expands the functionality of single-mode ICLs by allowing them to emit coherent frequency combs.

Interband cascade lasers are an important research direction for our group as well. We work on the development and noise properties these devices, making the exchange particularly relevant and opening opportunities for scientific discussions and future collaboration.

It was a pleasure to host Prof. Rui Yang, learn more about his research, and share our perspectives on mid-infrared photonics.

Thank you for the visit and the inspiring discussions!