Supercontinuum light sources for food analysis

In Light & Food, a 30M DKK project funded by Innovationsfonden where DTU Fotonik has joined forces with University of Copenhagen, Aarhus University, FOSS and NKT, the vision is to develop a platform of analytical solutions to optimization of sustainable food production, both in the field and in the factory. These solutions will combine bright and broadband infrared light sources, so-called supercontinuum light sources,with spectroscopy, chemometrics and processing expertise and thereby contribute to increased food quality through faster and more precise analysis of grains, soils and dairy products. One track of Light & Food will target the mid-infrared spectral region. To date, the limitations of mid-infraredlight sources, such as thermal emitters, low-power laser diodes, quantum cascade lasers and synchrotron radiation, have precluded mid-IR applications where the spatial coherence, broad bandwidth,high brightness and portability of a supercontinuum laser are all required. DTU Fotonik has now demonstrated the first optical fiber based broadband supercontinuum light souce, which covers 1.4-13.3μm and thereby most of the molecular fingerprint region.