Summary:
UCLA researchers from the Department of Physics & Astronomy have developed a compact, low-cost, energy-efficient, and high-resolution photonic spectrograph platform that enables quantitative sensing of atmospheric gases such as methane across multiple lines of sight.
Background:
Accurate, high-resolution monitoring of methane emissions is vital for meeting climate goals outlined in initiatives like the Global Methane Pledge and regulatory efforts such as the U.S. EPA’s “super emitter” program. High-spectral-resolution spectrographs are used for quantifying methane emissions from sources such as oil and gas infrastructure, landfills, and livestock lagoons. However, current spectrograph systems are often bulky, power-intensive, and prohibitively expensive, limiting their deployment in aerial and space applications, and reducing their effectiveness for widespread environmental monitoring.
To address these limitations, there is a growing need for a new class of compact, low-cost, and energy-efficient spectroscopic tools capable of high-frequency, high-accuracy gas sensing across multiple lines of sight. Enabling deployment on flexible platforms—such as drones, CubeSats, and handheld devices—would unlock real-time, spatially dense emission tracking across diverse environments. This advancement would not only improve regulatory enforcement and climate accountability but also deepen our understanding of atmospheric dynamics and emission sources.
Innovation:
UCLA researchers have developed a breakthrough photonic spectrograph system-on-chip that dramatically reduces the size, cost, and complexity of traditional gas sensing technology. By replacing bulky optical components with nano-engineered waveguide structures on a chip, this platform delivers high-resolution spectroscopic sensing in a compact, low-power form factor—over 100× smaller than conventional systems. It enables simultaneous monitoring across multiple sightlines or spectral bands, making it possible to detect and differentiate trace gases like methane in real time from various angles or sources.
This innovation is uniquely suited for scalable, field-ready deployment. Its lightweight, energy-efficient design supports integration into drones, satellites, handheld analyzers, and stationary sensors—opening the door to continuous, wide-area monitoring in previously inaccessible or cost-prohibitive locations. Because the chips are compatible with standard semiconductor manufacturing processes, they offer a clear path to economical high-volume production and broad commercial adoption in climate tech, industrial leak detection, environmental compliance, and beyond.
Potential Applications:
• Methane and other gas monitoring in energy, agriculture, and waste sectors
• Satellite, balloon, and drone-based environmental sensing
• Handheld trace gas detection devices
• Carbon credit validation and emissions verification
• Industrial leak detection and process monitoring
• Climate research and regulatory compliance
• Biohazardous material detection
Advantages:
• Ultra-compact and low-cost photonic chip design
• Multi-sightline or multi-species capability for high spectral resolution
• Narrowband optimization for target gases
• Large free spectral range and resolving power
• Scalable manufacturing using CMOS-compatible processes
• Low SWaP-C for drone, satellite, and handheld platforms
State of Development:
First description of invention completed December 2024.
Related Publications:
- Gatkine, Pradip, et al. "A continuously-sampled high-resolution astrophotonic spectrograph using silicon nitride." Advances in Optical and Mechanical Technologies for Telescopes and Instrumentation V. Vol. 12188. SPIE, 2022.
- Gatkine, Pradip, et al. "Efficient ultra-broadband low-resolution astrophotonic spectrographs." Optics Express 32.10 (2024): 17689-1770
- Gatkine, Pradip, Andreas Stoll, and Yang Zhang. "6| Getting on-chip Arrayed Waveguide Grating Spectrographs Ready for Astronomy." 2023 Astrophotonics Roadmap: pathways to realizing multi-functional integrated astrophotonic instruments.
Reference:
UCLA Case No. 2025-164
Lead Inventor:
Pradip Gatkine, Department of Physics & Astronomy