SCOTTISH academics have teamed up with a major international supplier to the semiconductor industry to create a direct route to market for their new laser technologies.

The team from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh have entered a five-year collaboration project with ASML, during which their research into fundamental physics will be accelerated.

Netherlands-based ASML is the world’s leading manufacturer of semiconductor lithography machines, and uses light to print tiny patterns onto silicon, resulting in the mass production of semiconductor chips.

The value of each machine makes it essential that ASML continues to explore new directions for its technology to take.

Precision is key to the printing technique and optical metrology uses light to establish the exact measurements required. Developments in this field allow top chipmakers to create better performing and cheaper chips.

The partnership has already resulted in a new laboratory at Heriot-Watt, to accelerate the industrialisation of fundamental physics research.

Professor John Travers, who leads the team, is now looking at new broad bandwidth light sources for optical metrology.

The sensors in ASML’s expensive machines must work at multiple wavelengths as they encounter various materials, each of which absorb light in different ways.

“The type of optical components used in recent research previously sat in the domain of fundamental physics research,” said Travers.

“Working in close co-operation with ASML is rapidly moving our work in the direction of the industrialisation of this technology, where we are addressing specific engineering challenges, and applying the technique to create real-world impact. My research into fundamental physics can be used by ASML in an industry setting.

“So often in academia, the focus is on advancing the science and impressing our peers.

“However, through this industrial partnership, we are addressing specific real-world engineering challenges, with industry and academia learning from each other.”

Application of the advances in light source technologies also have valuable uses in healthcare technology and precision manufacturing.

Hein Otto Folkerts, vice-president within development and engineering at ASML, said: “ASML has a long tradition of close partnerships with academia ... This group at Heriot-Watt is one of the leading groups in the world working on these kind of light sources and has a track record on innovations.”

David Richardson, chief entrepreneurial executive at Heriot-Watt, added: “Through collaborations of this type, Heriot-Watt University can create greater cohesion between academic disciplines, industry partners and the global community.”