Innovation
We are a leader in the research and development of high performance mid- to long-wave infrared LED and laser technology.
Firefly Photonics, Inc is a leader in the research and development of high performance mid- to long-wave infrared LED and laser technology. We have the capability to design, grow, microfabricate, and test prototypes, and work with partners for volume manufacturing.
Advances in infrared LEDs and lasers have enabled technologies in defense, medical imaging, spectroscopy, and gas and chemical sensing. Now these applications are driving the demand for higher radiance, better design control of single and multiple wavelengths, and higher efficiency.
Gen 5 MBE
LED Test Array
Mega-pixel Array
University of Iowa Microfabrication Facility
LED Mesas
Mid- to long-wave infrared light emitting diodes
Design and manufacture of high power mid- to long-wave infrared light emitting diodes, both single element and large format arrays. Company members have numerous publications and innovations (patents pending) on these devices.
Mid-wave infrared Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting (VCSEL) Laser
Design and manufacture of mid-infrared laser diodes, such as interband cascade lasers, vertical cavity surface emitting lasers, and quantum cascade lasers.
Mid-infrared systems and technologies
We work with partners such as Chip Design Systems and Teledyne Scientific & Imaging to integrate our LEDs and lasers into systems, such as gas sensors, projectors, and medical devices.
Molecular beam epitaxy growth, microfabrication, and characterization
We have unparalleled access to cutting-edge user facilities at the University of Iowa, including molecular beam epitaxy, microfabrication, and characterization.
Firefly’s technology is based on over 15 years of innovation
| #### Innovation | #### Year | #### Relevant Publication |
| IRLED Thermal Scene Projection | 2026 | J.P. Prineas, M.Z. Bellus, A. Walhof, L.M. Nichols, D.A. Montealegre, W. Dai, F. Kiamilev, R.T. McGee, H. Ahmed, M.J. Grzesik, R.K. Mandel |
| Next Generation 1024×1024 Individually Addressable Mid-Infrared LED Arrays Based on Cascaded W-Superlattice Emitters | ||
| Submitted to J. Quant. Electron. | ||
| GaSb Quantum Dot Telecom Single Photon Source | 2026 | Ian M. Masson, Aden Hageman, Caleb Whittier, David Montealegre, Bhaveshkumar Kamaliya, Nabil D. Bassim, John P. Prineas, and Ravitej Uppu |
| Engineering Nanohole-Etched Quantum Dots for Telecom-Band Single-Photon Generation | ||
| ACS Nano, published online: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.5c17982 | ||
| Two-color emitters | 2025 | D.A. Montealegre, W. Dai, M.Z. Bellus, L.M. Nichols, J.P. Prineas |
| Color Crosstalk in Two-Color Mid-Infrared LEDs With and Without Cavity Enhancement | ||
| IEEE J. of Quantum Electron. 61 (4), 3200108 | ||
| Narrowband MWIR LEDs | 2024 | K. N. Schrock, D. A. Montealegre, W. Dai, M. Z. Bellus, L. M. Nichols, J. P. Prineas |
| Microcavity enhancement vs Auger recombination in variable thickness type-II superlattices in resonant cavity mid-infrared light emitting diodes | ||
| J. Appl. Phys. 135, 183101 | ||
| Highest Power MWIR LEDs | 2022 | D.A. Montealegre, M.Z. Bellus, A.C. Walhof, L.M. Nichols, J.P. Prineas |
| Improved mid-infrared W-superlattice LEDs using Al-treated source | ||
| Proceedings of SPIE 122022, 122022B | ||
| W-Superlattice Emitters | 2022 | C.L. Bogh, A.J. Muhowski, M.D. Nelson, V.G.J. Rodgers, and J.P. Prineas |
| Measurement of recombination mechanisms in mid-infrared W-superlattices | ||
| Opt. Mat. Express 12, 4261 | ||
| 4LSL LED | 2021 | D. A. Montealegre, K. N. Schrock, A. C. Walhof, A. M. Muellerleile, and J. P. Prineas , “High-power mid-wave infrared LED using W-superlattices and textured surfaces”, Appl. Phys. Lett. 118, 071105 (2021) https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0039269 |
| Nitrate Sensing | 2021 | B. Gao, A. C. Walhof, D. A. Laird, F. Toor and J. P. Prineas, “Analytical Evaluation of Mobile In Situ Soil Nitrate Infrared Sensor Designs for Precision Agriculture,” in IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 21, no. 18, pp. 20200-20209, 15 Sept.15, 2021, doi: 10.1109/JSEN.2021.3096856. |
| 4-layer superlattice (4LSL) | 2020 | A. J. Muhowski, A. M. Muellerleile, J. T. Olesberg, and J. P. Prineas , “Internal quantum efficiency in 6.1 Å superlattices of 77% for mid-wave infrared emitters”, Appl. Phys. Lett. 117, 061101 (2020) https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0013854 |
| Growth on Silicon | 2019 | Muhowski, A.J., C.L. Bogh, R.L. Heise, T.F. Boggess, and J.P. Prineas, Improved performance of mid-infrared superlattice light emitting diodes grown epitaxially on silicon. Journal of Crystal Growth, 2019. 507: p. 46-49. |
| Broadband LED | 2017 | R. J. Ricker, S. R. Provence, D. T. Norton, T. F. Boggess Jr., and J. P. Prineas , “Broadband mid-infrared superlattice light-emitting diodes”, Journal of Applied Physics 121, 185701 (2017) https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4983023 |
| n-type anode | 2017 | A. J. Muhowski, R. J. Ricker, T. F. Boggess, and J. P. Prineas , “n-type anode layer, high-power MWIR superlattice LED”, Appl. Phys. Lett. 111, 243509 (2017) https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5006045 |
| Growth on GaAs | 2015 | S. R. Provence, R. Ricker, Y. Aytac, T. F. Boggess, and J. P. Prineas , “High power cascaded mid-infrared InAs/GaSb light emitting diodes on mismatched GaAs”, Journal of Applied Physics 118, 123108 (2015) https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4931914 |
| Two-color LED | 2015 | Ricker, R.J., A. Hudson, S. Provence, D.T. Norton, J.T. Olesberg, L.M. Murray, J.P. Prineas, and T.F. Boggess, Dual-Color InAs/GaSb Cascaded Superlattice Light-Emitting Diodes. IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, 2015. 51(12): p. 1-6. |
| LWIR LED | 2010 | E. J. Koerperick, D. T. Norton, J. T. Olesberg, B. V. Olson, J. P. Prineas and T. F. Boggess, “Cascaded Superlattice InAs/GaSb Light-Emitting Diodes for Operation in the Long-Wave Infrared,” in IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, vol. 47, no. 1, pp. 50-54, Jan. 2011, doi: 10.1109/JQE.2010.2072492. |
| Cascaded LED | 2009 | E. J. Koerperick, J. T. Olesberg, J. L. Hicks, J. P. Prineas and T. F. Boggess, “High-Power MWIR Cascaded InAs–GaSb Superlattice LEDs,” in IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, vol. 45, no. 7, pp. 849-853, July 2009, doi: 10.1109/JQE.2009.2013176. |
| Cascaded LED | 2008 | E. J. Koerperick, J. T. Olesberg, J. L. Hicks, J. P. Prineas and T. F. Boggess, “Active Region Cascading for Improved Performance in InAs–GaSb Superlattice LEDs,” in IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, vol. 44, no. 12, pp. 1242-1247, Dec. 2008, doi: 10.1109/JQE.2008.2003145. |
We offer custom products for your mid-infared light source needs, including LEDs and lasers.