Inaugural lecture as Full Professor, Victor Torres Company

Title: Home is where the comb is
- Precision frequency synthesis and metrology with microcombs

Abstract: When I was a kid, I wanted to become a physics teacher. That dream shifted the moment I realized that making new discoveries and inventions was even more exciting. In this lifelong quest for learning, I have lived in four countries across two continents. This has led to a situation where at my birthplace I am now called el sueco, while here I am known as spanjoren. This ambiguous sense of belonging often makes me wonder: where is home? The answer I have found is simple — home is where the comb is.

In this inaugural lecture, I will share my enthusiasm for what I believe to be one of the most fascinating technologies in applied optics today: chip-scale frequency combs, or “microcombs.” These tiny yet powerful devices are poised to transform fields such as optical clocks and ultra-high-speed optical communications. At Chalmers, I have found not only the freedom to advance this research but also a true home — a place where ideas take root and where the interaction with students allows me to connect back to my early dream of teaching.

Finally, I will look ahead to the next frontiers: synchronization of high-speed electronics with optical clocks for unprecedented timing precision; heterogeneous integration of multiple materials with silicon nitride to create compact and multifunctional platforms; and quantum-enhanced metrology, where microcombs provide access to squeezed states of light, opening new possibilities for ultraprecise measurements and deeper understanding of the world at its most fundamental level.