Output details
13 - Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Metallurgy and Materials
University of Southampton
High-power Er:YAG laser with quasi-top-hat output beam
Significance of output:
Customized laser beam profiles are needed for materials processing in high-value manufacturing, e.g. superior edge quality with improved cutting or drilling efficiency. This first 10W demonstration, generating high-quality “quasi-top-hat” or “doughnut” shaped laser output by a novel pump conditioning scheme, is power-scalable to the kilowatt regime. Now patented (P044034PCT), this methodology enables pulse and average-power scaling with excellent efficiency, applicable to many laser architectures and applications in laser processing.
Industrial interest sparked immediately, leading to an awarded 9-partner EU grant (€3.9M, HALO 314410 – 01/09/12 – 31/08/15) developing lasers and componentry for next generation manufacturing tools and novel materials interactions.
