Final Report Summary - SENDBEAMS (Semiconductor lasers for generation of non-diffracting (Bessel) beams)
The goal of the SENDBEAMS project was the development of compact, low-cost, reliable and highly-efficient semiconductor laser sources of non-diffracting (Bessel) light beams for optical trapping and tweezing and manipulation of micro-machines and micro-fabrication. This new generation of semiconductor lasers has to become an alternative to the conventionally used gas and solid-state lasers, which are more expensive, cumbersome and inefficient.
During the project, we successfully demonstrated few-watt power level Bessel beams with the central lobe diameters of a few to tens micrometers generated from semiconductor lasers. To the best of our knowledge, these are the best results for Bessel beams generated from any semiconductor light source to date and are comparable to that achievable from vibronic lasers. We have also developed a method of the 'interference' focusing of the multimode laser diode radiation and demonstrated reduction of the focal spot sise of high-power semiconductor lasers and light-emitting diodes to a level unachievable by means of traditional focusing. The project culminated with the first demonstration of the optical trapping and manipulation of the biological objects with Bessel-beamed semiconductor laser.
We believe that the novel laser systems developed during this project are going beyond the current state-of-the-art and will help to consolidate and extend the world-leading position of the European research in this field. Development of compact, low cost and high performance laser sources of non-diffracting beams has high practical significance. It will promote an evolution in different biomedical and science areas, in particular, biophotonics research and lab-on-a-chip applications. Compactness of the Bessel-beamed semiconductor lasers developed will allow ultra-compact setups capable of revolutionising of the filed supported by the low price which will increase their expansion in to different application areas and make clear contribution to establishing European excellence and competitiveness.
During the project, we successfully demonstrated few-watt power level Bessel beams with the central lobe diameters of a few to tens micrometers generated from semiconductor lasers. To the best of our knowledge, these are the best results for Bessel beams generated from any semiconductor light source to date and are comparable to that achievable from vibronic lasers. We have also developed a method of the 'interference' focusing of the multimode laser diode radiation and demonstrated reduction of the focal spot sise of high-power semiconductor lasers and light-emitting diodes to a level unachievable by means of traditional focusing. The project culminated with the first demonstration of the optical trapping and manipulation of the biological objects with Bessel-beamed semiconductor laser.
We believe that the novel laser systems developed during this project are going beyond the current state-of-the-art and will help to consolidate and extend the world-leading position of the European research in this field. Development of compact, low cost and high performance laser sources of non-diffracting beams has high practical significance. It will promote an evolution in different biomedical and science areas, in particular, biophotonics research and lab-on-a-chip applications. Compactness of the Bessel-beamed semiconductor lasers developed will allow ultra-compact setups capable of revolutionising of the filed supported by the low price which will increase their expansion in to different application areas and make clear contribution to establishing European excellence and competitiveness.