Smaller and cheaper lasers
Conical refraction lasers offer novel ways of achieving high laser efficiency, mitigating thermal management issues and improving beam quality while reducing cost, complexity and size. All such parameters are key drivers of competitive advantage in almost every laser market sector. One of Scotland's fastest growing technology businesses led a team of seven European partners to resolve key problems associated with the power and brightness of bulk solid-state lasers using so-called conical refraction. Within HICORE (High brightness conical refraction lasers), their research focused on conical refraction in which light is shone into a crystal that then produces light rings. Researchers' work was aimed at reducing the amount of heat that lasers produce, allowing them to be made smaller and simpler. The planned activities included crystal growth and fabrication, development of a near-infrared high-power laser and feasibility tests for high powers. Project work would enormously strengthen the EU's leading position in the photonics sector, and the economic impact of success would support the ongoing growth and development of the small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) partners involved. However, the desired scientific results were not achieved and research activities were ceased, bringing the project to an end. Notwithstanding, an important outcome is that SMEs gained broader understanding of the scientific challenges associated with conical refraction.
Keywords
Lasers, conical refraction, high-brightness, laser welding
