Project description
Enhancing laser technology performance through activated sapphire thin-disk development
Optical materials are essential for technology. A new method in rapid pulsed laser deposition is enabling the fabrication of rare-earth doped sapphire. Exploiting enhanced thermo-optic properties, there is the potential to increase laser power by more than tenfold in Yb:sapphire thin disks compared to Yb:YAG thin disks. The EIC-funded FAST project will deliver breakthroughs that significantly enhance the performance of laser technology. The project also aims to address amplified spontaneous emission (ASE), which limits the power scalability of thin-disk lasers. By nanoengineering key surfaces of the Yb:sapphire active elements, their optical properties will be modified to mitigate parasitic ASE. This will enable the development of a new generation of thin-disk gain elements for extreme-power photon engines. FAST lasers will unlock new opportunities in space science.
Objective
Optical materials are indispensable for modern society reliant upon technology to create and share information, fabricate advanced materials, and study the intricacies of our physical universe. Our Pathfinder science-to-technology breakthrough targets a paradigm shift for fabricating a novel optically active crystal – rare-earth (RE) doped sapphire. Sapphire is an exemplary material, second only to diamond in the Mohs hardness scale and 3rd in the list of the hardest natural minerals – importantly, 1st in this list that can incorporate RE ions into its lattice. In adopting a radically different non-thermal-equilibrium crystal-growth method, namely Rapid Pulsed Laser Deposition (RPLD) we capitalise on an order-of-magnitude higher deposition frequency than regular PLD and, in addition, exploit the ability to incorporate substantially more RE impurity than conventional crystal-growth techniques can achieve. With practically relevant doping concentrations RE-doped sapphire (REDS) promises a step change in critical properties for laser gain elements, especially Yb:sapphire thin disks. A greater than tenfold improvement in laser power is anticipated in like-for-like replacement of a state-of-the-art Yb:YAG thin disk with a Yb:sapphire one. However, we propose additional science-to-technology breakthroughs that will potentially offer a further order-of-magnitude performance enhancement. The first addresses Amplified Spontaneous Emission (ASE), a limit to power scaling thin-disk lasers, whereby we will nanoengineer key surfaces of the active elements to functionalise them and control their optical properties. Functionalising the activated sapphire promises ASE mitigation and aperture scaling opportunities for a new generation of thin-disk gain elements in extreme-power photon engines. FAST lasers, will open new technological opportunities in space science, high-value manufacturing, and transform future directions for laser technology for the rest of the 21st C.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences optics laser physics
- natural sciences physical sciences theoretical physics particle physics photons
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-EIC - HORIZON EIC Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-EIC-2025-PATHFINDEROPEN
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
SO17 1BJ SOUTHAMPTON
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.