Final Report Summary - HICORE (High Brightness COnical REfraction Lasers)
Executive Summary:
High Brightness Conical Refraction Lasers (HiCORE) is a collaborative research project which aimed to exploit a novel laser technology conceived from research in the Photonics and Nanoscience group at the University of Dundee.
Conical refraction lasers offer a novel way to achieve high laser efficiency, mitigate thermal management issues and improve beam quality while reducing cost, complexity and size - all of which are key drivers of competitive advantage in almost every laser market sector.
M-Squared Lasers Ltd, recently named as The Sunday Times Tech Trak 100 winner of the 2014 ‘Ones to Watch’ category, led a team of seven European partners that was granted 1.5M Euro (approx. £1.2M) to resolve the key problems associated with the power and brightness of bulk solid-state lasers using Conical Refraction (CR).
The HiCORE research was planned to lead to a whole new stream of world class laser products for use in a broad spectrum of applications wherever high brightness efficient lasers are used including industrial laser welding.
It had been envisaged that the work would enormously strengthen the leading EU position in the photonics sector and the economic impact of success would support the ongoing growth and development of the SME partners M-Squared Lasers (United Kingdom), Conerefringent Optics (Spain), Opteco and Partners (Bulgaria), and Time-Bandwidth Products (Switzerland).
The research performers in the project were headed by the University of Dundee (United Kingdom) and include the Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography (Bulgaria), and the University of Stuttgart (Germany) a leader in high power lasers for industrial processes.
The two-year project was funded by the European Commission’s FP7 Programme "Research for the Benefit of SMEs" (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises), the objective of which is to strengthen the innovation capacity of European SMEs and their contribution to the development of new technology based products and markets by helping them outsource research, increase their research efforts, extend their networks, better exploit research results and acquire technological know-how, bridging the gap in the innovation chain from idea to market through European level collaboration.
This programme's focus is on the outsourcing of research by SMEs to specialised 'RTD performers' (research service providers i.e. universities, research centres, other research performing companies etc.). The scientific challenges faced when trying to exploit the CR phenomenon meant that, sadly, the required results were not achieved within the two year timeframe of the project.
Project Context and Objectives:
The two-year HiCORE project, which started in October 2012, is funded by the European Commission’s FP7 Program "Research for the Benefit of SMEs" (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises), the aim of which is to strengthen the innovation capacity of European SMEs and their contribution to the development of new technology based products and markets.
This is achieved by helping the SMEs outsource research, within the consortium, increase their research efforts, extend their networks, better exploit research results and acquire technological know-how, bridging the gap in the innovation chain from idea to market through European-level collaboration.
The HiCORE research project was organised into seven distinct and inter-dependent Work Packages (WPs), each with clearly defined research outcomes. The name and objectives of each WP are as follows:
WP1: “Conical refraction crystal properties”
Objectives: to develop optimum crystal growth and fabrication techniques; deliver CR crystal samples and the development of a crystal properties selection guide
WP2: “Highly efficient CW lasers”
The objective of this Work Package was to develop high-power high brightness (good beam quality) continuous wave (CW) laser sources based on the CR phenomenon. This would involve aiming for ultra-efficient laser sources based on the CR element by providing simplicity and flexibility in design. The plan was to validate an alternative route towards power and brightness scaling in end-pumped solid-state bulk lasers by making them more reliable tools for material processing and medical applications. The aim was to develop a unified near-infrared high-power laser technology based on the CR phenomenon.
WP3: “Efficient high peak power pulsed laser”
The objectives of WP3 were to perform pre-tests on CR lasers to judge the feasibility for high-pulse-power operation – followed by optimization of the most promising candidate which was identified.
WP4: “Laser operation with CR crystals under high power pumping”
It was anticipated that the results of this WP would give the partners the knowledge on current limits in power and pulse energy encountered by up-scaling which would allow them to judge the suitability of high power CR lasers for current and future applications.
WP5: “Demonstration”
This WP was targeted at successfully demonstrating CR lasers as a technically advanced, compact and highly competitive solution in three different application areas important to the SME partners and within their existing areas of market activity. The demonstration work was to be closely linked to the HiCORE exploitation and dissemination activities to ensure widespread promotion of the technology.
WP6: “Exploitation and Dissemination”
The goal of WP6 was to disseminate within the consortium project results (e.g. project website); to plan for exploitation of project results in the reference markets and beyond, and to organise training related to the project.
WP7: “Project Management”
The objectives of WP7 were:
- to provide the administrative and financial management of the project;
- to provide management and monitoring of the work undertaken during the project;
- to identify, assess and mitigate risk;
- to interact with the European Commission on behalf of the project consortium;
- to organise project meetings and maintain the communication infrastructure.
Project Results:
It had been hoped that the final results arising from HiCORE would reinforce Europe’s lead in photonics and enable the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) participants to profit from exploitation of the intellectual property (IP) they acquired. Allied to this was the possibility for the economic impact of success to potentially lead to a whole new stream of world class laser products for use in a broad spectrum of applications wherever high brightness efficient lasers are used. Manufacturing (material processing), security (sensing and imaging), and health (imaging, diagnostics and therapy), for example, were all markets which had been identified as targets of a successful HiCORE project.
Unfortunately, the desired scientific results were not achieved and the decision was taken to cease research activities and bring the project to an end. Notwithstanding, one outcome is that the SMEs have gained a broader understanding of the scientific challenges associated with the Conical Refraction phenomenon.
Potential Impact:
For the reasons stated earlier, the project failed to deliver the expected outcomes. The project consortium drafted a focussed exploitation plan for making best use of the results. The exploitation plan was used to unify the consortium behind common goals, initiate and sustain discussion on the clarity of objectives, reach consensus on approach and plans, and to ensure benefits to all SME partners.
Unfortunately, and despite a concerted effort, the desired scientific results were not achieved and the decision was taken to cease research activities and bring the project to an end. Notwithstanding, one outcome is that the SMEs have gained a broader understanding of the scientific challenges associated with the Conical Refraction phenomenon.
The project was initially publicised and disseminated via a press release and the project website. The level of initial media coverage was very pleasing; ranging from national press to international online coverage. Outputs from the research effort included two peer reviewed publications and one paper in the proceedings of a conference.
List of Websites:
Any enquires regarding the project can be submitted via the web-form on the ‘Contact Us’ page of the website, or by email to hicore@m2lasers.com
High Brightness Conical Refraction Lasers (HiCORE) is a collaborative research project which aimed to exploit a novel laser technology conceived from research in the Photonics and Nanoscience group at the University of Dundee.
Conical refraction lasers offer a novel way to achieve high laser efficiency, mitigate thermal management issues and improve beam quality while reducing cost, complexity and size - all of which are key drivers of competitive advantage in almost every laser market sector.
M-Squared Lasers Ltd, recently named as The Sunday Times Tech Trak 100 winner of the 2014 ‘Ones to Watch’ category, led a team of seven European partners that was granted 1.5M Euro (approx. £1.2M) to resolve the key problems associated with the power and brightness of bulk solid-state lasers using Conical Refraction (CR).
The HiCORE research was planned to lead to a whole new stream of world class laser products for use in a broad spectrum of applications wherever high brightness efficient lasers are used including industrial laser welding.
It had been envisaged that the work would enormously strengthen the leading EU position in the photonics sector and the economic impact of success would support the ongoing growth and development of the SME partners M-Squared Lasers (United Kingdom), Conerefringent Optics (Spain), Opteco and Partners (Bulgaria), and Time-Bandwidth Products (Switzerland).
The research performers in the project were headed by the University of Dundee (United Kingdom) and include the Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography (Bulgaria), and the University of Stuttgart (Germany) a leader in high power lasers for industrial processes.
The two-year project was funded by the European Commission’s FP7 Programme "Research for the Benefit of SMEs" (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises), the objective of which is to strengthen the innovation capacity of European SMEs and their contribution to the development of new technology based products and markets by helping them outsource research, increase their research efforts, extend their networks, better exploit research results and acquire technological know-how, bridging the gap in the innovation chain from idea to market through European level collaboration.
This programme's focus is on the outsourcing of research by SMEs to specialised 'RTD performers' (research service providers i.e. universities, research centres, other research performing companies etc.). The scientific challenges faced when trying to exploit the CR phenomenon meant that, sadly, the required results were not achieved within the two year timeframe of the project.
Project Context and Objectives:
The two-year HiCORE project, which started in October 2012, is funded by the European Commission’s FP7 Program "Research for the Benefit of SMEs" (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises), the aim of which is to strengthen the innovation capacity of European SMEs and their contribution to the development of new technology based products and markets.
This is achieved by helping the SMEs outsource research, within the consortium, increase their research efforts, extend their networks, better exploit research results and acquire technological know-how, bridging the gap in the innovation chain from idea to market through European-level collaboration.
The HiCORE research project was organised into seven distinct and inter-dependent Work Packages (WPs), each with clearly defined research outcomes. The name and objectives of each WP are as follows:
WP1: “Conical refraction crystal properties”
Objectives: to develop optimum crystal growth and fabrication techniques; deliver CR crystal samples and the development of a crystal properties selection guide
WP2: “Highly efficient CW lasers”
The objective of this Work Package was to develop high-power high brightness (good beam quality) continuous wave (CW) laser sources based on the CR phenomenon. This would involve aiming for ultra-efficient laser sources based on the CR element by providing simplicity and flexibility in design. The plan was to validate an alternative route towards power and brightness scaling in end-pumped solid-state bulk lasers by making them more reliable tools for material processing and medical applications. The aim was to develop a unified near-infrared high-power laser technology based on the CR phenomenon.
WP3: “Efficient high peak power pulsed laser”
The objectives of WP3 were to perform pre-tests on CR lasers to judge the feasibility for high-pulse-power operation – followed by optimization of the most promising candidate which was identified.
WP4: “Laser operation with CR crystals under high power pumping”
It was anticipated that the results of this WP would give the partners the knowledge on current limits in power and pulse energy encountered by up-scaling which would allow them to judge the suitability of high power CR lasers for current and future applications.
WP5: “Demonstration”
This WP was targeted at successfully demonstrating CR lasers as a technically advanced, compact and highly competitive solution in three different application areas important to the SME partners and within their existing areas of market activity. The demonstration work was to be closely linked to the HiCORE exploitation and dissemination activities to ensure widespread promotion of the technology.
WP6: “Exploitation and Dissemination”
The goal of WP6 was to disseminate within the consortium project results (e.g. project website); to plan for exploitation of project results in the reference markets and beyond, and to organise training related to the project.
WP7: “Project Management”
The objectives of WP7 were:
- to provide the administrative and financial management of the project;
- to provide management and monitoring of the work undertaken during the project;
- to identify, assess and mitigate risk;
- to interact with the European Commission on behalf of the project consortium;
- to organise project meetings and maintain the communication infrastructure.
Project Results:
It had been hoped that the final results arising from HiCORE would reinforce Europe’s lead in photonics and enable the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) participants to profit from exploitation of the intellectual property (IP) they acquired. Allied to this was the possibility for the economic impact of success to potentially lead to a whole new stream of world class laser products for use in a broad spectrum of applications wherever high brightness efficient lasers are used. Manufacturing (material processing), security (sensing and imaging), and health (imaging, diagnostics and therapy), for example, were all markets which had been identified as targets of a successful HiCORE project.
Unfortunately, the desired scientific results were not achieved and the decision was taken to cease research activities and bring the project to an end. Notwithstanding, one outcome is that the SMEs have gained a broader understanding of the scientific challenges associated with the Conical Refraction phenomenon.
Potential Impact:
For the reasons stated earlier, the project failed to deliver the expected outcomes. The project consortium drafted a focussed exploitation plan for making best use of the results. The exploitation plan was used to unify the consortium behind common goals, initiate and sustain discussion on the clarity of objectives, reach consensus on approach and plans, and to ensure benefits to all SME partners.
Unfortunately, and despite a concerted effort, the desired scientific results were not achieved and the decision was taken to cease research activities and bring the project to an end. Notwithstanding, one outcome is that the SMEs have gained a broader understanding of the scientific challenges associated with the Conical Refraction phenomenon.
The project was initially publicised and disseminated via a press release and the project website. The level of initial media coverage was very pleasing; ranging from national press to international online coverage. Outputs from the research effort included two peer reviewed publications and one paper in the proceedings of a conference.
List of Websites:
Any enquires regarding the project can be submitted via the web-form on the ‘Contact Us’ page of the website, or by email to hicore@m2lasers.com