Project description DEENESFRITPL Supersonic pulse repetition paves the way to highly efficient and eco-friendly laser ablation As the size of devices and individual features continues to shrink, the need for micromachining continues to grow. Subtractive fabrication relies on removing material of very small dimensions with very high precision. Laser ablation is a commonly used method. However, it faces limitations associated with low speeds and the complexity of the laser systems. SUPERSONIC has developed a pioneering laser technique that simultaneously increases the processing speed, decreases the energy required, minimises the thermal damage to the material and enhances the efficiency of material removal. EU funding will now enable scientists to achieve supersonic processing speeds and pave the road to market. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective We have recently demonstrated a new laser-material processing regime, known as the ablation-cooled laser-material removal, which proved to be 10 times more efficient using 100 thousand times lower pulse energies than traditional ultrafast processing. We have recently demonstrated a new laser-material processing regime, known as the ablation-cooled laser-material removal, which proved to be 10 times more efficient using 100 thousand times lower pulse energies than traditional ultrafast processing. In this novel regime, the repetition rate of the laser pulses are increased to such high levels that the target material at laser focus does not have sufficient time to cool appreciably between subsequent pulses. The radical reduction of required pulse energy makes possible to build extremely low-cost ultrafast lasers using the parts used in mass-produced nanosecond fibre lasers. This project aims to demonstrate a laser prototype thats costs 10-times less than its ultrafast competitors, while simultaneously achieving 10-times higher throughput. The planned laser prototype will scale our top results attained at 100 GHz repetition rate up to ~1 THz, where our experiments and theoretical model herald the existence of the new regime of supersonic ablation. As the material is ablated, the remaining top surface of the target recedes from the laser beam at a speed given by the ablation depth per pulse times the repetition rate. Scaling from our existing results, we anticipate to exceed the speed of sound at ~1 THz repetition rates, where the efficiency is expected to increase and pulse energy requirements to decrease further. The results will be validated in collaboration with potential industrial customers. Commercialisation will be based on the value proposition of offering the excellent material processing qualities of ultrafast laser at nanosecond laser prices. These activities will be supported and guided by a comprehensive business model and market research to be undertaken. Fields of science engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineeringsubtractive manufacturingnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physicsultrafast lasersnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physicspulsed lasers Keywords Laser-material processing Ultrafast laser-material ablation Femtosecond pulses Fiber lasers Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2020-POC - Call for proposals for ERC Proof of Concept Grant Call for proposal ERC-2020-PoC See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-POC - Proof of Concept Grant Coordinator BILKENT UNIVERSITESI VAKIF Net EU contribution € 150 000,00 Address Eskisehir yolu 8 km 06800 Bilkent ankara Türkiye See on map Region Batı Anadolu Ankara Ankara Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all BILKENT UNIVERSITESI VAKIF Türkiye Net EU contribution € 150 000,00 Address Eskisehir yolu 8 km 06800 Bilkent ankara See on map Region Batı Anadolu Ankara Ankara Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
