Femtosecond Laser At 2 µm: LZH And Partners Are Developing Innovative High-Energy Lasers

Together with partners from industry and research, the LZH is developing femtosecond lasers (fs lasers) that emit a wavelength of two micrometers. The innovative high-energy laser systems are particularly interesting for the micro-processing of plastics.

No more compromises between laser source and process quality
fs lasers have gained enormous importance in industry and are used, for example, in the glass cutting of mobile phone displays. They are also used for the micro-machining of metals or ceramics. fs lasers usually emit in the wavelength range around one micrometer. For many applications, however, lasers that emit wavelengths around two micrometers are optimal - for example for plastics and organic materials, which absorb energy particularly well in this wavelength range.

The scientists of the Ultrafast Photonics group of the LZH want to realize such a fs laser at two micrometers with more than 250 µJ pulse energy together with NeoLASE GmbH from Hanover and the Belgian partners Optec SA, Lasea and Multitel ASBL. The project partners will also develop a complete material processing system. The high-energy laser systems could be used for applications such as the production of miniaturized, biocompatible medical components such as inexpensive stents or catheters. The laser systems can also be used for processing semiconductors and joining hybrid materials.

About DISRUPT
The DISRUPT (Development of ultrafast Infrared Sources for Realizing Unprecedented materials Processes at Two μm) project deals with the development of ultrafast infrared sources for realizing unprecedented materials processing processes at 2 μm. In addition to the LZH, NeoLASE GmbH , the companies Optec SA and Lasea from Belgium and the Belgian research institute Multitel ASBL are also involved in the project . The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research under the grant number 01QE2102B.