German team to develop high energy MIR laser
Two German regions are pooling their expertise in the field of laser technology in the recently launched BMBF HECMIR project (Mittlerer-Infrarot-Laser fuer die Hochenergie-Klasse "“ High Energy Class Mid-Infrared Lasers).
The partners from Berlin and Jena are jointly developing a novel high-energy laser source for the mid-infrared (MIR) spectral range. In the joint project, a diode-pumped solid-state laser with 1.9 µm wavelength that provides high laser energy in the Joule range is to be developed and demonstrated for the first time. This laser source offers a high innovation potential for applications in the medical sector, in material processing and in basic research. Due to several fundamental challenges, such a powerful pulsed laser source is not yet commercially available in this wavelength range.
The small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and research institutions involved want to change this, making such MIR lasers available by pooling their know-how along the entire value chain: including manufacturers of laser materials, laser diodes and laser stacks as well as renowned research institutes. Just by itself, research and development to establish manufacturing of these high-energy class MIR lasers represents a technical innovation in the field of laser production technology in Germany.
The initiative thus makes a substantial contribution to maintaining German laser technology at the forefront of international competition. "This will result in innovative processes, products and services that open up new market potential, especially for the SMEs involved," explains Frank Lerch, coordinator of HECMIR and managing director of the OpTecBB competence network.
A full day HECMIR workshop called 'High-energy class mid-infrared lasers' will take place on October 17, 2018 as part of Photonik-Tage Berlin Brandenburg. The workshop deals with state of the art and technological approaches for developing such high-power laser sources. Paul Crump from Ferdinand-Braun-Institut and Joachim Hein from Schiller University Jena are the chairs o.
HECMIR project partners
Since April, the BMBF joint project HECMIR is funded with almost €1.5 million for a period of three years under the KMU-NetC programme. The project is coordinated by OpTecBB, the Berlin-Brandenburg Competence Network for Optical Technologies. In addition to the Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Institute of Optics and Quantum Electronics (IOQ), and the Ferdinand-Braun-Institut (FBH) in Berlin, the two SMEs Lastronics GmbH from Jena and Crystal GmbH from Berlin are involved. Associated partners are the Leibniz Institute for Crystal Growth (IKZ), Brilliance Fab Berlin GmbH and Jenoptik Diode Lab GmbH.
