Press Release
Laser Zentrum Hannover in the USA
Hannover, January 19th, 2013
From February 2nd to 7th, the laser experts from the LZH
will be presenting recent developments at the scientific
exhibition Photonics West in San Francisco, California.
The market in the US is considered to be one of the most
important export markets for optical technology projects from
Germany. Thus, Photonics West is also the most important
North American scientific exhibition for the Laser Zentrum
Hannover e.V. (LZH). Photonics West is also a global meeting
point for scientists and industry in the optical and photonics
branches. The LZH will be presenting exhibitis mainly from the
fields of optical fibers and fiber amplifiers to the 20,000 guests
expected to attend the fair.
Brilliant, efficient, stabile
When highest laser quality coupled with extraordinary stability
and resilience is needed, then compact and efficient fiber
amplified systems offer great advantages, compared to solidstate lasers. Together with the Albert Einstein Institute in
Hannover (AEI), the LZH has developed a prototype of a single
frequency, highly integrated fiber amplifier system with a 1 µm
wavelength. It has a brilliant beam quality with output powers of
nearly 300W at a spectral laser line width of ~ 1 kHz. It is a
robust, high power system, especially suitable for the extremely
sensitive detection of gravitational waves, or for investigations
on quantum optical phenomena, or for non-linear frequency
conversion (SHG, OPO) and laser-based metrology.
Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V.
Press Release: Laser Zentrum Hannover in the USA
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Press Release
The core of the fiber amplifier system is a high-power pump
light coupler developed at the LZH for the wavelength range
around 1 µm. The coupler can be used to achieve high output
powers that can be integrated into fibers, and it is being
presented along with further fiber components and other
exhibits. The pump light coupler has up to 6 fiber connections,
each of which can be connected to a 100 W fiber-coupled pump
diode. By using side coupling of the pump light, the signal core
of the fiber is not affected during manufacturing. Thus, in
amplifier systems, the fiber coupler is especially suitable for
optical pumping opposite the signal direction.
Pocket-size, ultrashort pulsed fiber lasers
Further improvements have been made on a completely fiberbased, ultrashort pulsed thulium oscillator with an emission
wavelength around 1.98 µm, which was presented for the first
time last year in the USA. The seed laser for the downstream
fiber amplifier does not require readjustment, and it provides
high stability of both wavelength and output. Furhtermore, the
oscillator is equipped with polarization maintaining fibers,
making it more stabile when subject to temperature fluctuations
and other external influences.
By simply changing the Faser-Bragg gratings, the central
wavelength can be adjusted, or the pulse length can be
independently changed. Currently, the LZH is working on
developing a central wavelength which can be tuned in
operation, without having to change the fiber Bragg grating.
With this unit, the laser, which has mainly been used for
Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V.
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Press Release
micromachining of plastics, could also be used for spectroscopic
applications.
Small but robust
Due to popular demand at the Photonics West last year, the light
weight (35 g) but very robust LIBS laser head will again be
present at the fair in San Francisco this year. This system uses
laser-induced plasma spectroscopy for material analysis under
extreme conditions. The LIBS laser has a 1053 nm wavelength,
a pulse energy > 1 mJ and pulse repetition rates < 50 Hz. With a
pulse length of 2 ns, beam qualities of (M²) < 1.3 can be
reached.
The LZH is presenting their exhibits at the 418 m² German
Pavillon (North Hall, Stand Nr. 4601).
Contact:
Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V.
Michael Botts
Hollerithallee 8
D-30419 Hannover, Germany
Tel.: +49 511 2788-151
Fax: +49 511 2788-100
E-Mail: m.botts@lzh.de
http://www.lzh.de
The Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH) carries out research and development in the field of laser technology and is
supported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Transport of the State of Lower Saxony (Niedersächsisches
Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Arbeit und Verkehr).
You can find the LZH press releases with a WORD-download and when possible illustrations at www.lzh.de under
"publications/press releases"
Illustration caption: The LZH is presenting innovative laser technology at Photonics West 2013 (stand photo from
Photonics West 2012)
Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V.
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