Ultrafast Lasers

Overview

Our range of services

Since they generate very short light-matter interaction times and large radiation intensities, lasers with ultrashort pulses (USP lasers) have great advantages for applications with special requirements. They enable high-precision material processing – even with difficult-to-process materials – with negligible heat input into the processed workpieces.

At Fraunhofer ILT, USP beam sources are being developed that provide application-specific optimized wavelengths, powers or pulse frequencies. In the area of power scaling of USP laser systems, Fraunhofer ILT has already achieved several record levels. Currently, it is focusing its research and development on laser amplifiers with wavelengths in the near infrared, pulse durations of 10 fs to 1 ps, output powers of 100 mW to 5 kW and pulse energies in the range 1 nJ to 100 mJ with diffraction-limited beam quality. The institute uses and continues to develop INNOSLAB, rod and disk laser amplifiers as well as sources for coherent VUV and EUV radiation. A promising future field of application for high-power ultrashort pulse lasers is the laser cutting and removal of difficult-to-machine materials, such as CFRP, with high speeds and high precision. For this purpose, technologies for pulse reduction will be developed further and a power scaling in the multi-kilowatt range targeted.

The services offered by Fraunhofer ILT include feasibility studies, simulations, experimental investigations, the automation of lasers, the development of industry-oriented prototypes, and consulting.

Module for non-linear pulse compression.
© Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen, Germany.
Module for non-linear pulse compression.
Filtered INNOSLAB beam profile.
© Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen, Germany.
Filtered INNOSLAB beam profile.
Saturable absorber for the generation of ps pulses.
© Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen, Germany.
Saturable absorber for the generation of ps pulses.

fs-Oscillators

  • KLM
  • Cr:Colquiriite
  • Yb:YAG / KGW / Lu2O3
  • Modeling Kerr-effect, pumping radiation, gain saturation

Broad Band Amplifier

  • Diode pumped up to 1kW average output power
  • Yb:YAG / KGW / Lu2O3
  • Cr:Colquiriite
  • 3D modeling of 3-level systems and beam propagation

Dispersion Measurement

  • Group delay - dispersion measurement of optics
  • Wavelength range l = 250 - 1700 nm
  • Resolution Dl = 1 nm / DD2 = 3fs2

Generation of Radiation

  • Incoherent X-rays
  • Coherent EUV / XUV
  • Electrons

Brochures

Our brochures offer a quick view onto our service portfolio. Find more detailed information in the “project results“ tab.

 

“Ultrafast Lasers“

Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Advanced Photon Sources CAPS

Video: A new generation of high-power ultrafast lasers for industry and research

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In the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Advanced Photon Sources CAPS, 13 Fraunhofer Institutes bundle their expertise for the development of laser systems that reach highest powers with ultrashort pulses and the exploration of their application potentials. The Fraunhofer Institutes for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen and for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF in Jena contribute their competence in the development of high-power ultrafast lasers, which is combined in the cluster with the expertise of other Fraunhofer Institutes in the fields of systems technology and applications. 

Partners from industry and research are invited to participate and use the new laser systems in the application laboratories in Aachen and Jena for their innovations.

Markets

Laser technology can solve demanding tasks in many different industries. Whether as a tool in automotive production, as measuring equipment in the environmental sector, as a diagnostic or therapeutic instrument in medical technology or as a communication medium in space technology, the laser provides multiple uses with high productivity and high efficiency.

Read up about the innovations of the Fraunhofer ILT in a few selected industries and convince yourself!

 

Research with us!

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about general topics! Our contact persons are happy to get in touch with you.