Industrial Laser Applications Research Articles

KTP and isomorphs ‐ recent progress in device and material development

Abstract Potassium Titanyl Phosphate (KTiOPO4) is one of the best nonlinear optical crystals for the frequency doubling of 1.06 μm Nd:YAG lasers. Its large optical nonlinearity, high optical damage threshold and outstanding thermal stability has made it the material of choice for high power industrial and medical laser applications where reliability are of prime importance. Yet, KTP is just one member of the isomorphic compounds having the generic composition MTiOXO4 where {M = NH4, K, Rb, TI and Cs} and {X = P and As}. Along with its isomorphs, KTP offers exceptional versatility for device design and optimization in both bulk- and micro-optical applications. This versatility is directly related to the open covalent crystal structure of KTP. In this paper, we review recent progress in the understanding of the crystal chemistry of the KTP family of isomorphs and summarize recent progress in KTP-based devices.

Industrial laser applications

The use of lasers in industrial fabrication lines is attractive because of the high flexibility caused by the controllability of beam position and beam parameters. Laser processes offer rationalization and sometimes new concepts for innovative products. Some examples for applications of the well established Nd:YAG laser will be given. However, to find acceptance in production floors for new lasers (e.g. excimer lasers) or novel process technologies (e.g. laser-induced thin-film processes) in most cases several preconditions have to be fulfilled; these preconditions will be discussed. An example for successful introduction of KrF excimer lasers into a fabrication line for high-density multilayer printed circuit boards will be described. The multilayer printed circuit board is an essential part of the multi-chip module used in a new Siemens high-speed computer. We will report our first experiences with excimer lasers in a production environment.

Laser-assisted processes in the microelectronic industry

Laser-assisted processing will soon be implemented in direct writing machines, allowing the repair or the personalization of microcircuits using local deposition of conducting films, or local removal of thin film material. Another application of lasers in the microelectronic industry will be lithography, where excimer laser sources posses substantial advantages over mercury arc lamps, and may allow “optical” methods to reach a limit near 0.3 μm.A more conjectural future use of lasers may be the replacement of lithography by direct laser projection patterning. Many advantages would result, among which the most obvious are a simplification of the wafer processing and a reduction of the density of defects.A large research effort is required to improve the understanding of the mechanisms involved in laser surface chemistry, and to develop the applications according to the criteria of the electronic industry. This research effort appears fully justified by the vast number of laser-assisted processes whose feasibility and potential usefulness have been demonstrated.

Laser synthesis of ultrafine particles.

Recent studies concerning laser synthesis of ultrafine particles are reviewed with respect to the applications of lasers in industry. Mainly a cw and a TEA CO2 lasers are used because of their high power and their easy operation. The synthetic methods are classified into (1) gas-evaporation by laser heating and (2) laser-induced reaction in the gas phase: pyrolysis, infrared multiplephoton decomposition, dielectric breakdown, and infrared photosensitized decomposition. Of these two methods, the method (2) using a CO2 laser has advantages in synthesizing ultrafine particles with high purity, small diameters, and a narrow distribution of diameters.The present review is focused on the synthesis of ultrafine γ-iron particles. Since γ-iron is stable at 911-1392°C, γ-iron has not been usually isolated at room temperature. However, γ-iron has been synthesized in a high yield by the SF6-sensitized infrared photodecomposition of Fe (C0) 5 with a TEA CO2 laser. γ-Iron has an average diameter of 76A, a narrow distributiuon of diameters, the face-centered-cubic structure, and paramagnetism even at 4.2K.

Industrial applications of excimer lasers

Industrial applications of excimer lasers

Laser technology in industry

Lasers are providing effective solutions to many real problems in industry and technology. In this paper, we discuss the technical aspects of laser industrial applications to welding, hardening, alloying, cutting, drilling, turning, glazing etc. Details of laser applications and the involved technologies of non-destructive laser contactless diagnotics quality control of materials and industrial goods, laser monitoring and laser applications to measurement devices are also presented briefly. Most of the discussion is in reference to the developments in USSR.

Second International Conference on Trends in Quantum Electronics, Bucharest, September 2-6, 1985

A brief review is given of the papers presented at the Second International Conference on Trends in Quantum Electronics, which was held in Bucharest on September 2-6, 1985. The Conference was divided into the following sessions: lasers; nonlinear effects; studies of surfaces by laser radiation; quantum optics, coherence, and optical diagnostics; optical processing of signals and images; physics of fiber-optic waveguides and optical communication; resonant interaction of laser radiation with matter; technological and other industrial applications of lasers; lasers in medicine.

A microcomputer-controlled X-Y translator for CNC laser applications

An inexpensive X-Y translator is described that is designed for industrial and laboratory laser applications such as cutting and heat treatment requiring computer numerical control. The system includes standard stepper motors, lead screws and carriages, but is unusual in that although versatile it requires only an inexpensive Apple ll microcomputer for control and for creation of data files. The selected translation speed is maintained constant regardless of direction. Speeds up to about 3000 steps s -1 are obtained. A single file of pattern information contains up to 400 segments, which may be straight lines or circular arcs.

Optical radiation hazards of laser welding processes. Part 1: Neodymium-YAG laser.

High power laser devices are being used for numerous metalworking processes such as welding, cutting and heat treating. Such laser devices are totally enclosed either by the manufacturer or the end-user. When this is done, the total laser system is usually certified by the manufacturer following the federal requirements of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1040.10 and 10.40.11 as a Class I laser system. Similarly, the end-user may also reclassify an enclosed high-power laser into the Class I category following the requirements of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z-136.1 (1980) standard. There are, however, numerous industrial laser applications where Class IV systems are required to be used in an unenclosed manner. In such applications, there is concern for both ocular and skin hazards caused by direct and scattered laser radiation, as well as potential hazards caused by the optical radiation created by the laser beam's interaction with the metal (i.e. the plume radiation). Radiant energy measurements are reported for both the scattered laser radiation and the resultant plume radiations which were produced during typical unenclosed Class IV Neodymium-YAG laser welding processes. Evaluation of the plume radiation was done with both radiometric and spectroradiometric measurement equipment. The data obtained were compared to applicable safety standards.

Intensity distribution in the focal region of a “doughnot” mode

We study the intensity distribution of a TEM01+10 mode propagating through a single diffraction limited lens. The theoretical intensity distributions along the optical path remain similar until the truncation effects, due to the lens diameter, are negligible. The focal distribution is however very sensitive to truncation, and this is relevant for industrial applications of high power lasers. An experimental system to measure the intensity distribution at the focal plane is described and its results are compared with the theory.

Lasers in industry

Report on the Industrial applications of lasers, Institute of Physics (Quantum Electronics Group), 15 May 1980 at Culham Laboratory.

Industrial Applications of Lasers

<i>Industrial Applications of Lasers</i>

Self-holograms of laser-induced surface depressions in heavy hydrocarbons

Among applications of lasers in the petroleum industry are samples of heavy oils heated by a He-Ne laser beam. It is shown that laser power concentrations as low as 1 mW/mm(2) induce noticeable changes in the form of the surface. The far-field diffraction pattern of the reflected wave can be considered as a self-hologram of the hole, with the paraxial focus of the bottom of the hole as a point reference source. Annular images corresponding to different zones of the hole are reconstructed by illuminating the hologram with a spherical wave. A geometrical model of the shape of the irradiated surface is proposed and compared with experimental data.

High Power CW CO2 Lasers and Their Applications

Recent advances in laser technology have resulted in the development of multikilowatt lasers which have been engineered for industrial applications. This paper will review these developments for CW CO2 lasers and the application of these lasers in the metal-working industry. The physics and engineering problems associated with obtaining a uniform electric discharge at the required high power densities will be reviewed. The applications of multikilowatt lasers in the metal-working industry reviewed in this paper will highlight the newer processes of surface hardening and surface alloying. These are processes which have recently impacted the automobile industry to replace conventional hardening and hard facing techniques.

Industrial Applications of High Power Lasers

Very early in the history of lasers it was recognized that the high power beam from a ruby laser could perform a variety of practical tasks. It could weld and drill holes easily; enthusiasm for exploitation of these capabilities ran very high. However, it took many years before lasers were employed in a practical sense by industry. The early lasers were not reliable and durable enough. Even though a laser could perform many useful tasks well, it was often unfeasible economically.

Carbon-di-oxide lasers in electronics industry

The carbon-di-oxide (CO2) lasers are capable of delivering very high power densities. This high energy that is obtainable in the focused output of this laser beam enables it to be used as a source of thermal energy for such fabrication processes as melting, welding and surface treatment. The small intensely heated zone has been used for cutting, trimming, controlled evaporation of thin films, and welding during manufacture of electronic components. Contact free operation, ease of automation, accuracy of positioning and high throughput obtainable are some of the advantages achieved. This paper describes some of the applications of CO2 lasers in the electronics industry. It also presents a companion of the laser techniques with the conventional methods.

Quantum Electronics

The second national quantum electronics conference at St Catherine's College, Oxford will cover topics from theoretical developments in quantum optics to the industrial applications of lasers, taking in laser spectroscopy and photochemistry. The industrial exhibition of equipment to be held in conjunction with the conference will cover the same fields, and this feature is intended as a guide to the products on display

Industrial applications of lasers

The advent of the laser has opened up many fields of technology. The availability of a powerful and coherent source of controlled light gives the designer a versatile tool in applications ranging from the welding of retinas to high-bit-rate information transmission. In this article, the author reviews the present position and possible future uses of the laser

Industrial applications of lasers

Industrial applications of lasers

Applications in physics research

Now firmly established as a versatile tool in many branches of science, the laser has taken little more than a decade to develop from a research project itself into an instrument for the support of other research. The number of laser applications in industry, technology and pure science is now so great that no one article could possibly cover them all. Here I will be concentrating on scientific applications only, but even so I must adopt a limited scope. The choice of topics has been restricted by posing the question: Of the many scientific investigations conducted with help from lasers, which ones are feasible only because lasers are available? Applications that satisfy this criterion should be the ones that best emphasize the unique capabilities of the laser as a tool of science.