Persephone Poulton, product development engineer at PowerPhotonic, presented “Freeform beam shaping for high-power laser applications” at the SPIE Laser Damage conference in Rochester, New York. The event focused on developments and breakthroughs in the materials and thin films used in high-energy lasers. Persephone was joined by other engineers and scientists in this specialist field, giving presentations which covered recent advancements in durability, modelling and testing, through to component fabrication.

Persephone stated, “This conference is a special event, it was a privilege to present the work that we do at PowerPhotonic, on freeform beam shaping, to leading experts in the laser damage field. With lasers becoming more powerful than ever, there is a pressing need for new optical components and coating designs that can withstand high powers, from continuous wave right through to ultra short pulsed lasers. We as a community must think carefully about new ways to mitigate laser damage. There is a parallel conversation around efficient energy usage which is also important to consider.

Beam shaping presents a significant opportunity for laser users to optimise such systems for each unique application. I presented four case studies, each different optic design demonstrating the high laser damage threshold afforded by the PowerPhotonic manufacturing process. In one case, an AR coated optic withstood a minimum of 1.75 J/cm², 100 fs incident beam at 800 nm. In another test (these optics were coated via Ion Beam Sputtering at OPTOMAN), no damage at all was observed up to the maximum power of 445 kW/cm, under continuous wave illumination, at 1070 nm. The latter testing was performed by Lidaris. At PowerPhotonic we are proud of this performance, though it must be noted that factors such as coating type, humidity, beam shape and size, sporadic defects and test style can and do alter the measured threshold value. At SPIE Laser Damage I found an engaged and talented community leading the way towards increased understanding. Collaborative thinking will be a key part of what happens next.”

Persephone is part of PowerPhotonic’s product development team, concentrating on the design, development and manufacture of freeform optical components used in laser micro-machining and welding systems.

For more information, please contact sales@powerphotonic.com