New solutions for mid-IR and UV laser delivery

Purpose and goal

The purpose of the project has been to develop and evaluate technology and market potential for fiber cables for ultra short-pulse lasers. Manufacturing technology for so-called hollow-core fibers have been developed, as well as methods for connectorizing and cabling. Tests of the project´s cables in commercial laser systems have shown very promising performance.

Expected results and effects

The project has provided a technical and commercial analysis for a possible continued investment in the technology. The results are promising and show that the hollow core technology and Optoskand´s solutions has great relevance for the intended application.

Planned approach and implementation

The project has been a collaboration between research groups at KTH/Applied Physics, RISE Fiberlab and Coherent/Optoskand. In the project, the parties have contributed most in their respective areas of strength - RISE has developed hollow-core fiber, KTH has evaluated the fibers for high-power applications and Optoskand has focused on process development and production of high-power cabling, and together with commercial partners evaluated the cables in laser systems. The partners have complemented each other well and have collaborated tightly throughout the project.