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3  PRIZE
                                                     rd






                                                UNLIMITED FLEXIBILITY FOR SHORT PULSE LASER APPLICATIONS





                                                >  Dr. Maik Frede
                                                  neoLASE GmbH
                                                  Hannover, Germany



           A new machine generation that incorporates the functionality of several laser systems in only one   This for example allows upgrading a picosecond application to a femtosecond one and therefore a
           machine will determine the future in high precision, flexible and economic laser micromachining.   technology adaptation to other, newer or upcoming applications and markets. Beside the major
           High power ultrafast laser systems are the key technology to a wide range of scientific and   technical  advantages  of  its  parameter  flexibility  and  upgradability,  neoMOS  “SMAART”  has  a
           industrial applications. Standard laser systems for these applications typically have a technology   couple of economical advantages. A reduced investment risk and therefore a further push of short
           depended fixed set of parameters limiting a flexible and cost efficient use. Different pulse durations   pulsed laser technology are guaranteed by the upgradability of the system. The concept enables
           or adapting to new applications often leads to change the laser system. The limiting flexibility in   two or more different sets of laser parameters on one laser system for about half the price of two
           combination with the high investment costs reserve new users to invest into ultra short pulsed   systems which significant reduces the overall system costs. Depending on the laser parameter
           laser applications, compared with buying a drilling machine with only one fixed driller.   this can result in a cost saving of more than 100 k€. The modular design and well defined interfacing
                                                                                  enables a self-service concept and therefore higher system up-times which reduces the operating
           The neoMOS “SMAART” laser system is an integrated and interchangeable ultra short pulsed laser   costs. The technical and economical advantages to new applications and unknown flexibility is the
           for material machining markets that offer pulse durations from nano- to femtoseconds or a   way to further push short pulsed laser technology into industrial laser machining applications.
           combination  of  pulse durations  to  be  used  in  the  same  process.  Based  on  a  novel  amplifier
           technology the system allows linear pulse amplification over a wide range of different pulse
           durations. In terms of output power and pulse energy the concept enables 100 W output power and
           up to 1 mJ pulse energy levels. Combined to a modular MOPA platform the “open source”
           philosophy enables to change only one part of the laser (seeder) to set up complete new laser
           parameters. Different seed lasers will enable the change of pulse durations, repetition rates or
           pulse shapes from the same laser system. Pulse durations of several nanoseconds down to < 700
           fs and single-shot up to megahertz repetition rates are possible. With the general philosophy of
           modularity an external pulse suppression module can be added to achieve sub 100 fs pulse
           duration with more than 150 µJ pulse energy.










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