6 industry news
Atomic
research targets laser
weapons
division picks
process for PCBs
laser parts Researchers are exploring whether project is developing a dry printing
laser technology can provide a method that uses no chemicals.
Britain’s Atomic Weapons low-cost, chemical-free method The university’s Rapid Prototyping
Establishment (AWE) has of making a key component and Manufacturing Group, led
implemented laser metrology used in electronic products from by Professor David Wimpenny,
and adaptive optics systems microwave ovens to computers. will develop a deposition system
to improve its lasers. De Montfort University Leicester based on a novel combination
The two systems, designed (UK) academics are taking part of laser printing and fibre laser
by Imagine Optic and in a research project which aims consolidation of the deposited
delivered by BFI Optilas, to develop a new process for material. The project will initially
will become an integral part producing printed circuit boards look at laying conductive tracks
of the forthcoming Orion (PCBs). The two-year project, on the circuit boards, but could
high-power laser. Orion is set entitled Laser Printed Electronics, also be used to deposit layers of and along with Hartlepool
to replace the Helen laser, aims to provide the UK electronics dielectric or protective materials, company Flex-Ability, will be
which has been in operation sector with a simple, low-cost, solder for connection of devices testing the new process. The
since the 1970s, by 2010. flexible and environmentally- and also to print legends on other partner in the project, MTT,
The metrology system is friendly production method for boards. In this way, the new based in Stone, will develop laser
unique in that it will use 10 PCBs. process could provide a ‘one-stop’ sintering hardware for the system.
HASO 32 wavefront sensors PCBs are used in most solution for the production of The two-year project is worth
to simultaneously measure electronic devices, but the current PCBs. £341,426, with £182,346
and analyse 10 long-pulse, manufacturing process requires Quartz-TSL, a PCB manufacturer coming from the Technology
500J nanosecond beam large amounts of liquid chemicals, based in Merry Lees, is Strategy Board’s High Value
lines. It will enable users to water and energy. The new coordinating the research project, Manufacturing Call.
monitor beam quality using
HASOv3 software and make
adjustments as necessary.
Photosynthesis secrets revealed by laser
The adaptive optics system
will be used at the end of New research shows how a laser a sample of a protein found degradation. They also require
the amplification chain for technique reveals the way the in bacteria, called LH2, which much more intensive computer
wavefront correction of sun’s energy moves inside plants, was provided by the University processing.
two powerful chirped-pulse unravelling some of the inner of Glasgow. This bacterial The researchers needed a
amplification beams that workings of this efficient solar protein was used because it very powerful and stable laser in
will produce 500J in a 0.5- energy process. harvests light in the same way order to get the new approach to
picosecond pulse. The system The research, published in as photosynthetic plant proteins. work efficiently and accurately.
combines two of Imagine Physical Review Letters, explains By illuminating the sample with a They used the Astra laser at the
Optic’s HASO 32 wavefront how the team, led by Dr Ian combination of high power laser Science and Technology Facilities
om
sensors and CASAO software Mercer from the School of pulses all derived from the same Council’s Rutherford Appleton
with two monomorph Physics at University College laser, the researchers obtained a Laboratory (RAL).
ooptics.c
deformable mirrors Dublin, who is a visiting map of bright spots on a camera With this laser, a map can
ectr
manufactured by CILAS. researcher at Imperial College in a fraction of a second. The be captured with a single pulse
.el
London, used a laser to probe position of each spot corresponds of laser light meaning that full
www
to a unique angle of light emitted information can be gathered

from the sample and this directly prior to, or during, a chemical
photonics people
relates to how electrons in the reaction. The technique can also
ch 2009
protein respond to the laser light be used to characterise high-
n Dr Thomas Kessler has joined company in Europe.
and to each other. value, delicate samples because
Edmund Optics as vice president n JDSU has promoted Thomas
Alternative laser-based only a small quantity of sample is
f
ebruary/mar
of European Operations, operating Waechter to president and chief
techniques for gathering such required. And, with one thousand
from the company's offices in executive officer, effective 1
information do already exist, but laser pulses available per second
Karlsruhe, Germany. He will be January 2009. Waechter will also
o
optics
be appointed to JDSU's board of
require the sample to be exposed from the laser, there is potential
responsible for all sales and
ectr
distribution operations of the directors.
to the laser light for a long for rapid automated sample
el
period, which may lead to sample characterisation.
EOfeb09 pp04-07 news.indd 6 17/2/09 16:35:06
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