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Growth expected in mid-infrared lasers, says Strategies Unlimited
ADVANCEMENTS in several new laser technologies are opening new opportunities in the part of the spectrum between telecom lasers and the nascent terahertz range, called the mid-infrared.
This range is currently dominated by applications in materials processing and medical procedures, but new military and sensing applications will add sizeable and exciting opportunities in the next few years. The new segments will grow 30% per year, compounded annually through 2014. But, the mid-IR range remains a complex and confusing segment, with competition from other laser and non-laser solutions, and with many companies ripe for acquisition. These are among the findings in a new report, Mid- Infrared Lasers 2010, from Strategies Unlimited, the leader in market research of the photonics industry.
The mid-infrared is best known for being a covert and eye-safe range, for the thermal vibrations of molecules (used in sensing and thermal imaging), and for the cheap photons of high-power CO2 lasers. CO2 lasers today dominate the sales, from 10 Watt lasers using sealed gas tubes to multi- kilowatt lasers using flowing gas blowers, for use in materials processing. Solid-state lasers are also established in medical applications.
Next to come are high-brightness sources for military applications: infrared countermeasures against heat-seeking missiles, illuminators for thermal imaging, mid-IR beacons, and so forth. These military applications are key to funding the new mid- infrared technologies while other applications get off the ground.
Another long-awaited segment is sensing for molecular detection, with many exciting new opportunities in environmental monitoring, industrial process controls, security standoff detection of hazardous chemicals, and new breathalyzer instruments for medical diagnostics. Other sensor applications include mid- infrared rangefinding and Doppler scatterometry.
Austin Scientific has highest ever order book
OXFORD INSTRUMENTS subsidiary Austin Scientific, has secured a major order for 56 helium compressor systems with a total value of $1,111k. The product is a unique application that has significant implications in the High Brightness Light Emitting Diode (HBLED) market, using helium gas as a heat-exchange medium in high temperature processes.
Austin Scientific also secured a further significant order with a major manufacturer of HBLEDs for 17 Cryopump systems with a total value $205k, another very significant order for the business. These two orders have contributed to the business hitting its highest order month in its 10 year history as part of the Oxford Instruments Group.
But, mid-infrared laser suppliers face many unique challenges. Mid-infrared components are expensive because of requirements for exotic materials and coatings, cryogenic cooling, and low manufacturing volumes.
Lasers have been bulky and the output power of compact laser solutions has been low. And, the new technologies face challenges from other laser and nonlaser technologies, such as Raman spectroscopy, near-infrared laser and LED sources, lamps, and non-optical approaches.
Now, new solutions in quantum cascade and interband cascade lasers, GaSb diode lasers and OPSLs, fiber lasers, solid-state lasers, and compact OPOs promise to expand sales into new applications. Other innovations will also help the market, such as inexpensive QEPAs, uncooled focal plane arrays, and hollow-core optical fibers. The report lists over 50 companies offering lasers in the mid-IR range, spanning the technologies listed above, as well as legacy technologies. Well more than half of the companies are headquartered in North America.
With such a wide range of suppliers and applications, the market is highly fragmented and there is no overall leader. Some industries prefer to bring differentiating technology in-house, making several laser suppliers targets for acquisiton.
General Manager of Austin Scientific, Donald Gordon, said “This is a great achievement for our business. HBLEDs will undoubtedly play a huge role in protecting our environment in the future, and I am delighted that our products have been chosen to support this growing market. Everyone here has contributed to this success and I congratulate them.”
Austin Scientific supplies, refurbishes and services cryopumps and compressors for the semi-conductor industry, and is based in Austin, Texas USA. It was recently won the best of local business award in the Gas Compressors category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA) for the second year running.
October 2010
www.compoundsemiconductor.net 11
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