ISSUE 114 AUTUMN 2024 PRODUCT NEWS
THE LASER USER
NON-DEGRADING UV OPTICS: OVERCOMING THE FATIGUE EFFECT
are free of the colour change effect. Moreover, this capability ensures better coating thermal conductivity. The technology, which can be applied to Ultrafast HR and HR + HT coatings at 257-343 nm wavelengths for fs laser pulses, directly translates into lower maintenance costs, reduced downtime, longer overall lifespan, and consequently lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
Lifetime extrapolation
Lifetime measurements were performed at Lidaris to prove the “non-degrading” statement. According to the measurements, OPTOMAN Ultrafast UV mirrors can withstand 0.35 J/ cm² laser fluence with no colour change after prolonged exposure to ultrafast laser irradiation.
OPTOMAN, a manufacturer of custom IBS- coated laser optics, has announced the launch of its Non-Degrading UV Optics, designed to prevent costly laser downtime and improve system reliability.
The Problem
While catastrophic damage to laser systems is easily identifiable, another less obvious threat comes from the subtle but destructive fatigue effect - the decrease of Laser-Induced Damage Threshold (LIDT) of optical materials after
The Scenario
Taking a hypothetical scenario, a company decides to install standard market mirrors in its Ultrafast UV laser processing systems. After delivering the laser to the customer, it unexpectedly went into downtime after just 2,000 hours of use. Upon investigation, the problem was diagnosed as colour degradation of the standard mirrors. In this fictional case, the laser manufacturer undergoes over €10,000 in laser repair costs - covering parts replacement, technician travel, and other expenses. However, the laser manufacturer could have avoided this entire situation if they had used non-degrading UV optics from the start.
It is easy to assume that having the highest possible LIDT guarantees the suitability of laser optics for a ultrafast high-power system. However, the UV part of the spectrum poses significant threats to laser optics, causing fatigue in the coating and leading to degradation and colour change. This effect contributes to the fact that laser optics might become unusable after many pulses, although catastrophic damage was not reached.
The Solution
Colour change damage after prolonged exposure to laser irradiation
extended exposure to laser pulses. This effect severely degrades any optical element, leading to a decrease in the overall performance of the laser system or even downtime. Unfortunately, this critical issue tends to be underestimated or even ignored.
Acknowledging this problem and the fact that the aforementioned fictional case is common in the industry, OPTOMAN developed Ultrafast UV laser optics that can withstand over 10,000 hours of laser irradiation, preventing downtime of the laser system. This achievement ensures that even after prolonged exposure to extreme Ultrafast UV light, the IBS-coated laser optics not only maintain the necessary parameters - consistent spectral performance and high Laser-Induced Damage Threshold (LIDT) - but
Contact: Lukas Ceizaris
lukas.ceizaris@optoman.com
www.optoman.com
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