Ultra-short pulse delivery at high average power with low-loss hollow core fibers coupled to TRUMPF's TruMicro laser platforms for industrial applications

S. Baumbach; S. Pricking; J. Overbuschmann; S. Nutsch; J. Kleinbauer; R. Gebs; C. Tan; R. Scelle; M. Kahmann; A. Budnicki; D. H. Sutter; A. Killi

doi:10.1117/12.2250753

17 February 2017 Ultra-short pulse delivery at high average power with low-loss hollow core fibers coupled to TRUMPF's TruMicro laser platforms for industrial applications

S. Baumbach, S. Pricking, J. Overbuschmann, S. Nutsch, J. Kleinbauer, R. Gebs, C. Tan, R. Scelle, M. Kahmann, A. Budnicki, D. H. Sutter, A. Killi

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 10094, Frontiers in Ultrafast Optics: Biomedical, Scientific, and Industrial Applications XVII; 100941H (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2250753
Event: SPIE LASE, 2017, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Multi-megawatt ultrafast laser systems at micrometer wavelength are commonly used for material processing applications, including ablation, cutting and drilling of various materials or cleaving of display glass with excellent quality. There is a need for flexible and efficient beam guidance, avoiding free space propagation of light between the laser head and the processing unit. Solid core step index fibers are only feasible for delivering laser pulses with peak powers in the kW-regime due to the optical damage threshold in bulk silica. In contrast, hollow core fibers are capable of guiding ultra-short laser pulses with orders of magnitude higher peak powers. This is possible since a micro-structured cladding confines the light within the hollow core and therefore minimizes the spatial overlap between silica and the electro-magnetic field. We report on recent results of single-mode ultra-short pulse delivery over several meters in a lowloss hollow core fiber packaged with industrial connectors. TRUMPF’s ultrafast TruMicro laser platforms equipped with advanced temperature control and precisely engineered opto-mechanical components provide excellent position and pointing stability. They are thus perfectly suited for passive coupling of ultra-short laser pulses into hollow core fibers. Neither active beam launching components nor beam trackers are necessary for a reliable beam delivery in a space and cost saving packaging. Long term tests with weeks of stable operation, excellent beam quality and an overall transmission efficiency of above 85 percent even at high average power confirm the reliability for industrial applications.

Citation Download Citation

S. Baumbach, S. Pricking, J. Overbuschmann, S. Nutsch, J. Kleinbauer, R. Gebs, C. Tan, R. Scelle, M. Kahmann, A. Budnicki, D. H. Sutter, and A. Killi "Ultra-short pulse delivery at high average power with low-loss hollow core fibers coupled to TRUMPF's TruMicro laser platforms for industrial applications", Proc. SPIE 10094, Frontiers in Ultrafast Optics: Biomedical, Scientific, and Industrial Applications XVII, 100941H (17 February 2017); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2250753

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available