Introduction
The notes below indicate our progress in some of the technical areas relevant to our lasers. Click on the buttons to view the full documents online, or on the Adobe Acrobat logos to download a more printer friendly version which you may read at leisure. If you don't have an Acrobat reader installed on your system, go to the adobe webpage page and download one for free.
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Technical Note 1
Sub-Nanosecond Pulse ACE Laser Models - June 2002
The first AOT ACE laser models were available with pulse lengths in the range ~ 1.5 to 3.5ns, depending on pulse repetition rate (pulse length increases with prf, particularly above 10kHz). Technical Note (1) reports our early work to support the development of the first subnanosecnd model.
Achieved: Models Launched in 2002 with 1064nm pulse duration down to 700ps and 500ps in the UV.
Technical Note 2
High Rep-Rate ACE Laser Models - June 2002
For many applications, particularly those involving the processing of materials such as laser marking and micro-machining, the throughput rate of the process is determined predominantly by the repetition rate of the pulsed laser source. For this reason, lasers with acousto-optic (A-O) Q-switches have been used for operation above a few kHz. However, this technology limits the achievable pulse lengths to (typically) over 50ns duration. The proprietary electro-optic (E-O) Q-switching technology used by AOT in the ACE laser range overcomes this problem and allows operation to very high rep-rates whilst maintaining pulse lengths below 5ns. Technical Note (2) reports our investigation of pulse generation into the 50-100kHz range.
Achieved: Models operating to 100kHz lauched in 2003, with 200kHz perfomance demostrated in our R&D department as viable.
Technical Note 3
High Average Power ACE Laser Performance - June 2002
The initial AOT ACE laser range was designed with short pulse length and high repetition rate as key operating parameters. Extensive trials showed that average power performance could be extended without degradation in component life and negative impact on reliability. As a result, we investigated the paracticality of introducing oscillator models operating in the 500mW - 1W range and, by using an amplifier unit based on the same technology, we looked to extend operation further to powers in the 1 - 2W range within compact and high efficiency units. Technical Note (3) reports our development work in this area.
Achieved: MOPA models to 1W average power lauched in November 2002, and specifications up-rated to 1.5W in June 2003.
Technical Note 4
New Sub-Nanosecond Laser Sources - June 2002
Some of the unique characteristics of ACE lasers are described in Technical Note (4), which complements Technical Note (1).
Technical Note 5
ACE Short Pulse MOPA Products - November 2002
Technical Note (5) summarises the principles of operation and performance of the ACE MOPA (oscillator/amplifier) laser. Based on Nd:VVO4, the MOPA laser is capable of operating at > 1W average power and up to 50kHz repetition rate.
Achieved: MOPA Models with performance to 100kHz and 1.5W average power lauched in June 2003. Higher power units under development.
Technical Note 6
ACE Laser Harmonic Performance - August 2003
The harmonic performance of some of the ACE laser models is discussed in Technical Note (6) to indicate the parameters that effect second, third and forth harmonic output.
Technical Note 7
Fibre Delivery of ACE Laser pulses - September 2003
A number of important laser applications benefit from use of fibre optic beam deliver. AOT have investigated the opportunity to achieve these advantages with the very short ( ~ 1ns) high intensity pulses generated by the ACE lasers. Technical Note (7) summarises the performance of fibre delivery of the ACE Laser pulses.
Technical Note 8
Performance Overview
ACE™ lasers from Advanced Optical Technology comprise oscillators and oscillators plus amplfiers (MOPAs), and offer unique capability in all applications where high intensity TEMoo short pulses are essential for user success. The ACE Oscillator range of Q-switched diode pumped solid-state lasers can operate to 100kHz, and is unique in being able to achieve less than 500ps pulse duration and 50kW peak power performance. MOPA models operate with similar rep-rates and pulse durations, but at significantly higher power i.e. into the several Watts range. In all cases, proprietary active Q-switching technology provides sub-nanosecond timing jitter for the most demanding applications.
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