Coherent introduces custom diffractive optical components for high power industrial lasers

Coherent, a leader in industrial laser optics, announced May 26 that it has introduced a breakthrough new line of diffracted optical components (DOEs) designed specifically for high-power industrial lasers.

Innovation in optical components is a key factor in significantly reducing the cost of ownership of industrial lasers and accelerating their adoption in existing and new applications.

Coherent utilizes its proprietary nanoimprint technology and design simulation tools to deliver a highly customized family of diffracted optical elements (DOEs), thus enabling very high optical efficiency with very uniform laser beam output.

These diffractive optical elements feature precision optical coatings that ensure high reliability of kilowatt class industrial lasers for a wide range of applications including welding, cutting and additive manufacturing.

"Customers are very excited about the wide range of diffractive optical element designs we are able to achieve, as well as the fact that we can complete the design, deliver the product and step up to mass production in a very short period of time," said Dr. Sanjai Parthasarathi, Chief Marketing Officer. "Diffracted optics is expected to be a disruptive technology for the next generation of industrial lasers. It combines optical design flexibility with low-cost manufacturing to drive a rapidly growing market. According to industry analysis, this market will soon exceed $1 billion."

Diffracted optical elements (DOEs) provide industrial laser designers with a unique opportunity to combine multiple optical functions into a single optical element, greatly simplifying system-level assembly. With fewer parts, easier optical calibration, and fewer failures over time, these features will ultimately lead to lower cost of ownership and higher reliability.

The new nanoimprint technology is optimized for the laser processing market. It extends Coherent's existing diffraction optical element technology to include industry-leading volume and surface Bragg gratings for communications and medical applications.

Coherent offers metasurface based, wafer-level all-glass optical components/element optical components (MOE) that are well suited for high-volume applications such as consumer electronics. In addition, the Coherent broad portfolio of industrial laser components also includes high-power collimators, beam extenders, F-Theta lenses, optical isolators, and Galvo mirrors.

Source: OFweek