Grant: Strategic Projects - Group
University of Manitoba
$170,500.00
Advanced techniques for efficient frequency conversion of laser radiation
FY 2016-17
Summary
Laser material processing is widely used in semiconductor, portable electronics and medical device industries that have rapidly growing multi-billion dollar markets. High-precision laser processing typically requires pulsed (picosecond, 10^-12 s) radiation in the ultraviolet or visible wavelength ranges. Today such radiation is produced by frequency conversion of infrared laser radiation using nonlinear crystals with moderate efficiency. The goal of this Strategic project grant is to develop a new revolutionary frequency conversion technology that will overcome this challenge and increase conversion efficiency to >90%. The approach will be based on the fundamental properties of the autoresonance effect in nonlinear crystals which was recently observed by one of the applicants. This technology will make current laser systems several times more efficient. In addition, this technique is very robust and can be implemented using conventional nonlinear crystals in turn paving the way to many industrial laser material processing applications. The results of this project will redefine state-of-the-art in laser frequency conversion, creating a new paradigm and placing Canada in a position of international leadership. The benefits of the proposed approach, along with the simplicity of the design and its implementation, attracted genuine interest and strong support from two leading Canadian companies that manufacture industrial laser systems: Passat Ltd. and Attodyne. Both companies will be actively involved in this project and are well positioned to commercialize the developed technology, which can generate multi-million revenues. Finally, the new knowledge generated from this project and the training of highly qualified personnel (two PhD students, four MSc students, six undergraduate summer students, and two postdoctoral fellows) associated with the different stages of this work will certainly contribute to enhance Canada's global competitiveness, especially in such strategically important high-technology manufacturing sectors as portable electronics, semiconductor and medical devices.
Program
Strategic Projects - Group
Recipient
Location
Manitoba, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
478949-2015
Name nom
Major, Arkady
Department département
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Organization id
19
Institution établissement
University of Manitoba
Province en
Manitoba
Province fr
Manitoba
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2016
Competition year année de concours
2015
Award amount
170500
Program id
STPGP
Program name en
Strategic Projects - Group
Program name fr
Projets stratégiques - De groupe
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
1569
Committee name en
Strategic Projects Selection Panel - Manufacturing
Committee name fr
Comité de sélection des projets stratégiques - Fabrication
Area of application code
515
Area of application group en
Manufacturing processes and products
Area of application group fr
Procédés et produits industriels
Area of application en
Instrumentation technology
Area of application fr
Technologie de l'instrumentation
Research subject code
3111
Research subject group en
Physics
Research subject group fr
Physique
Research subject en
Lasers
Research subject fr
Laser
Partie
2
Nb partie
3
Application title
Advanced techniques for efficient frequency conversion of laser radiation
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Laser material processing is widely used in semiconductor, portable electronics and medical device industries that have rapidly growing multi-billion dollar markets. High-precision laser processing typically requires pulsed (picosecond, 10^-12 s) radiation in the ultraviolet or visible wavelength ranges. Today such radiation is produced by frequency conversion of infrared laser radiation using nonlinear crystals with moderate efficiency. The goal of this Strategic project grant is to develop a new revolutionary frequency conversion technology that will overcome this challenge and increase conversion efficiency to >90%. The approach will be based on the fundamental properties of the autoresonance effect in nonlinear crystals which was recently observed by one of the applicants. This technology will make current laser systems several times more efficient. In addition, this technique is very robust and can be implemented using conventional nonlinear crystals in turn paving the way to many industrial laser material processing applications. The results of this project will redefine state-of-the-art in laser frequency conversion, creating a new paradigm and placing Canada in a position of international leadership. The benefits of the proposed approach, along with the simplicity of the design and its implementation, attracted genuine interest and strong support from two leading Canadian companies that manufacture industrial laser systems: Passat Ltd. and Attodyne. Both companies will be actively involved in this project and are well positioned to commercialize the developed technology, which can generate multi-million revenues. Finally, the new knowledge generated from this project and the training of highly qualified personnel (two PhD students, four MSc students, six undergraduate summer students, and two postdoctoral fellows) associated with the different stages of this work will certainly contribute to enhance Canada's global competitiveness, especially in such strategically important high-technology manufacturing sectors as portable electronics, semiconductor and medical devices.
