Intense Signs Contract with European Space Agency for Laser Diode Arrays
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Development program applies new technology to reach previously unattainable efficiency levels at 808nm
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http://www.intenseco.com/corporate/video.asp
Glasgow, Scotland -- 27 August 2007 -- Intense Ltd., the developer of next generation semiconductor lasers, today announced a new R&D contract with the European Space Agency (Noordwijk, Netherlands). Called PULSAR (PUmp Laser Stacks with Aerospace Reliability), the contract is for the development of reliable, high power, high efficiency laser diode arrays for solid-state laser pumping applications in space. The focus of the PULSAR program is to improve both the reliability and efficiency of laser diode stacks at 808nm wavelength. The arrays will target a power of 1.2kW under pulsed operation with an electro-optical conversion efficiency of 65%, a value unachievable with existing technology.
The increased efficiency of the new laser diode arrays will enable considerable power savings aboard space vehicles and will reduce heat removal requirements because a smaller fraction of the input energy will be converted into heat. The pumping efficiency of solid-state lasers can be increased further if the array's emission spectrum is narrowed and stabilized using volume Bragg gratings. Their integration with the laser diode arrays will be assessed in cooperation with a US manufacturer.
The high efficiency laser arrays will be manufactured to a demanding lifetime specification of 12 billion shots in a space environment. Intense's patented Quantum Well Intermixing (QWI) technology, which allows passive waveguides to be created near the laser diode's mirrors, will ensure the device is more robust against radiation damage.
"QWI technology is particularly suited to space-borne applications as it produces laser diodes with increased radiation hardness," stated Professor John Marsh, Ph.D., CTO of Intense Ltd. "We are optimistic we can achieve these ambitious targets based on the success of the DARPA-funded SHEDS initiative in the US, where laser efficiency was improved by over 20% at longer wavelengths. Once developed, the PULSAR opportunity will enable further advances in Intense's capabilities at 808nm, benefiting the entire HERMES high power laser products family."
"The European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), a division of the European Space Agency, is anxious to improve the efficiency and reliability of laser array pumps in future satellite missions," stated Dr. Michael Jost, ESTEC's Technical Officer in charge of the current contract. "There is a steady increase in the number of payloads incorporating powerful laser sources for applications such as atmospheric sensing, altimetry or optical communication - to name just a few. Enhancing the reliability and efficiency of pump laser diodes will enable a reduction in the implementation of redundancy and allow for an extended operational lifetime of the payload."
The PULSAR program will run for 2.5 years with research results to be published in leading industry journals and at technical conferences.
About Intense
Intense Ltd., headquartered in Glasgow, UK, is a leading provider of single and multimode monolithic laser array products and high power laser diodes. The company's patented innovations in Quantum Well Intermixing (QWI) and Asymmetric Waveguides (AW) generate uniquely high power, brightness, and reliability. This, combined with state-of-the-art, high volume manufacturing facilities in the UK and US, delivers unsurpassed product quality and value to customers in the print and imaging, defense, industrial, display, and medical markets. For more information, visit www.intenseco.com.
For further information, contact:
Chris Baker,
VP Sales & Marketing
Intense Ltd.
4 Stanley Blvd,
Hamilton Intl Technology Park Blantyre,
Glasgow G72 0BN UK
+44 (0) 1698 827000
Email: chris_baker@intenseco.com
Web: www.intenseco.com
US Contact:
Kevin Laughlin,
VP Sales North America
Intense-HPD
1200A Airport Road
North Brunswick,
NJ 08902 USA
(917) 657 0587
Email: kevin_laughlin@intenseco.com
Web: www.intenseco.com
PR Office:
Shari Worthington, President
Telesian Technology Inc.
49 Midgley Lane
Worcester, MA 01604 USA
(508) 755 5242
Email: sharilee@telesian.com
