Scientific Lasers
Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy
Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, also known as LIBS, uses a high energy laser pulse focused onto a material to create a plasma at its surface. As the plasma cools, it emits a light that can be analyzed to determine the constituents of the material.
The MK367 was specially designed for this application.
Plasma Studies
High-energy pulsed solid-state lasers are useful for both plasma generation and research. Like LIBS, plasma can be created by focusing an intense laser pulse to a material. Once created, researchers are able to study the plasma formation, temperature, emission and dynamics.
Nonlinear Optics
High peak power lasers are commonly used in conjunction with nonlinear optics. Using different optical materials can generate different wavelengths or properties of light. In the lasers that MegaWatt Lasers builds, typical items include harmonic generation, frequency doubling, Raman shifting and optical patametric oscillation.
Optical Amplifiers
Flashlamp pumped lasers are often used as optical amplifiers to increase the energy of a laser pulse generated by another source. Sources could include flashlamp pumped lasers, diode pumped lasers, fiber lasers, etc. A lower energy seed pulse passes through the gain medium and extracts stored energy, creating a much more energetic pulse than is generated by the seed laser alone.
Pump Source for Other Lasers
High-energy solid-state lasers can act as pump sources for other lasers. The concentrated optical energy can excite other gain media or drive wavelength-conversion devices such as optical parametric oscillators (OPOs).
Archaeology
Laser technology is used in multiple different areas for archaeology. Techniques such as LIBS can characterize pigments, metals, ceramics, stone, etc. Laser processing methods can also be used to clean and conserve materials. Additionally, LIDAR techniques have used to find ruins through thick foliage.
Agricultural Lasers
Flashlamp pumped lasers have been used for a variety of agricultural techniques such as soil analysis, weed management, plant monitoring and elemental characterization. When combined with machine vision and automated positioning, laser technology can support targeted agricultural processes.
Laser Ignition of Spark Plugs
Laser ignition uses a focused laser pulse to generate a small plasma within a combustible mixture. This creates an alternative to conventional electrical sparks. Laser ignition has been studied for internal-combusion engines, gas turbines, aerospace propulsion and combusion research.
Automotive and Aerospace Lasers
Pulsed solid-state lasers canbe used for a variety of different applications. Autonomous and self-driving cars use LIDAR and three-dimensional ranging to determine distance and positions of vehicles and obstacles. High energy lasers are also used for material processing, combusion diagnostics, LIDAR, etc. Some lasers have even been fired at retroreflectors on the moon!