131923Development of Glass-based Saturable Absorber Q-Switch (Glass SAQS) technologyClosedFeasibility StudiesInnovate UKThis project will develop two novel, low cost ion-implantation techniques to integrate glass-based saturable-absorber ‘Q-switch’ (SAQS) functionality into a laser rod for 1.5 µm lasers (a market for which GMS has already developed a laser rod material). Both routes avoid the need for manufacturing a separate SAQS component, further costs and risk of module rework due to misalignment of components. Incorporation of the Q-switch into the laser rod also eliminates two of the high-cost antireflective coatings within the laser cavity (one on the laser rod, one on the Q-switch) & reduces the laser transmitter size.