Smart Fibre Optics High-Power Photonics (HiPPo)

Lead Research Organisation: University of Southampton
Department Name: Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC)

Abstract

Standard multi-kW fibre lasers are now considered 'commodity' routinely produced by multiple manufacturers worldwide and are widely used in the most advanced production lines for cutting, welding, 3D printing and marking a myriad of materials from glass to steel. The ability to precisely control the properties of the output laser beam and to focus it on the workpiece makes high-power fibre lasers (HPFLs) indispensable to transform manufacturing through adaptable digital technologies. As we enter the Digital Manufacturing/Industry 4.0 era, new challenges and opportunities for HPFLs are emerging. Modern product life-cycles have never been shorter, requiring increased manufacturing flexibility. With disruptive technologies like additive manufacturing moving into the mainstream, and traditional subtractive techniques requiring new degrees of freedom and accuracy, we expect to move away from fixed, 'fit-for-all' beams to 'on-the-flight' dynamically reconfigurable 'shaped light' with extensive range of beam shapes, shape frequency and sequencing, as well as 3D focus steering. It is also conceivable that the future factory floor will get 'smarter', undergoing a rapid evolution from dedicated static laser stations to robotic flexible/reconfigurable floorplans, which will require 'smart photon delivery' over long distances to the workpiece. Such a disruptive transition requires a new advanced generation of flexible laser tools suitable for the upcoming 4th industrial revolution.

Light has four characteristic properties, namely wavelength, polarization, intensity, and phase. In addition, use of optical fibres enables accurate control and shaping in the spatial domain through a variety of well-guided modes. Invariably, all photonic devices function by manipulating some of these properties. Despite their acclaimed success, so far HPFLs are used rather primitively as single-channel, single colour, mostly unpolarised and unshaped, raw power providers and remain at a relatively early stage (stage I) of their potential for massive scalability and functionality. Moreover, further progress in fibre laser power scaling, beam stability and efficiency is hindered by the onset of deleterious nonlinearities. On the other hand, the other unique attributes, such as extended 'colour palette', extensively controllable polarisation and beam shaping on demand, as well as massive 'parallelism' through accurate phase control remain largely unexplored. Use of these characteristics is inherent and comes natural to fibre technology and can add unprecedented functionality to a next generation of 'smart photon engines' and 'smart photon pipes' in a stage II of development.

This PG will address the stage II challenges, confront the science and technology roadblocks, seek innovative solutions, and unleash the full potential of HPFLs as advanced manufacturing tools. Our aim is to revolutionise manufacturing by developing the next generation of reconfigurable, scalable, resilient, power efficient, disruptive 'smart' fibre laser tools for the upcoming Digital Manufacturing era.

Research for the next generation of manufacturing tools, like in HiPPo PG, that will drive economic growth should start now to make the UK global leaders in agile laser manufacturing - enabling sustainable, resource efficient high-value manufacturing across sectors from aerospace, to food, to medtech devices and automotive. In this way the UK can repatriate manufacturing, rebalance the economy, create high added-value jobs, and promote the green agenda through efficient manufacturing. It will also enhance our defence sovereign capability, as identified by the Prime Minister in the Integrated Review statement to the House of Commons in November 2020.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description EPSRC/MOD Energy Transfer Technologies - Skills and Training Hub
Amount £9,500,000 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/Y029240/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2023 
End 10/2029
 
Description Novel fibre fabrication techniques
Amount £105,000 (GBP)
Organisation Fibercore 
Sector Private
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2023 
End 09/2027
 
Description Power extraction efficiency optimisation in cladding-pumped high power fibre laser oscillators and amplifiers
Amount £40,000 (GBP)
Organisation Trumpf 
Sector Private
Country Germany
Start 08/2023 
End 08/2027
 
Description High power laser beam shaping for silicon dicing 
Organisation Samsung
Country Korea, Republic of 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution provided special add-on circular-core fibre to turn a Gaussian output beam to Bessel beam suitable for silicon dicing
Collaborator Contribution Samsung Display provided the silicon wafers and the know-how of silicon dicing
Impact special beam shaper fabrication
Start Year 2023
 
Description BBC Radio 5 The Naked Scientists Podcast 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact 'Question of the Week': This involves getting an expert to answer a listener's question within about two minutes/200 words. Answered a question from a listener: "Can a laser be deflected? If there were a scenario where you wanted to direct a laser towards something but the moon got in the way so you need to somehow get the laser beam beyond the moon."
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/questions/can-you-bend-laser-around-moon
 
Description HiPPo Industry Day 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact 70 people attended an Industry Day held at the University of Southampton to connect with leading researchers and industry experts in the field of high-power photonics. The event was organised and presented by members of the HiPPo project team.
Invitations were disseminated via industry networks, drawing participation from 19 companies nationwide.
The day started with presentations to an assembly of industry contacts, PhD students, and advisory board members, offering an introduction to the project and sharing the progress and findings to date. Subsequent to the presentations, attendees engaged in a poster session and were offered guided tours of the University's state-of-the-art cleanrooms and research facilities. The presentations and poster session served as a platform for interactive dialogue, enabling attendees to find out about the initial year's results and explore potential collaborative ventures. The feedback received has been unanimously favourable, prompting plans for a subsequent event in 2025.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Webinar on "Power Scaling in High Power Fiber Amplifiers" OPTICA Technical Group of Lasers in Manufacturing 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact a total of 125 people attended the webinar, followed by a number of questions related to the fibre laser technologies and breakthroughs.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023