Hollow antiresonant fibres for visible and ultraviolet beam delivery

Lead Research Organisation: Heriot-Watt University
Department Name: Sch of Engineering and Physical Science

Abstract

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Description We have developed a much better understanding of the guidance mechanism of light in these novel types of optical fibre, and shown how the guidance is affected when the fibre is manipulated e.g. by bending. We have also demonstrated the fibre's capability of delivering a combination of very high peak power and high average power laser light, that would result in damage in a standard optical fibre. This has been demonstrated both in a university research lab and on an an industrial laser micromachining system at the premises of one of our industrial partners.
Exploitation Route We had five industrial collaborators involved in the project and each of these is currently considering exploitation routes, in one case via further funding to Heriot-Watt. The project has included experiments at 3 of our industrial partners' facilities. Some issues remain to be solved however, in particular with respect to preservation of polarisation through these fibres.
Sectors Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology

 
Description We have demonstrated the application of the optical fibres developed in the course of this project on an industrial laser micro-machining system, to pattern large area substrates, simplifying the current laser beam delivery system. Further laser beam delivery work was subsequently undertaken with additional funding from one of the other industrial partners, and fibre delivery demonstrated with different laser sources.
First Year Of Impact 2017
Sector Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology
Impact Types Economic

 
Description EPSRC Adventurous Manufacturing
Amount £250,000 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/T005076/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 07/2019 
End 06/2021
 
Description U-care: Deep ultraviolet light therapies
Amount £6,132,366 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/T020903/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2021 
End 12/2025
 
Description Industrial contribution to project 
Organisation Atomic Weapons Establishment
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We have worked with AWE-Orion laser to test the Anti0Resonant Guiding optical fibres for an application within Orion Laser.
Collaborator Contribution They have provided access to a laser system for testing, and varied out additional testing themselves and provided us with the useful results.
Impact None as yet
Start Year 2016
 
Description Industry contribution to project 
Organisation M-Solv
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We have worked with M-Solv to test the Anti-Resonant Guiding optical fibres in a real industrial laser machining system
Collaborator Contribution They have provided access to a laser machining system for testing, and provided the requisite engineering support that has led to useful results.
Impact We demonstrated that the fibre developed during the project could be used in a real industrial machining environment.
Start Year 2016
 
Description AWE UK/US visit 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact AWE UK/US visit, Presentations, lab visit and exhibition of demonstrators
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Invited Talk, China, LPM2016 Microstructured optical fibres provide flexible delivery of high power ultrashort laser pulses for micromachining - Duncan P Hand 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Invited talk led to discussion on possible future collaborations
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Joanna Cherry MP, tweet re HWU and photonics industry 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Joanna Cherry MP, tweet re HWU and photonics industry
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Joint Meeting with Selex and local HWU MP Joanna Cherry QC - Duncan Hand 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact To highlight the importance of university STEM research such as CIM-Laser are essential support for high technology companies such as Selex
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description LPM2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact LPM 2018, first time event had been held in Scotland
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Lab tour 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Manufacturing department monthly tour
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Laser Munich 2017 - conference participation - requested speaker 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Laser Munich 2017 - conference participation - requested speaker Rainer Beck
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Meeting and lab tour 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Lab tour - Prof. Peihua Gu (Vice Chancellor, Shantou University)
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Public lecture hosted by the Royal Scottish Society of Arts 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Public lecture hosted by the Royal Scottish Society for the Arts, on 26 March 2018
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.rssa.org.uk/20180326.shtml
 
Description Short video (New generation optical fibres) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Video uploaded to youtube with links from university webpages. Also used to show to visitors

Clear interest and relevant questions asked by visitors who viewed this video.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q444fcUD0BU
 
Description UK Launch Event -Lasers for Productivity, A National Strategy 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact UK Launch Event -Lasers for Productivity, A National Strategy, led in Portcullis House, Westminster and attended by industrial partners and MP's and hosted by AILU
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Visit by Fiona Dennison to CIM-Laser/Duncan Hand (HWU) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Visit by Fiona Dennison to CIM-Laser/Duncan Hand (HWU). Promotion and possible new funding opportunity
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Visit by Joanna Cherry MP 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Visit by Joanna Cherry MP Promotion of the CIM LbPP
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Visit by Ruth Meyer - Universities of Scotland 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Visit by Ruth Meyer - Universities of Scotland
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Visit by the Hammermen of Edinburgh 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Visit by the Hammermen of Edinburgh
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Visitors from Petronas Group, Malaysia 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Presentations and lab visit
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description visit by ex KTN colleague 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Visit by Anke Lohmann - AnchoredIn
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description visit by funding body EPSRC 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Visit by EPSRC Engineering Team to HWU
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018