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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/L01243X/1
Title: UV light sources based on solid silica fibres
Principal Investigator: Brambilla, Professor G
Other Investigators:
Richardson, Professor DJ Sahu, Professor J
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Fianium Ltd Renishaw
Department: Optoelectronics Research Ctr (closed)
Organisation: University of Southampton
Scheme: Standard Research
Starts: 30 April 2014 Ends: 29 October 2017 Value (£): 419,560
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Lasers & Optics Manufacturing Machine & Plant
Optical Devices & Subsystems
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Manufacturing Communications
Information Technologies
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
24 Oct 2013 EPSRC ICT Responsive Mode - Oct 2013 Announced
Summary on Grant Application Form
Optical fibre lasers offer significant benefits in comparison to other laser sources, such as extremely low thermal lensing, extraordinary good beam quality and very high plug efficiency. Optical fibre lasers have worldwide sales in excess of $300M and a predicted annual growth rate of 20-40%, thus are rapidly replacing other types of more conventional lasers. Indeed, the increasing deployment of high power fibre lasers in manufacturing has improved consumption efficiency.

Up to date only near-IR sources have been manufactured in fiberized forms. The challenge is to develop new fiberized sources in the mid-UV. The successful manufacture of optical fibre lasers would have numerous applications which include, amongst others, water purification, insulators (such as plastics or glass) marking and processing, explosive detection, forensics and counter measures.

This projects aim to demonstrate the possibility to use solid silica fibres to efficiently generate light in the UV. The proposed programme spans from the manufacture of specialty silica fibres transparent to the UV, doped with novel lasing elements, the design of fiberized laser pumps, and their combination in suitable systems to produce a new generation of affordable higher performance lasers.

A variety of lasers with wavelength in the range 170nm to 330 nm will be developed and their applications in Raman spectroscopy and supercontinuum generation will be investigated.
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Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.soton.ac.uk