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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/N34192/01
Title: ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS OF NEW TYPES OF HIGH POWER UV GOLD VAPOUR LASERS
Principal Investigator: Webb, Professor C
Other Investigators:
Coutts, Professor D
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Oxford Lasers Ltd Teledyne UK Ltd
Department: Oxford Physics
Organisation: University of Oxford
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 October 2000 Ends: 30 September 2003 Value (£): 93,909
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Lasers & Optics
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Manufacturing Electronics
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
Gold vapour lasers (GVLs) simultaneously produce both red (627.8nm) and UV (312.3nm) outputs which are well matched to several engineering applications of industrial importance. The GVL is an ideal laser for industrial via hole drilling as the red and UV outputs are suitable for precision micromachining of metals and polymers respectively. The red output operates at pulse repetition rates exceeding those of the more common copper vapour laser (CVL); thus extending the range high speed imaging applications for which the CVL is extensively used. The UV output is suitable for writing Bragg gratings in optical fibres without requiring the fibre to be stripped and hence weakened. Deep UV (208 nm) may be obtained by frequency mixing/trippling the GVL outputs. Such deep UV is required for high speed micromachining of some polymers and has advantages for fibre Bragg grating fabrication.We propose to develop a compact GVL with high power and beam quality in the fundamental and harmonic wavelengths and d emonstrate its use in all of the above industrial applications. Several major recent advances in CVL technology will be implemented in the new generation GVLs, namely; magnetic pulse compression excitation circuits; kinetic enhancement techniques; and new plasma tube designs and materials.
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Organisation Website: http://www.ox.ac.uk