Advanced techniques for efficient frequency conversion of laser radiation

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Laser material processing is widely used in semiconductor, portable electronics and medical device industries that have rapidly growing multi-billion dollar markets. High-precision laser processing typically requires pulsed (picosecond, 10^-12 s) radiation in the ultraviolet or visible wavelength ranges. Today such radiation is produced by frequency conversion of infrared laser radiation using nonlinear crystals with moderate efficiency. The goal of this Strategic project grant is to develop a new revolutionary frequency conversion technology that will overcome this challenge and increase conversion efficiency to >90%. The approach will be based on the fundamental properties of the autoresonance effect in nonlinear crystals which was recently observed by one of the applicants. This technology will make current laser systems several times more efficient. In addition, this technique is very robust and can be implemented using conventional nonlinear crystals in turn paving the way to many industrial laser material processing applications. The results of this project will redefine state-of-the-art in laser frequency conversion, creating a new paradigm and placing Canada in a position of international leadership. The benefits of the proposed approach, along with the simplicity of the design and its implementation, attracted genuine interest and strong support from two leading Canadian companies that manufacture industrial laser systems: Passat Ltd. and Attodyne. Both companies will be actively involved in this project and are well positioned to commercialize the developed technology, which can generate multi-million revenues. Finally, the new knowledge generated from this project and the training of highly qualified personnel (two PhD students, four MSc students, six undergraduate summer students, and two postdoctoral fellows) associated with the different stages of this work will certainly contribute to enhance Canada's global competitiveness, especially in such strategically important high-technology manufacturing sectors as portable electronics, semiconductor and medical devices.