Day: September 17, 2025

Fiber lasers promote quantum tech in a space environment

Role of fiber lasers in cold atom experiments

Atom experiments carried out by the International Space Station require many preparations; hence, integrated fiber laser systems are very important for this mission. Researchers plan to perform a cold atom experiment out of the laboratory and into microgravity.

Requirements for space-grade fiber lasers

These plans require significant enhancements in these areas: laser systems, optics, and electronics. These fiber lasers must be small and withstand the environmental conditions of a satellite launch. Consequently, fiber laser systems are regarded as highly promising for space missions involving cold atom experiments.

German developments and partnerships

Laser systems used for cooling and trapping have been presented by German researchers. Their partners promote fiber laser integration, while others provide electronics and other laser modules. They use micro-integrated diode laser systems that are installed at the center for trapping and cooling atoms.

Diode-laser module specifications

Additionally, “a standard diode-laser module as developed at FBH delivers more than 1 W at 780 nm out of a 40 g module.” The fiber laser system has already been tested and demonstrated a long lifetime of 100,000 h mean-time-to-failure. The laser system can withstand extreme temperature changes ( -55° to 85°C).

Advancing microgravity experiments

These diode-laser modules promote the development of complex fiber lasers for various experiments in microgravity. Laser systems with an external cavity offer a high level of spectral purity and stability. This type of fiber laser is installed in a master-oscillator-power-amplifier.

Wavelength tuning and versatility

It is possible to tune different wavelengths of these laser modules. Thus, they are widely used in a series of missions. The success of the whole experiment depends on the design and production of reliable, compact, and complex fiber laser systems.

Implementation in small satellites

This experiment is very promising. It is necessary to install several fiber lasers, the required optics, and control electronics for a significantly complex system. Moreover, they can be applied in smaller satellites. Such an integrated laser system includes a rubidium vapor cell for cold atom experiments.
The combination of fiber laser systems with an optical frequency comb allows applying them in small and simple vapor-cell-based clocks. The application of complex fiber laser technology, as well as monochromatic systems, advances the step-wise qualification of cold-atom experiments for space flights.

A newly developed self-cooling fiber laser

Overview of the self-cooling fiber laser

The researchers from the UK produced a self-cooling fiber laser. This fiber laser is based on a silica fiber laser design. The scientists are going to create fiber laser-based devices that could achieve exceptional purity and frequency stability. That will allow avoiding the necessity of external cooling, for example, using a water-based cooling system.

Applications of silica fiber laser modules

A self-cooling fiber laser with a silica fiber laser module can be applied for the development of progressive fiber laser systems. These fiber laser systems are useful for low-power, high-precision metrology and information transportation.

Mechanism of self-cooling

The cooling was successfully achieved when the researchers decreased the energy level of the light. The tests’ results demonstrate that the silica fiber laser module gets colder upon light excitation. The scientists also used anti-Stokes fluorescence to achieve cooling. This means the addition of a rare-earth ion to the fiber laser module. The ion absorbs the light from the laser beam and then produces it at a higher energy level. As a result, the fiber laser module temperature is getting lower.

Challenges in self-cooling

The process is a complicated task because of the ytterbium that is usually taken during the test. Ytterbium ions can take in impurity and release heat energy. This process is called “concentration quenching”. The researchers created a glass composition with the necessary quantity of ytterbium for the experiment to avoid this effect.

Stability and performance improvements

The light frequency and its power were more stable because there were no changes in the temperature of the self-cooling of the fiber laser design. That helped to preserve the cooling effect.

Testing results and potential applications

The tests prove that the fiber laser system is capable of supporting high-power and large-scale laser applications in terms of increasing performance efficiency. There were also developed two additional silica fiber laser applications. The scientists intensified the laser beam at the same time, preserving the negative average temperature change.

Future improvements

According to the researchers who developed these constructions, there is still a lot to improve in the future. The extraction percentage, as well as the level of efficiency, is at a low level. That’s why this newly developed technology can’t be implemented and needs some time for adoption for high-power laser applications.

The growing potential of fiber lasers

Overview of fiber laser applications

Since the end of the last century, fiber lasers have been considered to be elements of different scientific directions, starting from the telecom market and ending with the medical procedure market. They are widely used in a variety of advanced and scientific laser applications.

Key features driving popularity

Different wavelength ranges, short pulse durations, nonreactivity to environmental conditions, small size, and other important factors of fiber laser designs play a crucial role in their popularity among the scientific and government communities. Fiber laser technology often solves problems that other modern technologies can not. Industrial fiber lasers are found in manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, transport, consumer devices, and other industries.

Evolution of fiber laser usage

From the very beginning, when the fiber lasers were implemented, they were in great demand for the processing of metals. Now they are applied for 3D printing, surface cleaning and modification, and many microprocessing methods of a great variety of materials.

Advantages of modern fiber laser modules

Fiber laser modules can provide higher output powers and laser beams of good quality. They encourage efficient energy consumption, resistance to vibration, and environmental conditions. That’s why it’s no wonder they make a fast return on investment.

Revolution in fiber laser technology

The first fiber lasers were mostly ineffective. But then new methods of delivering the pump light into the cladding were discovered. These methods allowed making fiber lasers more powerful and showing their true potential. It was a revolution in fiber laser systems, and the new era began. As a result of this revolution, fiber laser modules were adapted to mass production.

Future potential and reliability

Fiber lasers proved to be a reliable and powerful instrument for different applications. They are present in a wide range of different scientific spheres and directions. However, they still have a great development potential that continues to grow.