Month: September 2025

The development of new ultrafast fiber laser systems

Applications of ultrafast fiber lasers

The development of ultrafast fiber laser systems over the past century has enabled a wide range of applications. Fiber laser technology is used in medical and industrial fields, from cancer diagnosis to 3D nanoprinting. Compact fiber laser modules are now making many tasks in everyday life easier.

Impact on everyday life

Advances in ultrafast fiber lasers have driven significant technical innovation. Scientists have improved the quality, lifetime, and cost of key components such as beam combiners, Bragg fiber filters, modulators, and detectors. Today, doped fibers for multimode pumping are commercially available, allowing single-mode output at higher powers. This technology supports high-power fiber laser systems used in industrial manufacturing.

Design and advantages of ultrafast fiber lasers

Ultrafast fiber lasers are now compact, often appearing as small black boxes. Manufacturers can easily integrate them into diverse devices. Their small size, rugged construction, and high reliability make them suitable for both industrial and medical applications. They also offer excellent stability.

Compactness and scalability

Fiber laser designs provide high gain while remaining compact. Even low-power ultrafast fiber lasers can serve as building blocks for higher-power systems and deliver output across multiple wavelengths.

Advances in two-photon microscopy

A recent German development applies ultrafast fiber lasers in two-photon microscopy using near-IR femtosecond pulses. This allows high-resolution imaging of human skin, known as multiphoton tomography. Earlier laser systems required water cooling, complex delivery arms, and were costly and bulky. Ultrafast fiber lasers simplify the operation, eliminating water cooling and allowing easy movement around a dermatology suite.

Technical challenges

The small diameter of the fiber core presents challenges in generating ultrafast optical pulses. Pulse energies must be carefully managed, balancing chromatic dispersion and nonlinear effects. A reliable starting mechanism is also essential for consistent performance.

Fiber laser technology in battery manufacturing

Growth of the battery manufacturing market

According to researchers, battery manufacturing has become a rapidly growing market, mainly driven by increased demand from the electric vehicle (EV) industry. Fiber laser manufacturers anticipate strong growth in integrating fiber laser technology into battery welding equipment, especially laser-based systems.

Fiber laser principles are applied in battery welding. While this is not a new application, its use surged with the growth of the EV industry.

Research and development in battery cell production

Researchers are currently developing efficient production centers for EV battery cells. They investigate how fiber laser technology can economically join dissimilar materials, improving the efficiency and reliability of battery manufacturing.

Projects on lithium-ion battery manufacturing

Several scientific projects explore fiber laser applications in battery production. One study focuses on optimizing lithium-ion battery manufacturing. Researchers designed a fiber laser system to join anodes (copper) and cathodes (aluminum) to contacts. Various fiber laser types were tested, and a turntable with multiple stations enabled a complete stack in just two seconds.

Efficient battery cell connections

Another project examines more efficient connections of battery cells. Scientists are developing processes for bonding copper, aluminum, and steel using nanosecond fiber lasers. These processes are challenging because thin electrical contacts are sensitive to heat. Low welding energy results in weak mechanical stability, while excessive energy can reduce battery lifespan. Striking the right balance is critical.

Experiments on different joint types

A third project tested copper-aluminum and copper-steel joints on pouch and cylindrical cells. The results showed joint quality comparable to continuous-wave (CW) welding, with lower energy consumption, high repeatability, and fewer intermetallic phases. The main drawback is longer processing time, highlighting areas for further improvement.

Fiber laser systems have broad applications, including battery manufacturing. They can combine CW and nanosecond pulsed fiber lasers, with separate control of the laser beam. Beyond joining, fiber lasers can also remove material to shape surfaces or create precise structures.

Fiber lasers application in the art world

Fiber lasers beyond science and industry

We all recognize the impact of fiber laser technology across various scientific fields. The precision of fiber laser beams has become essential in medicine, telecommunications, and more. Yet, few people are aware of their applications as artistic tools — and this isn’t about restoring old artworks through cleaning techniques.

Fiber lasers can cut intricate patterns in materials such as paper, wood, and metal. These patterns are highly resistant to harsh environments and chemical exposure. Researchers have leveraged these properties to develop a fiber laser system useful for artists and designers.

A research team in Russia recently created a fiber laser paintbrush. This tool enables designers to add, modify, or erase strokes on a titanium canvas with remarkable precision.

Creating colors with fiber lasers

Oxidation-based full-color palette

The device uses fiber laser-induced oxidation to produce a full spectrum of colors on stainless steel — no external pigments are required. The laser forms an oxide layer on the metal surface, with a specific thickness and chemical composition for each color. By carefully adjusting the laser parameters, researchers were able to control color development.

Erasing and rewriting colors

To modify or remove colors, the team designed a printer incorporating a nanosecond ytterbium fiber laser with a scanner to move the beam. Heating the titanium surface with the laser creates an oxide layer, generating colors. A second pass reduces brightness, and slight adjustments to intensity and scanning speed can fully erase the color.

The researchers demonstrated the system by creating several renowned art pieces. What would take traditional artists years to complete could be produced in just three minutes using the fiber laser system.

The team is working on a handheld version of the fiber laser system, allowing artists to use it more like a conventional pen or brush, increasing accessibility and creative freedom.

Main development challenges for multi kilowatt fiber lasers

Stimulated Raman scattering in multi-kilowatt fiber lasers

Definition and impact

According to scientists, stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) remains a development challenge for multi-kilowatt fiber lasers. To advance fiber laser technology toward higher-power systems while maintaining high-quality beams, manufacturers need to adopt effective SRS mitigation strategies.

Nonlinear phenomenon

Stimulated Raman scattering is a nonlinear effect. It occurs when the optical intensity exceeds a threshold value. Since a portion of the energy in the fiber laser is lost to SRS, this effect limits the achievable output power.

Optical feedback challenges

Causes and effects

Optical feedback reflected from the workpiece can lead to serious problems, such as fiber laser instabilities or damage to pump diodes. Instabilities in output power or beam quality can affect industrial processes and reduce product quality. Maintaining reliable and stable operation is essential for industrial fiber laser applications.

Transverse mode instability

Description of the effect

Even with progress in SRS management, the output power of single-mode fiber lasers rarely exceeds a few kilowatts. Transverse mode instability (TMI) is another nonlinear effect that impacts multi-kilowatt system development. TMI occurs suddenly when the average power threshold is reached, causing beam quality degradation.

Suppression and trade-offs

TMI has been studied for a long time, allowing researchers to develop effective suppression methods. However, reducing TMI can interfere with SRS suppression. Therefore, it is important to find a balance while considering reliability and technological limits.

Ongoing development and solutions

Power optimization

Fiber lasers can operate beyond the SRS threshold using current mitigation approaches. A comprehensive solution does not yet exist, so ongoing research continues to improve understanding and performance at multi-kilowatt levels. Challenges remain to achieve reliable, highly efficient industrial fiber lasers.

Fiber laser technology in providing marking traceability

Importance of laser marking for traceability

Laser marking has become a key tool for ensuring transparency and accuracy within the production chain. Modern fiber laser systems make it possible to mark components even before heat treatment and keep the marks clearly readable afterward. This breakthrough has completely transformed how industries approach product traceability.

Definition of traceability

Traceability refers to the ability to follow each component or finished product throughout every stage of the supply chain. While most marking methods lose their clarity during processing, fiber laser engraving maintains sharp, legible identifiers even after exposure to extreme temperatures or surface changes.

Advantages of fiber laser marking

Unlike traditional marking technologies, fiber lasers generate deep, high-contrast engravings that remain consistent despite deformation or heating. When a material expands and contracts under temperature changes, typical identifiers can blur or fade — but laser marks stay precise and easy to read.

Customization and reliability of fiber laser identifiers

Fiber laser equipment supports full customization: from adjusting mark size and layout to encoding individual production data. This flexibility ensures reliable identification for various industries — from aerospace to automotive manufacturing — while meeting strict quality standards.

Fiber laser construction and requirements

A fiber laser operates through a specially treated optical fiber infused with rare-earth elements. These dopants help convert low electrical input into concentrated light output. For durable markings, lasers usually work at 50–100 watts. Stable environmental conditions also play a role: high IP protection prevents moisture and dust from interfering with performance, maintaining accuracy during long-term use.

Etching quality and information retention

Fiber laser etching creates finely detailed marks with well-defined spacing between engraved elements. Because of this precision, information remains intact even after heat treatment or wear, allowing each item to store identification data throughout its life cycle.

Efficiency in the supply chain

Fiber laser marking allows unique product identification without interrupting production flow. It integrates smoothly into automated lines and helps manufacturers maintain traceability standards across all stages of production.

Fiber laser as a pulverizer of kidney stones

New fiber laser technology in lithotripsy

Dusting kidney stones with super-pulsed fiber lasers

A health organization in the USA tested a newly developed fiber laser capable of turning kidney stones into dust-like particles. This technology allows specialists to reduce even large kidney stones to tiny particles, which can then be suctioned or flushed from the patient’s body. The super-pulsed fiber laser targets the water within the stones, transforming a stone the size of a thumb into particles of 100 microns or less.

Rising need for effective kidney stone treatments

Statistics show that the number of Americans with kidney stones has doubled in recent years. More than 10% of the population has experienced a kidney stone at some point. This growing prevalence has driven scientists to seek more effective treatment techniques, including fiber laser systems.

Advantages of fiber lasers over traditional lasers

Thulium fiber laser vs. holmium laser

As fiber laser technology has advanced, it has been applied in lithotripsy to break up stones without the need for incisions. A specialist can use a fiber laser to precisely locate and fragment stones. Compared to traditional lasers, the thulium fiber laser can split kidney stones into particles 10 times smaller than those produced by a standard holmium laser. Smaller particles are easier to remove.

Improved clearance and patient outcomes

Research shows that a holmium laser clears about 50%–60% of stone fragments, while a thulium fiber laser can clear over 90%. Clinically, this technology has the potential to make procedures less painful and costly than surgical removal. With the fiber laser system, there are no incisions and minimal risk of complications such as bleeding or infection. Patients also do not require an overnight hospital stay.

Future developments and surgical innovations

Researchers are now developing a sensing device to prevent ureter injury during stone surgery. This device will be used with the thulium fiber laser. Combined, these technologies have demonstrated 94% clearance rates. Both innovations contribute to the evolution of surgery and improved quality of life for patients.

The development of the unique soliton fiber laser

Global importance of fiber laser technology

Fiber laser technology is an advanced field of modern science, with researchers from various countries actively developing new solutions. Last year, scientists in Russia demonstrated a newly developed and successfully tested soliton fiber laser.

Russian researchers highlighted that fiber lasers are fundamentally important for scientific progress worldwide. Fiber lasers with high pulse repetition rates are particularly in demand in photonics, a promising counterpart to electronics.

Unique features of the soliton fiber laser

Double pulse stabilization and compact design

The newly developed soliton fiber laser features double pulse stabilization, compactness, reliability, and convenient laser beam delivery. Its design relies on fiber optics, which allow part of the energy to be emitted into the laser cavity. Double synchronization aligns the phases of longitudinal waves, producing ultra-short, powerful pulses. After several radiation cycles, the pulses form stable solitons.

High-frequency pulses and pulse train quality

Due to double stabilization, scientists developed a fiber laser that combines high-frequency pulses with a high-quality pulse train. The design uses nonlinear polarization rotation and frequency shift effects generated by an optical modulator. This allows harmonic synchronization of longitudinal waves in any generation mode. The next goal is to further enhance the fiber laser’s performance.

Fiber laser history and applications

Development milestones

Since the creation of the first fiber laser, the technology has proven highly effective across multiple fields. For example, fiber lasers revolutionized ophthalmology just three years after their introduction. At each stage, challenges were addressed in medicine, industry, quantum computing, fundamental science, and more. Today, fiber laser systems have a wide range of applications.

New types of fiber lasers continuously open up unique and previously unforeseen applications. Advancements in fiber laser technology play a key role in scientific and applied research success.

Fiber laser technology in optimizing 3D printing

Importance of fiber laser technology in Industry 4.0

Science has always aimed to develop more efficient fiber laser technology for manufacturing. This technology is a crucial element of the new industrial revolution, Industry 4.0. One key aspect is ultrafast fiber lasers, which allow processes to be performed at high speeds. 3D printing is one field where ultrafast fiber lasers can be effectively applied.

German scientists are demonstrating how 3D-printed components can be welded with a fiber laser. Their goal is to create an expert system to optimize additive manufacturing processes. The printed units can subsequently be welded using a fiber laser.

Challenges in fiber laser transmission welding

Fiber laser transmission welding is already recognized as an industrial joining process for plastic components. However, 3D-printed components present a challenge due to cavities and boundary layers that prevent uniform weld creation. Components may appear identical externally but have different internal structures. Researchers aim to design a fiber laser system with unified process knowledge, eliminating the need for detailed analysis of each component for welding.

For fiber laser welding, researchers are studying fused deposition modeling, where thin strands of molten plastic are layered sequentially. The developing fiber laser system will provide data on the material, layer thickness, and other factors, ensuring maximum laser beam permeability.

Measuring transmission for process control

The research team is developing a method to measure transmission with spatial resolution, identifying points where the laser beam passes through and other critical factors. This information will be used to control the fiber laser welding process. The system can adjust fiber laser power: increasing it where transmission is low and decreasing it where transmission is high.

Welding different thermoplastics with fiber lasers

Fiber laser transmission welding can join units made from different thermoplastics. For example, a transparent and a non-transparent plastic component can be welded together. The laser passes through the transparent part and is absorbed by the non-transparent part, converting light into thermal energy. This melts the plastic in the joining area, forming a weld seam.

The newly developed fiber laser design simplifies the optimization of manufacturing processes for enterprises.

High power ultrafast lasers and thermal lensing

Applications and advantages of high-power ultrafast lasers

High-power ultrafast lasers have diverse applications due to their short pulse durations and high peak powers. Ultrafast lasers are used in materials processing, medical fiber lasers, microscopy, and more. These fiber lasers offer high power, but the technology is sensitive to effects like thermal lensing.

Thermal lensing in ultrafast lasers

Thermal lensing occurs in ultrafast laser gain media, especially at higher power levels. It significantly limits beam quality and output power. Thermal lensing reduces ultrafast laser performance and can disrupt mode-locking and pulse generation. In high-power systems, it can cause system failure and introduce astigmatism in the laser cavity. Ultrafast lasers operate in continuous-wave (CW) mode for cavity alignment, then switch to pulsed mode for use. Thermal lensing can interfere with this operation.

Methods to minimize thermal lensing

If pulsed beams are affected, ultrafast lasers become ineffective. However, several strategies can manipulate the thermal properties of gain media to prevent thermal lensing. One approach is using proper dispersive mirror coatings. Highly dispersive intracavity mirrors help minimize thermal lensing effects.

These advancements allow the production of high-power ultrafast lasers with intracavity optics that minimize thermal effects. The technology stabilizes beam quality and pulse compression while reducing harmful thermal effects.

Development of ultrafast mirrors

Highly dispersive ultrafast mirrors have been developed to maintain reflectivity and pulse compression while minimizing thermal effects, achieved through precise coating techniques. Some ultrafast laser systems do not need this technology, as thermal lensing is not significant in low-average-power lasers or systems without a solid-state cavity. However, high-power solid-state ultrafast lasers benefit greatly from thermal-lensing reduction.

Ultrafast lasers provide new biological capabilities

The first ultrafast laser was created in the 1970s. However, their development for various applications continues. This article highlights some recent advances related to ultrafast lasers.

Femtosecond lasers and biological applications

Interaction with living cells

The specific characteristics of femtosecond lasers allow scientists to interact with biological material by modifying cell functions individually. Ultrafast lasers produce short pulses that transfer energy to electrons before they interact with the environment. For instance, an electron can absorb energy from two photons before losing it while interacting with other electrons. This feature helps scientists manipulate living cells.

Microfabrication advantages

Ultrafast lasers reduce heat transfer, allowing material ablation without melting. As a result, scientists achieve a clean microfabrication process. By focusing the beam on an area a few microns wide, electrons can be excited with two low-energy photons. This occurs only under high intensity and localized interaction with the material.

Microstructures for biological studies

Scientists have developed ultrafast lasers that create microstructures for biological studies and can modify the behavior of living cells.

Ultrafast lasers in molecular imaging

High-speed X-ray imaging

A research team from China used ultrafast lasers to capture the first molecular films. They fired an intense beam of light at samples to take X-ray photos. Their developed cameras are one billion times faster, making it possible to record the fastest processes, such as chemical reactions.

Molecular movies and global optimization

This invention enables researchers to create the first molecular movies. The team plans to continue optimizing the new fiber laser system and make it accessible to global users.

State-of-the-art ultrafast laser systems

Fiber laser pulses and material analysis

This new fiber laser system, based on an ultrafast laser, represents state-of-the-art fiber laser technology. It produces pulses with identical photons and detects small structural changes in materials. Tests were conducted using the “water window,” a spectral range where photons are absorbed by carbon but not by oxygen. Water is more transparent to X-rays, while elements like carbon strongly interact with them. Coherent ultrafast pulses allowed scientists to capture X-ray images of molecules and atoms.

Implications for science and technology

Both technologies aim to uncover fundamental processes in materials, technology, and living organisms. They will also lead to new discoveries in fiber laser technology.