Laser Applications Conference Panels

 

Brittle Materials Processing

Organizer: Stuart McLean, Coherent Corp., USA

Brittle materials pose a significant challenge to mechanical machining.  Lasers have a unique advantage in processing a variety of brittle materials as their wavelengths and pulse durations can be tailored to optimize the material interaction.  Brittle materials such as Glass, Sapphire, Silicon, SiC and Diamond are increasingly benefitting from laser processing.  Unique laser cutting, drilling, selective etching and polishing methods are lowering the cost of machining these materials at unprecedented accuracy. Lasers are finding increased adoption in this application as the available pulse energy and speed of processing scales to be more cost effective.

Invited Speakers:

Astrid Sassmannshausen, Fraunhofer Inst for Laser Technology ILT, Germany

Mareike Shaefer, Inst für Oberflächen-und Schichtanalytik, Germany

 

EUV, X-Ray Generation & Particle Acceleration

Organizer: Lahsen Assoufid, Argonne National Laboratory, USA

The rapid progress in extreme-power laser technology opened a path to the development of a new generation of small-scale EUV, X-ray and Gamma-ray light sources with unprecedented brightness and short pulses. These sources, which could fit on a tabletop or in a small-scale laboratory, will revolutionize many industrial, research, medical, defense and security applications. This session focuses on the latest developments, needs and challenges in high-power laser technologies tailored to methods for short (EUV, X- and Gamma-ray) wavelength generation and particle acceleration.

 

Fusion Energy

Organizer: Vincent Issier, MKS Insturments Inc., USA

Nuclear fusion promises an abundant, inexhaustible source of clean energy without the greenhouse gas emissions of fossil fuels or the radioactive waste of nuclear fission. The last few years have seen enormous progress towards functional fusion using lasers for inertial confinement. Scientists at the National Ignition Facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California (LLNL) managed to produce, in December 2022, for the first time, a nuclear fusion reaction that released more energy than it used. This critical milestone paves the way for the future of clean energy generation. Meanwhile, funding is accelerating, and several private companies have raised well over $ 100 million. This panel aims to provide an overview of the Laser Fusion.

 

Global Security and Directed Energy

Organizer: Sandra Biedron, Element Aero and the Center for Bright Beams, USA

High-energy and high-intensity continue to mature and have myriad applications related to security and defense. This session will provide an overview of applications, such as directed energy, remote sensing,  securing the microelectronics supply chain, wavelength accessibility, and aspects  of unique user-accessible facilities for collaborative research and development. The session will also explore aspects of the workforce as well as supply chain for this unique sector of lasers and peripherals for global security.

 

Additive Laser-Based Processing: From Large Scale to Micro Nano Material Processing

Organizer: Ruth Houbertz, ThinkMade Engineering and Consulting, Germany

Laser-based additive manufacturing is driving the next wave of industrial innovation, combining precision, flexibility, and scalability. This session will explore cutting-edge advancements in laser applications, calibration, process control, and in-situ monitoring, alongside the expanding role of laser processing in micro and nano structuring. Attendees will gain insights into how maskless, high-resolution laser techniques enable complex 2D via 2.5D to 3D geometries—ranging from sub-100-nanometer features to large-scale components—across various materials and applications. Additive manufacturing can be combined with subtractive, ablative processes, or even a mix-and-match of the same with a freedom in design which is not feasible using other structuring techniques from the micro to the macro scale. Dependent on the kind of laser and the types of materials which are used in the processes, either functional surfaces or functional structures can be created on a micron down to the 100 nm scale or even below. A prominent feature is that the structures are not limited to micrometer size areas but can be also scaled to square meters and beyond. Aside from surface-based submicron structuring, also nanoparticles can be fabricated, which also can be implemented in many applications. Real-world case studies will highlight how these technologies accelerate qualification, enhance part quality and streamline production in both additive and microfabrication workflows.

 

Laser-Beam Delivery and Beam Manipulation of High-Power Laser Beams

Organizer: Bryan Germann, AEROTECH, USA

The trend of ever-increasing power levels and shorter pulse durations for industrial laser systems and applications presents challenges and exciting opportunities for the field of beam delivery and manipulation. As peak power increases and wavelengths decrease, traditional optical components face limitations in handling the thermal loads and nonlinear effects that can degrade beam quality and lead to component damage. This session will explore the issues and current technology available to address these concerns as they directly apply to application requirements for microprocessing with lasers. A mixture of academic and industry experts will discuss innovative materials, adaptive optics, novel beam shaping and control techniques emerging to overcome these hurdles and ensure precise and efficient light delivery to the target in demanding applications.  

 

ML/AI for Laser Materials Processing

Organizer: Thomas Grünberger, Plasmo Industrietechnik GmbH, Austria

The session will provide an overview of the possibilities of AI and ML including examples in the field of laser material processing. Attention will be drawn on added value in the field of data analytics in all forms - descriptive, diagnostic, predictive and prescriptive analytics. Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence are data driven approaches, so topics from data synthesis (acquisition), data preparation, model development and verification will be addressed.

Invited Speakers:

Simon Altenburg, BAM, Germany

Andrés Lasagni, Fraunhofer IWS, Germany

 

Surface Modification & Micromachining

Organizer: Heather George, TRUMPF Inc., USA

Surfaces are integral in mechanical and chemical interactions, and laser surface modification gives a degree of control in those interactions that is not possible with other processing techniques. From applications in hardening, to the texturing of surfaces for improved adhesion, lasers have the precision to tailor surface topology. Multiplexing and interference techniques are being developed to apply laser processes to large area surfaces. This session will focus on the latest capabilities of lasers, scanning techniques and processes to control fine structures for emerging market applications.

 

THz Generation & Applications

Organizer: Kei Takeya, Institute for Molecular Science, Japan

In recent years, terahertz (THz) wave technology has advanced rapidly, with applications expanding into areas such as non-destructive inspection, medical diagnostics, security, and next-generation wireless communications. Furthermore, the emergence of high-power THz sources with ｍJ pulse energies has opened up new possibilities for applications. As a result, THz waves are also expected to serve as promising sources for particle acceleration and dielectric acceleration. In this session, we will introduce the latest advancements in THz wave technology and explore the newest developments in its applications.

Invited Speakers:

Yuma Takida, RIKEN, Japan