Skip To Content

Laser Applications Conference

29 September 2019 – 03 October 2019 Austria Center Vienna, Vienna, Austria

The Laser Applications Conference (LAC) is an all invited speaker format for industry in Laser Applications at the OSA Laser Congress. This 3-day meeting from September 30 to October 2 focuses on two main topic areas --  Materials Processing and Applications for High Power Lasers.

Materials Processing includes advanced applications for industrial use. Applications for High Power Lasers will include topics such as EUV for Lithography, Extreme UV, X-Ray Generation, and Laser Induced Damage Threshold. One of the themes of this meeting will be to initiate discussions on what engineering and production advances are needed to translate promising technological advances into marketable products.

At LAC, you’ll be immersed in an innovative learning environment that introduces new, groundbreaking information, offers insightful knowledge, showcases cutting-edge products, and engages your active participation in important debates and discussions.


Topics

  1. Materials Processing
    1. Surface Modification
    2. Brittle Materials
    3. Lasers for Space Applications
    4. Laser Applications for Mobility
    5. Laser-based Additive Manufacturing
  2. Applications for High Power Lasers
    1. Extreme UV, X-ray Generation and Particle Acceleration
    2. Defense/Directed Energy
    3. Laser Induced Damage Threshold (LIDT)
    4. Laser Shock Peening

Top


Speakers

  • Barry Behnken, AEye, Inc.United States
    Clearing Junk from the Trunk: Using Agile LiDAR Technology to Create a Sleeker, Smarter Autonomous Vehicle
  • Roelene Botha, Rhy SearchSwitzerland
    Investigating the Long-Term Stability of LiB3O5 (LBO) Frequency Conversion Crystals at 355nm using Photothermal Deflection and LIDT measurements
  • Patrick Burns, Fibertek Inc.
    Development of single-frequency lasers for space-based remote sensing
  • Marie-Emmanuelle Couprie, Synchrotron SOLEILFrance
    Towards Laser Plasma Accelerated Electrons based Free Electron Lasers
  • Kristian Cvecek, Universität Erlangen-NürnbergGermany
    Gap Bridging and Joining of Glasses Using Ultra-short Pulsed Lasers
  • Louay Eldada, Quanergy Systems, Inc.United States
    Evolution of Quanergy's solid state lidar
  • Laurent Gallais, Fresnel InstitutFrance
    Laser Damage of reflective optics in the sub-ps regime: physical mechanisms and technological issues
  • Christian Greve, Airbus DS Optronics (Pty) Ltd.Germany
    Space based lasers for gravitational wave detection
  • Marc Hueske, 4JET MicrotechGermany
    Laser Micro Processing of Glass: Drilling, Separation and Patterning
  • Dino Jaroszynski, University of StrathclydeUnited Kingdom
    Compact femtosecond x-ray sources based on the laser wakefield accelerator
  • Lars Jensen, Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V.Germany
    Highest laser powers – not without understanding the limits of the coatings
  • Kiminori Kondo, Kansai Photon Science Institute, JAEAJapan
    PW class laser application for the next generation heavy ion cancer therapy machine
  • Jörg Körner, Friedrich-Schiller UniversityGermany
    Concepts for Adapting Highly Efficient Diode Pumped Laser Technology for Laser Shock Peening
  • Florian Lendner, GFH GmbH Germany
    Ultrafast laser micro machining with rotating beam – high precision drilling, cutting and turning
  • Dirk Lewke, 3D-MicromacGermany
    Striving for perfect edge – brittle material cutting using controlled crack guiding in µm range”
  • Melanie Mangang, EMAG LaserTec GmbHGermany
    Laser cleaning and its potential application in weld seam preparation
  • Paul McManamon, Exciting Technology LLCUnited States
    A comparison of 3D imaging lidar vs 3D stereo imaging for autonomous vehicles
  • Susumu Noda, Kyoto UniversityJapan
    Photonic crystal lasers for smart mobility
  • Andreas Otto, Technische Universitaet Wien
    Multiphysical Approach for the Simulation of Powder-based Laser Additive Manufacturing Processes
  • Florian Petit, Blickfeld GmbHGermany
    Evolution and results of the Blickfeld lidar technology
  • Claudia Polese, University of WitwatersrandSouth Africa
    The South African Heartbeat of Laser Shock Peening
  • Wolfgang Riede, Deutsches Zent f.Luft-u.Raumfahrt eV (S)Germany
    Qualification of laser optics for challenging space LIDAR missions
  • Stefan Scharring, German Aerospace CenterGermany
    Laser based space debris mitigation
  • Daniel Schwab, Arges GmbHGermany
    Micromachining of ceramics using ultra-short pulsed lasers
  • Wolfgang Steiger, Cubicure GmbHAustria
    Laser-based additive manufacturing of high performance polymers
  • Martin Steuer, EOS GmbH Electro Optical SystemsGermany
    Manufacturing in the Digital Age, an OEM perspective on today and future application of AM
  • Jan Vanda, Czech Academy of Sciences
    Importance of laser induced damage threshold in laser applications
  • Markus Wolf, Coherent (Deutschland) GmbHGermany
    Hybrid manufacturing – the future of 3D metal printing

Top


Committee

  • David Mordaunt, Ball Aerospace & Technologies, United StatesProgram Chair
  • Yuji Sano, Institute for Molecular Science, JapanProgram Chair
  • Johannes Trbola, Dausinger + Giesen GmbH, GermanyProgram Chair
  • Lahsen Assoufid, Argonne National Laboratory, United States
  • Thomas Dekorsy, German Aerospace Center, Germany
  • Heather George, TRUMPF Inc., United States
  • Larry Grimes, High Energy Laser Joint Tech Office, United States
  • Thomas Grunberger, Plasmo Industrietechnik GmbH, Austria
  • Dirk Mueller, Coherent Inc., United States
  • Mohammad Umar Piracha, AEye, Inc., United States
  • Danijela Rostohar, Institute of Physics of the ASCR, Czech Republic
  • Gerald Uyeno, Raytheon, United States

Top


Plenary Session

Klaus Loeffler

TRUMPF Laser GmbH + Co KG

Industrial Laser Applications: Still a multi niche solution or ready for the big breakthrough?

Industrial laser applications have enabled many successful products. New features on products have resulted in a quick hype for lasers. These installations have not been a sustainable business for the laser manufacturers. Will newly developed laser applications change this picture?

About the Speaker

Since 2015: TRUMPF Business Field Laser Technology/Electronics, Managing Director with responsibility for sales and services.
2006 - 2014: TRUMPF Laser und Systemtechnik GmbH, Head of International Sales
2002 - 2006: Volkswagen AG, Volkswagen Brand, Head of Joining Research with responsibility for development and implementation of new and existing joining processes.
1995 - 2002: TRUMPF Inc. Laser Technology Center USA, Director. Started the TRUMPF Laser Technology Center North America, located in Detroit.
1991 - 1995: TRUMPF Lasertechnik GmbH, CO2-Laser Development Engineer

University Degree
1985 - 1991: University of Stuttgart, Machine Tool Engineer
2013: President, Laser Institute of America
Since 2012: Fellow, Laser Institute of America

Gérard Mourou

Ecole Polytechnique

Passion for Extreme Light

The stunning capabilities of extreme light produced by Chirped Pulse Amplification (CPA) laser will be presented as well as the vast application it offers for science and society.

About the Speaker

Gérard Mourou is Professor Haut-Collège at the École Polytechnique. He is also the A.D. Moore Distinguished University Emeritus Professor of the University of Michigan. He received his undergraduate education at the University of Grenoble (1967) and his PhD from University Paris VI in 1973. He has made numerous contributions to the field of ultrafast lasers, high-speed electronics and medicine. But his most important invention, demonstrated with his student Donna Strickland while at the University of Rochester is the laser amplification technique known as Chirped Pulse Amplification (CPA). CPA revolutionized the field of optics, opening new branches like attosecond pulse generation, nonlinear QED and compact particle accelerators. It extended the field of optics to nuclear and particle physics. In 2005, Mourou proposed a new infrastructure, the Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI), which is distributed over three pillars located in the Czech Republic, Romania and Hungary. He also pioneered the field of femtosecond ophthalmology that relies on a CPA femtosecond laser for precise myopia corrections and corneal transplants. Over a million such procedures are now performed annually. Mourou is member of the US National Academy of Engineering, and a foreign member of the Russian Science Academy, the Austrian Sciences Academy and the Lombardy Academy for Sciences and Letters. He is Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur and was awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics  with his former student Donna Strickland.

Clara Saraceno

Ruhr Universität Bochum

Trends, challenges and applications of high-average power ultrafast thin-disk lasers

This talk will review latest progress in ultrafast disk laser systems, next steps and challenges towards further scaling, as well as ongoing and new application areas open by their unique performance.

About the Speaker

Clara Saraceno received her Diploma in Engineering and an MSc at the Institut d'Optique Graduate School, Paris, in 2007. She completed a PhD in Physics at ETH Zürich in 2012, for which she received among others the EPS-QEOD thesis prize in applied aspects in 2013. From 2013-2014, she worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Neuchatel and ETH Zürich, followed by a postdoc position from 2015 - 2016 at ETH Zürich. In 2016, she received a Sofja Kovalevskaja Award of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and became Associate Professor of Photonics and Ultrafast Laser Science at the Ruhr University Bochum, Germany. In 2018 she received an ERC Starting Grant. The current main research topics of her group include high-power ultrafast lasers and Terahertz science and technology.

Top


Special Events

Welcome Reception

Sunday, 29 September, 17:30 – 19:00, Vienna City Hall

Join fellow Laser Congress attendees at the Opening Reception in the Vienna City Hall, the stunning centrepiece on Rathausplatz that is visually one of the most magnificent pieces of architecture in this beautiful city. City Hall was erected between 1872 and 1883 and was built in gothical style. The Reception will be held in the Flag Hall which features wall-hangings representing the coats-of-arms of all nine federal provinces and the Republic of Austria. The Flag Hall impresses visitors with ornate coffered ceilings and inlay work, massive lead-crystal chandeliers and silk damask tapestries. Learn more about the Flag Hall.

Free to technical attendees, $75.00 US for all others who wish to attend. For directions to the City Hall, click here.

Hosted by: Stadt Wien 

Recent Trends in Laser Technology and its Applications in Manufacturing Technical Group Panel Discussion

Monday, 30 September, 12:30 - 14:00, Room 0.11-0.12

Join the OSA Lasers in Manufacturing Technical Group for a guided networking session during lunch to bring together international scientists in research and industry to discuss the latest emerging trends in the lasers in manufacturing field. In additional to learning more about the technical group, you will have an opportunity to hear from our featured speakers and have discussions with your fellow attendees on interesting topics such as macro processing, micro processing, additive manufacturing, and future job opportunities in the field.

Hosted by: Lasers in Manufacturing Technical Group

Student & Early Career Professional Development & Networking Lunch and Learn

Tuesday, 1 October, 11:30 - 12:30, Room 0.11-0.12

This program will provide a unique opportunity for students and early career professionals, who are close to finishing or who have recently finished their doctorate degree, to interact with experienced researchers. Key industry and academic leaders in the community will be matched for each student based on the student's preference or similarity of research interests. Students interested in all career paths – from those seeking an academic position, to those wishing to start a technology business, to those interested government/public service, to those looking to translate their benchwork skills to product development – are encouraged to apply.  Students will have an opportunity to discuss their ongoing research and career plans with their mentor, while mentors will share their professional journey and provide useful tips to those who attend. Lunch will be provided.

This Workshop is complimentary for OSA Members and space is limited. Not all who apply will be able to attend due to space limitations and priority will be given to those who have most recently or are close to graduation.

Hosted by: OSA Foundation

Extreme Laser Sources & Applications

Roundtable, Wednesday, 2 October, 16:00 – 18:00,

A panel of world renowned experts will present a series of short talks providing an overview of current technology, future directions, and applications of extreme high intensity lasers.  The presentations will be followed by an open discussion with audience participation.

Confirmed speakers: Gérard Mourou, Peter Moulton, Andrius Baltuska, Jon Zuegel

Moderator: Irina Sorokina 

Congress Banquet

Wednesday, 2 October, 19:00 – 21:00, Kunsthistorisches Museum

Plan on spending an elegant evening with colleagues and friends at the Kunsthistorisches Museum. The Museum was erected in 1871–1891 and was commissioned by the emperor in order to find a suitable shelter for the Habsburgs' formidable art collection and to make it accessible to the general public. With its ornate façade, it is one of the most distinguished and impressive museum buildings of the 19th century.

The interior of the building is beautiful, with its soaring rotunda, dramatic patterned floors and marble halls decorated with frescoes and gold leaf. The magnificent main staircase is one of the highlights of Viennese 19th-century architecture. It is also a treasure trove of art history — from a vast coin collection and unforgettable pieces of ancient Egyptian and Greek art, to rooms dedicated to great European masters featuring 16th- and 17th-century works by German, Dutch, Flemish, and Italian greats. Learn more about the Kunsthistorisches Museum.  

$10.00 fee for registered technical attendees, $95.00 US for all others who wish to attend.

Sponsored by: IPG Photonics 

Directed Energy Professional Society Special HEL Defense Applications Session

Thursday, 3 October, 08:00 - 16:30, Room 1.61-1.62

The Directed Energy Professional Society will host a special session that will explore defense applications using High Energy Laser solutions to counter emerging threats to military operations, both domestically and abroad. The session will include international presentations that address their respective mission needs, as well as the state-of the-science that underlies High Energy Laser applications, from the Joint Directed Energy Transition Office. The session is open to Laser Congress attendees from USA, NATO allies, EOP partners, Japan, South Korea, and Switzerland.

The Directed Energy Professional Society (DEPS) was founded in 1999 to foster the research, development and transition of Directed Energy (DE) technology for national defense and civil applications through professional communication and education. DEPS intends to be recognized as the premier organization for exchanging information and advocating research, development and application of Directed Energy, which includes both high energy lasers (HEL) and high power microwaves (HPM). DEPS is incorporated as a nonprofit corporation in New Mexico, organized and operated exclusively for charitable, scientific, and educational purposes.

Top


Schedule

LAC Plenary Talk

Klaus Loeffler, TRUMPF Laser GmbH + Co KG, Germany 

Laser Induced Damage Test

Organizer: Danijela Rostohar, Institute of Physics of the ASCR, HiLASE Centre, Czech Republic    

In the era of new generation high intensity lasers and their application, development and testing of new optical components and their coatings plays a crucial importance. Laser Induced Damage Threshold (LIDT) measurements are an essential part in understanding a very complex mechanism of damage occurrence. LIDT is a function of various parameters including laser wavelength, pulse duration, pulse repetition frequency, spot size, temporal and spatial profile, and angle of incidence. The purpose of this session is to bring attention to existing limitations in development of optical components and their coatings as well as requirements for establishing new techniques and standards on their LIDT testings.

  • Lars Jensen, Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V.
    Highest laser powers – not without understanding the limits of the coatings
  • Laurent Gallais, Fresnel Institut
    Laser Damage of reflective optics in the sub-ps regime: physical mechanisms and technological issues
  • Jan Vanda, Institute of Physics CAS
    Importance of Laser Induced Damage Threshold in Laser Applications
  • Roelene Botha, Rhy Search, NTB University of Applied Science
    Investigating the Long-Term Stability of LiB3O5 (LBO) Frequency Conversion Crystals at 355nm using Photothermal Deflection and LIDT measurements

Laser Induced Damage Test II/Lasers for Space Applications

Organizer: Thomas Dekorsy, DLR, Germany     

Laser systems become of increased relevance for applications in space. These applications cover remote sensing, laser based detection of gravitational waves, and laser communication. In addition, the growing problem of space debris will lead to important applications for lasers such as laser ranging and mitigation of space debris. The operation of lasers in space is connected with challenges different from laser systems operated on ground which will be addressed in the session.  

  • Wolfgang Riede, German Aerospace Center
    Qualification of laser optics for challenging space LIDAR missions
  • Christian Greve, Airbus GmbH
    Space based lasers for gravitational wave detection
  • Stefan Scharring, German Aerospace Center
    Laser-based Space Debris Mitigation in the Low Earth Orbit
  • Patrick Burns, Fibertek Inc.
    Development of single-frequency lasers for space-based remote sensing

Laser-Based Additive Manufacturing

Organizer: Thomas Grunberger, Plasmo Industrietechnik GmbH, Austria

Additive manufacturing is a fast growing segment and well known since many years (e.g. pyramids in egypt was built additive 4500 years ago). Especially laser technology enabled us in the last few decades to develop new manufacturing processes. Are we in the phase of a second hype of this technology or are we at the step from prototyping to industrial production? The session covers different technologies and will show already successful examples and future trends. There are 2 different principal technologies using lasers as energy source, powder bed fusion and laser based direct energy deposition (feedstock wire and powder). The session starts with a presentation about the motivation for additive manufacturing and examples in the area powder bed fusion from an OEM perspective. Additve manufacturing systems are available for different materials like metals, ceramics and plastics. The second presentation shows a novel approach for additive manufacturing of high performance polymers. The third presentation deals with a future approach, hybrid manufacturing, means combining additive manufacturing with other conventional or other additive techniques which is expected to be one of the big drivers for AM in future. The last presentation covers wire based laser metal deposition and special aspects in printing titanium parts. Especially aviation industry is a key driver for the future of this technology, so we get the information about the status and future topics using this technology.

  • Martin Steuer, EOS GmbH Electro Optical Systems
    Manufacturing in the Digital Age, an OEM Perspective on Today and Future Application of AM
  • Wolfgang Steiger, Cubicure GmbH
    Laser-based Additive Manufacturing of High Performance Polymers
  • Markus Wolf, Coherent (Deutschland) GmbH
    Hybrid Manufacturing – the Future of 3D Metal Printing
  • Yashwanth Bandari, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    Laser Metal Deposition with wire (LMD-w) for high yield Titanium Additive Manufacturing

EUV and X-Ray Generation

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. Their development relies on the progress in laser technology and performance. This session will give an update on the latest development, needs and challenges in high-power laser technologies tailored to methods for short (EUV, X- and Gamma-ray) wavelength generation (laser-produced plasma, high harmonic generation, inverse Compton scattering), and laser plasma acceleration.

  • Kiminori Kondo, Kansai Photon Science Institute, JAEA
    PW Class Laser Application for the Next Generation Heavy Ion Cancer Therapy Machine
  • Dino Jaroszynski, University of Strathclyde
    Compact femtosecond x-ray sources based on the laser wakefield accelerator   
  • Marie-Emmanuelle Couprie, Synchrotron SOLEIL

          Towards Laser Plasma Accelerated Electrons based Free Electron Lasers

  • Peter Krötz, TRUMPF Scientific Lasers GmbH + Co. KG

          High-Power Ultrafast Industrial Thin-Disk Lasers

Brittle Materials

Organizer:Dirk Mueller, Coherent Inc., USA

Brittle materials pose a significant challenge to mechanical machining. Mechanical processing can introduce micro-cracks, chips and be limited in the geometries. 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 and sapphire are increasingly benefitting from laser processing. The session will discuss novel laser-based methods to weld brittle materials without frit and discuss new methods of cutting silicon or glass whilst maintaining maximum bend strength and edge fidelity.

  • Kristian Cvecek, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
    Gap Bridging and Joining of Glasses Using Ultra-short Pulsed Lasers
  • Marc Hueske, 4JET Microtech
    Laser Micro Processing of Glass: Drilling, Separation and Patterning
  • Dirk Lewke, 3D-Micromac
    Striving for Perfect Edge – brittle Material Cutting Using Controlled Crack Guiding in µm Range
  • Daniel Schwab, Arges GmbH
    Micromachining of Ceramics Using Ultra-short Pulsed Lasers

Lasers for Mobility

Organizer: Umar Piracha, AEye, Inc., USA

In the past decade, there has been a strong interest in the development of technologies for autonomous mobility applications, such as self driving trucks, cars, drones and robots. The global self driving cars and trucks market size is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 63.1% from 2021 to 2030. A crucial component of such systems is the laser, and properties such as high output power, low power consumption, small form factor, eye safety, and low cost are required to make this vision a reality. This session offers a series of invited talks covering novel laser designs, lidar architectures & laser requirements, and the latest results from some of the leading lidar companies working this area.

  • Louay A. Eldada, Quanergy Systems, Inc, USA
    Evolution of Quanergy's Solid State Lidar
  • John Murphy, ON Semiconductor, USA
    Image and Depth Sensing for Mobilty
  • Florian Petit, Blickfeld GmbH, Germany
    Evolution and Results of the Blickfeld Lidar Technology
  • Paul McManamon and Edward Watson
    A Comparison of 3D Imaging Lidar vs 3D Stereo Imaging for Autonomous Vehicles
  • Susumu Noda, Kyoto University
    Photonic Crystal Lasers for Smart Mobility
  • Barry N. Behnken, AEye, Inc., USA
    Clearing Junk from the Trunk: Using Agile LiDAR Technology to Create a Sleeker, Smarter Autonomous Vehicle

Surface Modification and Micromachining

Organizer; Heather George, TRUMPF Inc., USA

Lasers are a critical tool in creating surface modifications to control mechanical or chemical interactions. From cleaning to remove contaminants in preparation for welding to creating a surface texture that has an increased surface area for adhesion, lasers give an unparalleled degree of control. This control is also essential for micromachining, since the very small or thin parts are easily distorted by any type of warp or burr. This session will focus on the latest capabilities of lasers, scanners and processes to control fine structures for emerging market applications. 

  • Melanie Mangang, EMAG LaserTec GmbH
    Laser Cleaning and Its Potential Application in Weld Seam Preparation
  • Florian Lendner, GFH GmbH
    Ultrafast Laser Micro Machining with Rotating Beam – High Precision Drilling, Cutting and Turning
  • Ulf Quentin, TRUMPF Laser GmbH + Co KG
    Title to be announced
  • Stephan Eifel, Pulsar Photonics GmbH
    Flexible Beam Shaping System for Accelerating Ultrafast Laser Micromachining Applicationsed
  • Beat Neuenschwander, Bern University of Applied Sciences
    High Throughput and High Quality Surface Texturing with Ultrafast Lasers

Laser Shock Peening

Organizer: Danijela Rostohar, Institute of Physics of the ASCR, HiLASE Centre, Czech Republic  

Laser peening has great potential to prolong the service life of various products and components, and is expanding the application area based on the advancement in high-power laser technology. The purpose of this session is to provide a forum for exchanging the latest results of research, development and innovation in laser peening and related technologies including high power lasers, new processes such as adhesion/damage testing, laser interaction models and application to different types of materials and components with emerging interest.    

  • Claudia Polese, University of Witwatersrand
    The South African Heartbeat of Laser Shock Peening
  • Jörg Körner, Friedrich-Schiller University
    Concepts for Adapting Highly Efficient Diode Pumped Laser Technology for Laser Shock Peening

Top

Image for keeping the session alive