Metal coatings to reduce optical damage of electro-optic crystals

PROJECT COST:

760 320 $

PRIMA CONTRIBUTION:

339 120 $

PROJECT DETAILS:

The project addresses the need to improve the reliability of electro-optical components for high-intensity laser applications and, potentially, to extend their range of applications to even higher intensities. After a certain period of operation, a significant proportion of these components exhibit ‘optical damage’, i.e. a deterioration in the quality of the transmitted and modulated laser beam. Based on the hypothesis that this optical damage is due to the photorefractive effect, which intensifies over time as the metal from the electrodes diffuses and migrates into the material, the project aims to gain a quantitative understanding of the underlying mechanisms for different material combinations.

Various combinations of electro-optic single crystals and metals will be tested under accelerated ageing conditions to identify the cause, which could be heat dissipation, the device’s electric field, or a combination of both. As a tangible result, Few Cycle will be able to extend the lifespan of its components and expand the operating specifications of its laser systems. Quebec is an international leader in the field of ultrafast spectroscopy, and Few Cycle is a young, fast-growing and highly competitive company on the international stage, striving to establish intellectual property rights in order to consolidate and expand its leading position.