Traditional q-switched laser sources have been limited in pulse frequency and in overall control of pulse energy and length. A novel pulsed fibre laser, capable of operation from cw through to 500kHz, has provided a tool that has enabled a number of significant processing improvements. The benefits of operating in the >100kHz regime, encompassing both quality and productivity, is evident in a number of applications such as; marking of metals, plastics and IC packages, and also in micromachining and in thin film patterning. Clearly applications that have low pulse energy thresholds can benefit most from operating in the high frequency regime.

Topics
Lasers, Thin films
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© 2008 Laser Institute of America.
2008
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