Blue Laser Light – Precision Pure: Monolithic Focusing Optics for Single Emitter Diode Lasers

Dortmund-based LIMO Lissotschenko Mikrooptik GmbH is far from being a greenhorn when it comes to blue laser light. The new trend is towards single emitter diode lasers (spectral width: 420 to 470 nanometres) which, due to higher outputs of up to 1-2 W, are becoming increasingly popular in lithographicy, the structuring of flat panel displays and in measuring technology (e.g. in particle analysis). The blue semiconductor laser emitters' claim to fame is the Blu-Ray disk ('blue ray'), where the light sources used, however, work with a very low output, and actually emit a violet light (405 nm). The Dortmund-based company has developed micro-optics for 'true' blue, high-performance single emitter diode lasers; the technology focuses the beam with precision on an area measuring approx. 40 x 40 µm². Micro-optics technology is ideally suited for pumping solid-state crystals or for fiber coupling.

"This is a low-cost solution, as we only need one micro-optics device to focus the blue laser", explains Dr. Oliver Homburg, Director for Advanced Optical Solutions. "Users can benefit from the technology's high flexibility, as two versions for diode lasers with or without housing are available ". The new devices have already been successfully deployed for energy-efficient solid-state crystal pumping within the scope of the project 'Integrated Green Efficient Laser' (IGEL), which the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has funded with EUR 3.5 million. The term 'green laser' may be misleading for some: The actual light source is a blue laser diode, the wavelength of which is converted upwards within the crystal to produce a green laser beam.

LIMO won't be playing the spectrum when it comes to potential users of blue light micro-optics. There are plenty of focusing optics available for experiments in Dortmund. Dr. Homburg: "Make up your own mind after you have put our latest product through its paces". Visit the Laser Expo in Japan (booth 3D) between April 25 - 27 or the OPTATEC in Frankfurt (Main) (hall 3, booth C56), Germany from May 22 - 25 for more information about the 'blue innovators' from Dortmund.

Founded in 1992 - 200 employees - 24 nations - more than 300 patents

At LIMOs headquarters in Dortmund, Germany, an international team of more than 200 engineers, physicists, technicians and many other specialized staff develops, manufactures & distributes micro optics, optical systems, diode lasers & laser systems. LIMO was founded near Paderborn in 1992, relocated to the “Technologiezentrum Dortmund” in 1995 and operates today from industrial park “Dortmund Wickede”, located in the direct neighborhood of the Dortmund airport. On 10,000 m² floor space, LIMO runs approximately 2000 m² of clean room and 800 m² of in-house metal machine shops. At present LIMO holds more than 300 patents.

We regard ourselves as strategic partner to leading companies using laser photons. Our mission is to make business partners in the materials processing & photonic industries more successful with our cutting edge technologies. We are world-market leader in diode laser optics and have been awarded for this technology with the “world’s first innovation award 2007”. (Innovationspreis der deutschen Wirtschaft 2007) A laser beam can be effectively shaped and directed by the use of this award-winning technique – therefore, it is possible to create, e.g., linear or rectangular beam shapes. The following industries benefit from our customized solutions: Microlithography, medical equipment, photonics (solid-state and fiber lasers), flat panel display- and photovoltaic production, automotive manufacturing and all other industries that use high power lasers.

LIMO Lissotschenko Mikrooptik GmbH
Bookenburgweg 4-8
44319 Dortmund, Germany
Phone: +49 - 231 - 22241 - 0
Fax: +49 - 231 - 22241 - 140
Email: kontakt@limo.de
Web: www.limo.de
Further product information: Dr. Oliver Homburg, o.homburg@limo.de
Contakt PR & Marketing: Nicole Krebs, n.krebs@limo.de

This release was published on openPR.