Development of mid-infrared high-power ultrashort pulse lasers and its application to soft-matter micro-processing

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H01845
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 30020:Optical engineering and photon science-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Tokita Shigeki 京都大学, 化学研究所, 教授 (20456825)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 岡崎 大樹 京都大学, 化学研究所, 助教 (50976925)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 中赤外 / フェムト秒レーザー / レーザー加工

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The main research achievements of this study are as follows: (1) We developed a Fe:ZnSe femtosecond pulse laser amplification system, realizing high-power and high-efficiency laser amplification in a compact device. (2) We developed a fusion splicing technology for plastic optical fibers using a mid-infrared fiber laser, demonstrating that sufficient connection strength can be obtained through a simple method without the need for adhesives or other treatments. These achievements have established the fundamental technology for high-power, high-efficiency, and compact mid-infrared femtosecond lasers, which can be applied in various fields. Additionally, the potential for applying mid-infrared lasers to the fine processing of soft materials has been demonstrated.

Free Research Field

レーザー工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

レーザー技術の進展により、小型・高効率かつ信頼性の高い高出力レーザー光源が産業・医療・科学などの分野で実用に供されるようになっている。レーザー光源への要求は益々高度化・多様化しており、高出力化、短パルス化、高効率化、新波長帯開発など、様々な研究開発が行われている。本研究は挑戦的な課題の一つである中赤外域における新波長帯開発の研究に取り組み、4 μm帯フェムト秒パルスレーザーの開発に成功した。