Ultra-short pulse laser system

• Subject Area: Production Technology
• Term: Funded in 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 556173738

Ultra-short pulse (USP) laser systems enable the almost athermal processing of nearly all materials. The high reproducibility, the possibility of extremely fine material processing and the minimal thermal damage to the workpieces result in a wide range of applications. The ultrashort pulse laser system applied for offers the possibility for Direct Laser Interference Patterning (DLIP) and Flexible Beam Shaping (FBS) and thus significantly extends the current processing possibilities. DLIP technology is based on the superposition of multiple laser beams. Through laser beam interference, periodic surface structures with resolutions in the nano and sub-micrometer range can be realized. FBS technology enables the realization of 3D intensity distributions. Compared to single-beam processing with Gaussian intensity distribution, both technologies thus offer the possibility of developing advanced laser processes, achieving periodic patterns with significantly lower resolution and generating novel surface properties. These new possibilities are to be used in the future to specifically adjust the morphological, topographical, chemical and crystallographic properties of surfaces. Various fields of application will be addressed and secondary surface phenomena (wetting, self-cleaning, anti-fouling, etc.) will be investigated. Ultra-short pulse (USP) laser systems enable the almost athermal processing of almost all materials. The high reproducibility, the possibility of extremely fine material processing and the minimal thermal damage to the workpieces result in a wide range of applications. The ultrashort pulse laser system applied for offers the possibility of Direct Laser Interference Patterning (DLIP) and Flexible Beam Shaping (FBS) and thus significantly expands the current processing possibilities. DLIP technology is based on the superimposition of several laser beams. Thanks to the principle of constructive interference, structural patterns with resolutions in the nano and sub-micrometer range can be realized. FBS technology enables the realization of 3D intensity distributions. Compared to single-beam processing with Gaussian intensity distribution, both technologies thus offer the possibility of developing advanced laser processes, achieving periodic patterns with significantly lower resolution and generating novel surface properties. These new possibilities will be used to precisely tailor the morphological, topographical, chemical, and crystallographic surface properties. Various technical and biological applications will be addressed based on the tailored surface properties, and secondary surface phenomena (wetting, self-cleaning, anti-fouling, etc.) will be investigated. The results will lead to a better understanding of the physical and biological effects of functionalized surfaces.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Ultrakurzpuls-Lasersystem
• Instrumentation Group: 5740 Laser in der Fertigung
• Applicant Institution: Universität Rostock
• Leader: Professor Dr.-Ing. Hermann Seitz