Lasers and Light sources

Light sources and lasers serve as probe, tool, information carrier, and driver in fundamental research, industrial production, medicine, communication, and defense.

Moreover, visionary concepts such as laser-driven nuclear fusion or particle acceleration are based on parameters that current laser architectures cannot provide. This necessitates the exploration and development of fundamentally new concepts and approaches.

Fraunhofer IOF offers its customers globally recognized expertise in the field of modern laser source development, complemented by a state-of-the-art and complete process chain for the production of active and passive fibers.

Laser Systems and Components for Security and Defense

In defense and civil security, light sources and laser systems are used in various scenarios, such as reconnaissance and the defense against drones and missiles. Fraunhofer IOF offers its customers an extensive portfolio ranging from consulting to individual components to ultra-high-power laser systems.

Pulsed and continuous high-power lasers in the near and mid-infrared
Laser systems with turbulence compensation / beam stabilization
Fiber technology, fiber optic components and assemblies
Optical systems for transmitting the highest laser power (telescopes)
Frequency-converted lasers
Laser systems for optronic reconnaissance

A camouflaged laser on an open space, outdoor. A laser beam coming out of the high energy laser and is shooting a drone. — © Fraunhofer IOF
Simulation of drone defence with high energy laser

Laser Systems for Fundamental Research

Lasers offer unique properties as light sources. Ultrashort laser pulses represent the shortest artificially generated events, and high coherence allows the concentration of light in the smallest spatial areas. Thus, lasers are an indispensable tool in fundamental research with unmatched temporal and spatial resolution. They enable the combination of highest precision with highest intensities for the investigation of novel processes and methods.

High-repetition, high-intensity lasers
Single-frequency and tunable high-power lasers
Laser-driven plasma sources with high power from THz to X-ray radiation
Complete XUV beamlines with high photon flux and their application in high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy

A dark picture of a laser. A short laser beam is coming out of it. — © Fraunhofer IOF
Ultra-short pulse laser

Laser Technology for Industrial Production

Lasers enable the most sophisticated processing of a variety of materials. Processing speed and results are far superior to conventional approaches. Based on proven expertise in laser material processing, Fraunhofer IOF offers its customers not only novel laser sources but also application studies and resulting process development.

Consulting on laser-matter interaction/ application studies
Continuous and ultrafast switched high-power lasers in various spectral ranges (e.g. 1µm and 2µm wavelength)
Pulsed and ultrashort pulsed lasers with highest performance and stability
Fiber optic components and assemblies
Transport and laser-active fibers/ large-core, multimode and multicore fibers
Secondary radiation sources
Temporal and spatial beam shaping with highest dynamics
Highly dynamic focus tracking

An illustration of a laser with a laser beam. The laser beam is reflected inside the laser, via mirrors. In the right lower corner is a zoom in of the laser beam coming out of the laser, with different laser shapes in front.. — © Fraunhofer IOF
Illustration of laser materials processing

Future Technologies

The specifications of even the most powerful lasers are sometimes orders of magnitude behind the requirements of visionary and yet highly socially relevant applications of the future. Fundamental new approaches need to be researched, developed, and realized. Fraunhofer IOF sees itself as a pioneer of groundbreaking laser technologies and works closely with its customers to develop concepts and technologies for the laser sources of tomorrow.

Systems and components for laser-driven nuclear fusion
Driver lasers for plasma sources of short-wavelength radiation
Laser systems for particle acceleration
Laser sources for the removal of space debris

Picture of two different beams going through seperate magnifying glasses. The beams connect on the same mirror and are feflected into one beam, going through a magnigying glass again, ending in a white light. — © Fraunhofer IOF
Optical beam path

Lasers for Optical (Satellite) Communication

Global data traffic is continuously growing and is technically realized through optical information transmission. In addition to the expansion of broadband laser sources and amplifiers to utilize new spectral capacities and space multiplexing in optical fiber networks, optical transmission is also used for free-space communication. This includes satellite-to-satellite connections as well as with stations on earth to handle vast amounts of data. Fraunhofer IOF Jena conducts research in this field with work on laser technologies to meet these requirements in the future.

Multiplexing of arbitrary spectral and spatial channels for optical fiber networks
Telecommunication amplifiers for spave multiplexing (multicore EDFA)
Spectral multiplexers of various transmission powers for terrestrial and space-based free-space communication (beam combiners based on volume Bragg gratings or compact diffraction grating setups)
High-power sources for interplanetary communication (multi-kW)

Two devices laying next to each other. They have a round base and a square attatched to the front (comparable to a lightbulb, but with a square). Around them lie blue cords, which are tied together as one.. — © Fraunhofer IOF
Spectral beam combiner

Light Sources for Quantum Technology

Advanced quantum light sources are a central enabling resource for applications in quantum communication, sensing, and quantum computing. Fraunhofer IOF researches the precise generation and manipulation of photons and offers its customers innovative solutions for the requirements of modern quantum research and applications.

High-performance quantum light sources, development of systems for the generation of quantum light (squeezed light, photon pairs, attenuated laser pulses)
Stability and efficiency, realization of compact, highly stable quantum light sources for real operating conditions, with a special focus on space qualification
Application validation, complete integration of generation, manipulation, and validation of non-classical states, integration into systems for communication, sensing, and quantum computing
Photonics integration, development of photonics systems on SiN (silicon nitride) and LNOI (lithium niobate on insulator) to realize compact and efficient quantum light sources

A metallic and colourful piece. It is shaped like a three dimensional cross. — © Fraunhofer IOF
Entangled photon source for space applications

Collaboration with the Fraunhofer IOF

The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF develops solutions with light – from its generation to manipulation to its use as a sensor and tool. Depending on the project, we support our customers along the entire process chain or in individual process steps – from design, through the manufacturing of components, assembly into opto-mechanical or opto-electronic systems, to comprehensive characterization.

In close coordination, we accompany our customers from their initial inquiries to market launch, if desired. We also handle the transfer of results and developments into the processes of our partners and customers in the form of personnel qualification or technology transfer.

In addition to contract research, we also offer individual services such as functional coating of surfaces, material and component testing, ultra-precision machining of components, high-speed 3D measurements, or the construction of customized components and special machines. Furthermore, the institute holds numerous patents on optical technologies and developments, for which we offer various licensing models. We provide information on current technological trends and developments in individual training and workshop formats.

For more information about our services, please visit the corresponding technology pages.