Evaluating new UK supply chains for future high power laser optics

The Quantum Interferometry consortium, funded through the UK's Quantum Technologies for Fundamental Physics program, has provided the first demonstration of novel optical components manufactured by the UK's first large-scale ion beam deposition system. This provide new capability into the UK's photonics sector for the fabrication of optical coatings (particularly HR and AR designs) with extremely low levels of optical losses. To assess this technology, we will deposit on free-issued precision substrates from leading international suppliers located in the UK. Gooch and Housego will provide the state-of-the-art in mechanically polished substrates, representing the best available within standard supply chains. PowerPhotonics Ltd have pioneered manufacturing methods to create freeform optics with unparalleled surface quality for a variety of applications, particularly for advanced laser systems with increasing power. In the case of CW (continuous wave) laser applications, the laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) will generally scale with the optical absorption of the bulk substrate and the applied mirror coatings. Helia Photonics will provide free-issued coatings by ion-assisted deposition (IAD) which represents UK's current state-of-the-art in optics with high levels of LIDT. The aim of this proposal is to demonstrate a potential UK supply chain to manufacture ultralow optical loss mirror and anti-reflection components, with extremely high LIDT, at a level comparable (or exceeding) the state-of-the-art elsewhere in the world. The relevant areas for high ns-LIDT and cw-LIDT applications includes laser cutting, welding, laser powder bed fusion, and directed energy. Moreover, the miniaturisation of consumer products, such as laser-based pedestrian sensors on cars, are requiring energy densities equivalent to some of the highest power laser applications. Since many of the applications for these optical components are required within other high-tech/high-value manufacturing and supply chains, progressing this project within the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) provides a unique opportunity for our industrial partners to engage and explore future partnership with testbeds here and elsewhere in the HVMC (High-value Manufacturing Catapult) network. The Orion laser testbed at AWE will provide the most realistic LIDT assessment in relation to real-work applications and is the only large area test facility within the UK. This provides a pathway to UK-based manufacture of optical components which would range up to £100M value optics required for laser fusion, demonstrating the broadest level of impact and exploitation that can potentially arise from this project.