Latest News from Midaz
Midaz demonstrates world's highest power diode-pumped Alexandrite laser with exceptional efficiency & high energy.
Dec 2011
Midaz has successfully completed a Technology Research Programme awarded by ESA/ESTEC for the design and construction of a highly efficient diode-pumped Alexandrite laser with performance capabilities unmatched by existing Nd:YAG lasers. Midaz Alexandrite laser has delivered high pulse energy (>23mJ @ 100Hz) providing exciting prospects for Satellite-Based Remote Sensing.
Professor Michael Damzen (CTO) said "What is remarkable about this laser technology demonstration is its exceptional high efficiency of greater than 31% slope efficiency (equivalent to > 40% with respect to absorbed pump power) in a system still with considerable scope for further optimisation towards 60% efficiency. The demonstrated efficiency is already an order of magnitude higher than lamp-pumped versions of the technology but the real significance is the opportunity diode-pumped Alexandrite offers to supersede Nd:YAG as the preferred laser source for space-based Lidar remote sensing". Hovemere Ltd, a leader in the development of Lidar systems, has been subcontractor to Midaz providing advice for lidar system aspects.
Additional benefits such as wavelength tuning and portability offer great scope for other sensing applications in commercial and defense markets in the near IR (700-860nm), UV (350-430nm) and Deep UV (233-287nm; 175-215nm). Industrial and scientific markets include microscopy for biomedical imaging solutions and laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy for analysing materials at the molecular level. Diode pumped Alexandrite can be used in scientific research as a high energy amplifier for Ti:sapphire lasers.
MIDAZ launches 20 WATT DPSS laser for high speed marking.
May 2011
Midaz lasers Ltd has launched the Flair-20 which provides superior performance levels of 20 Watts of IR and pulse repetition at up to 500kHz. The Flair specification exceeds competing DPSS lasers by a significant factor. Extremely short ns pulse durations and high peak power capability is unmatched by fibre lasers. The linearly polarised beam and excellent beam quality enable efficient conversion to Green and UV wavelengths.
System integration is simplified because of Flair's air-cooling, compact size and modular design approach.
Applications for Flair-20 include high speed laser marking and precision micromachining.
Midaz is confident that Flair-20 will not only replace existing sources in laser marking systems but also help to create new applications which require best quality marking and micromachining at highest throughput. The Flair's performance and competitive price are compelling benefits for OEMs.
Midaz launches the IR Flair-13. Up to 500kHz pulse repetition for highest throughput laser marking, engraving and micromachining.
January 2011
Midaz has launched a DPSS laser with up to 500kHz pulse repetition rate and average power of 13 Watts for high speed laser marking and micromachining applications. Midaz patented micro-slab technology offers a robust and compact air-cooled laser head product as an OEM module or complete with electronic controller.
Midaz believes that Flair-13 will not only replace existing sources in laser marking systems but also help to create new applications which require best quality marking and micromachining with high throughput.
The Infra-Red (IR) Flair’s industry-leading performance can also be adapted to offer bespoke laser solutions in the Green and UV.
Midaz ships very high gain laser Amplifiers
January 2011
Midaz has taken its unique micro-slab amplifier technology and created a range of diode-pumped solid-state (DPSS) amplifier modules offering customers a new breakthrough set of capabilities that were previously unavailable. Midaz amplifiers at 1064nm offer highest gain (~104) DPSS amplification, high average powers and peak power capability for pulse operation.
Low power CW and pulsed seed lasers can be amplified to tens of Watts in a single amplifier stage. High peak power capability allows operation in pulsed formats which cannot be matched by fibre amplifier technologies.
Two models are available, the A50-A is an air-cooled amplifier module with up to 30W of average power. The A70-W is a water-cooled version with amplified powers up to 45W.
European Space Agency recognises Midaz innovation
December 2009
ESA and Midaz Lasers to develop alexandrite lasers for LIDAR
The European Space Agency (ESA) and Midaz Lasers Limited (London, England), a spin-out company from Imperial College London, will work together on a development program to use alexandrite lasers to replace Nd:YAG lasers as the dominant source for light detection and ranging (LIDAR) applications.
Capable of measuring a wide variety of atmospheric parameters, LIDAR is a remote sensing technology suited to measurements including wind speed, temperature, aerosols and the density and distribution of pollutant gases. LIDAR is currently dominated by YAG lasers as the laser source of choice but they can suffer from low efficiency and applications are restricted by lack of wavelength tunability which severely limits the scientific data they can acquire.
Midaz Lasers has significant expertise in the design and development of high power diode-pumped solid state (DPSS) lasers. The company's technology team, led by professor Michael Damzen, have planned a technology development program based on the potential benefits of alexandrite laser performance including higher wall-plug efficiency (to improve power/weight restrictions on mobile platforms) and ultimately the possibility of tuning the laser system in the ultraviolet (UV).
Lidar Technologies Limited is a world leader in the development of LIDAR systems and is providing technical support and expertise for the execution of the project and subsequent phases of development. The ESA has offered funding of nearly $220,000 dollars (150,000 Euro) for the initial development phase as first step in a road map towards implementation. This funding enables an engineered version of the diode-pumped Alexandrite laser to be constructed by Midaz. Other commercial applications for the Alexandrite laser will also be assessed and exploitation routes determined.
Professor Michael Damzen is elected Fellow of the Optical Society of America
Sept 2007
Professor Michael Damzen, Founder of Midaz Lasers Ltd and Professor of Experimental Laser Physics at Imperial College London, is elected as a Fellow of the Optical Society of America. He was presented with this honour at an awards ceremony at the Laser 2007 Show in Munich on 19 June 2007. The citation for Professor Damzen's election as a Fellow was: "You are being recognised for contributions to optics and laser physics over more than 25 years through research into nonlinear optics and development of laser technology and through inspired teaching". Professor Damzen added: "I am honoured to be elected as a Fellow to this prestigious scientific society who are at the forefront of leadership in the field of optics. I hope it will inspire me to continued contributions to the knowledge-base and technological development of this important field that has enabled so many aspects of science, industry, medicine and information technologies."
"Year after year, OSA honors the best and the brightest in the field of optics and photonics by selecting its Fellows," said Elizabeth Rogan, OSA executive director. "Michael Damzen has contributed much to the field, providing leadership, innovation, expertise, service and quality research. OSA congratulates him on his achievements."
Imperial Innovations invests $280K in the Midaz touch
October 2006
Midaz Lasers, a new spin off from Imperial College London, is joining the race to provide high-power DPSS lasers to the booming part-marking sector.
Imperial Innovations Group (IIG), a UK-based technology transfer company, has founded and invested £150,000 ($280,000) in spin-out Midaz Lasers, which is developing lasers for industrial markets. This investment in Midaz by IIG is part of a £300,000 ($560,000) funding round.
Midaz will provide a range of high-powered lasers, with a choice of different wavelengths from infrared to ultraviolet, which will cover multiple industrial applications in the area of marking and coding as well as micro machining. Other lasers in the range could be used for applications requiring UV or green wavelengths at high powers.
"We have a strong technology base based on a long period of research which meets a substantial market with clearly identified customer applications," said Susan Searle, CEO of Imperial Innovations. "We formed the business together with the academic team, having matched this with a commercial team and having validated industrial interest in the proposed products.
"We believe we are addressing a market segment worth more than $500 million altogether."
