Laser technology is one of the markets with extraordinarily strong growth. Several factors are driving this trend: on the one hand, a need for precise and flexible production processes down to micrometer and nanometer precision and, on the other, market-specific requirements for higher individualization of products. Efficient manufacturing processes, powerful beam sources and process-adapted optical systems are required in various sectors, from automotive engineering through medical and energy technology to electronics. Fraunhofer ILT ranks among the top addresses for the development of innovative laser-beam sources and high-quality optical components and systems. One of its core competencies is lasers with spatially, temporally and spectrally tailor-made radiation and output powers from microwatts to gigawatts. It provides suitable solutions for laser manufacturers, system integrators or laser users.
Fraunhofer ILT covers the entire spectrum of laser beam sources from diode lasers, to fiber lasers all the way to solid-state lasers. In particular, the institute develops ultrashort pulse lasers with outputs up into the kilowatt range – an expertise in such high demand that it will result in novel manufacturing solutions in the future.
The core element of a powerful laser application is often process-adapted beam-guidance and beam-shaping elements. Here too, Fraunhofer ILT develops application-adapted processing optics with a flexibly tunable beam shape, multi-beam systems for parallel processing and fast scanner systems for additive manufacturing and surface structuring.
For new applications – such as free-space data transmission, terrestrial and satellite-based monitoring of climate gases and quantum technology – Fraunhofer ILT offers tailor-made solutions such as narrow-band laser sources, single-photon sources or XUV lasers for semiconductor technology and basic research.