Laser Optics Summit

As laser applications continue to advance toward higher power levels, optical components must evolve to meet stringent requirements for reflectivity, laser-induced damage thresholds (LIDT), and thermal stability.

Laser optics are key components in every laser processing system, especially in the high-power laser regime for applications like cutting, welding or additive manufacturing as well as various medical laser therapies. They guide the laser beam from the source to the workpiece while preserving the beam quality. Additionally, real-time process monitoring has become essential for ensuring quality assurance and traceability during production. As a result, high-precision diagnostic optics are playing a growing role in monitoring the laser-material interaction and enabling advanced process control. This requires optics with the highest reflectivity and damage threshold, which is currently driving the development of complex optical interference coatings.

Dr.-Ing. Hansjörg Rohde, product manager at LASER COMPONENTS, will highlight how modern optical coating technologies are being developed and optimized to address these growing challenges in diverse applications. Key topics include the selection of suitable coating methods, in-line process monitoring during the coating process and novel approaches such as post-deposition annealing to enhance coating performance and durability under extreme high-power laser operating conditions.