Key Highlights:
– Optical scientists have discovered a new method to boost the power of fibre lasers while preserving beam quality, positioning them as a crucial defence technology against inexpensive drones and for remote sensing applications.
– Researchers from the University of South Australia (UniSA), the University of Adelaide (UoA), and Yale University have successfully utilized multimode optical fibre to amplify the power of fibre lasers by three-to-nine times without compromising beam quality, allowing them to focus on distant targets.
– This breakthrough has been published in Nature Communications and offers significant potential for the defence industry, remote sensing applications, and gravitational wave detection.
– Dr. Linh Nguyen, a researcher at UniSA’s Future Industries Institute, emphasizes the importance of high-power fibre lasers in manufacturing and defence, particularly in countering the rising threat of low-cost drones in modern battlefields.
– The researchers’ innovative approach aligns with the objectives of the Defence Strategic Review and AUKUS Pillar 2, providing a strong deterrent effect and asymmetric advantage in combat scenarios.
– Dr. Ori Henderson-Sapir, project investigator at UoA’s Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing, highlights Australia’s leading position in developing innovative fibre optics technologies and their potential to aid new scientific discoveries.
– The researchers will present their findings at Photonics West, a premier international conference on photonics technology, in early 2024.
Crafting an H2
“Revolutionary Breakthrough: High-Power Fibre Lasers Pave the Way for Advanced Defence Technology and Remote Sensing Applications”