View a selection of feature articles that discuss the latest developments for lasers in the Solar industry. If you need guidance on citation format or are looking for permission to reproduce any of the information found here, please contact us at Solar@Coherent.com as copyright exists on all information contained here. Feature Articles Photovoltaics World, March/April 2009 High efficiency cell concepts LGBC Dielectric ablation AVIA, Talisker lasers Photovoltaic International, March 2009 Update on lasers in solar Laser-based tools Tooling trends Material interactions Solar Industry Magazine, February 2009 Supply chain of lasers in solar Issues for fab integration Challenges for supply chain PV Magazine, January 2009 DPSS lasers as 'green tools' Benefits to c-Si producers Challenges to laser adoption Dielectric ablation Talisker,AVIA lasers Photovoltaic International, August 2008 Value chain for lasers Edge isolation, LGBC Wrap-thru', LFC Thin-film patterning AVIA, Talisker, Prisma lasers Semiconductor International, August 2008 Cost of ownership Production yields Edge isolation Thin-film patterning AVIA, Prisma lasers Industrial Laser Europe, May 2008 Applications overview Thin-film patterning DPSS laser portfolio Edge isolation AVIA, Prisma, Matrix lasers Photonics Spectra, April 2008 c-Si roadmap Edge isolation LGBC UV absorption AVIA lasers

There are many different applications for lasers within Solar cell manufacturing. Each of crystalline-Silicon and Thin-Film has its own set of manufacturing processes - and therefore laser based applications. The table below lists the key applications for our lasers. As the Solar industry is in high-growth mode, and the manufacturing processes are continually improving, many of the laser applications now at R&D stage are expected to move to volume production within the next few years. Comprehensive feature articles for most applications have been published recently in solar trade magaines, and can be downloaded via the hyperlinks below.

Crystalline-Silicon
Edge Isolation	Laser Scribing Tools Edge in Front Edge isolation process summary Laser vs Etching solutions AVIA laser systems and tools
Laser Grooved Buried Contacts	How Buried Contacts Brought Lasers to Life LGBC as a guide to tool manufacturers Synergy between LGBC and high efficiency concepts AVIA laser systems and tools
Texturing
Selective Ablation	Lasers Go Short for Dielectric Ablation of Silicon Solar Cells Dielectric Ablation summary Passivation process Talisker, AVIA and Excimer lasers
Wrap-Through	Lasers Take the Wrap Wrap-through process summary Solar hole drilling vs Semi TSV's AVIA laser systems and tools for MWT
Dopant Diffusion
Laser Fired Contacts
Thin Film
a:Si Patterning	Scribing Thin Film Solar Focus on a:Si process Scribe requirementss Laser optimization IR & green ns lasers Prisma lasers
CIGS Patterning
Glass Cutting	Laser Cutting Strengthens Thin-Film Glass Panels Solar glass cutting with lasers Benefits vs. mechanical cutting Lessons from displays sector E-400 CO2 lasers
CdTe Patterning

Preview our Solar Video for a detailed look at Lasers in the Solar Industry

For each application - both in crystalline-Silicon and Thin-Film - there are typically one or two lasers that can be used for the process, depending on the process time and quality required. Click on the product name hyperlinks to take you to the product pages for more information including product datasheets.

Coherent Lasers in Solar Cell Applications
	AVIA	LAMBDA SX	Talisker	Paladin	PRISMA	Diamond E-400	MATRIX
Crystalline-Silicon
Edge Isolation	x
Laser Grooved Buried Contacts	x
Texturing	x	x	x
Selective Ablation	x		x
Wrap-Through	x		x
Dopant Diffusion				x
Laser Fired Contacts					x
Thin Film
a:Si Patterning	x				x		x
CIGS Patterning			x		x		x
Glass Cutting						x
CdTe Patterning					x		x

Coherent's Solar Solutions Brochure

To ensure the performance of laser-based systems used in solar manufacturing is maintained at optimum levels, its vital to maintain a laser metrology capability.

End users and integrators in the solar industry will benefit from:

The ability to monitor laser health and status

Ensuring that stable power and consistent beam quality is being delivered at the cell or panel surface to center the operation in its process window.

A troubleshooting & diagnostic capability

Just like non-laser based equipment, routine tests during scheduled service intervals reduces the risk of equipment failure.

Minimize equipment downtime by being able to measure laser output and beam characteristics if something goes wrong.

Rapid delivery of diagnostics equipment

We know it is tough dealing with long lead times when you need measurement equipment urgently, Coherent offers next day deliveries through our C24 Program. Coherent maintains a low service turn around time averaging less than two weeks, so you are not without your equipment for long if it needs calibrating or service.

The following systems are commonly used to measure the diode-pumped solid state lasers used in solar processing:

	FieldMaxII-TO Power Meter and PM30 Sensor - This system will measure the average power output of the laser and display it on a handheld instrument.		LaserCam-HR Beam Diagnostics System is a USB Camera based system that is used to view the laser beam quality. It plugs directly to a PC and comes with easy-to-use software that displays relevant beam parameters.

Trade Coverage InterPV, April, 2009 Coverage of new Coherent products for Solar New AVIA laser with 28W at 355 nm New AVIA laser with 45W at 355 nm New Paladin laser with 16W modelocked picosecond pulses at 355 nm Laser Focus World, April 2009 Preview of OIDA Green Photonics conference Update on Solar’s role within ‘Green’ Photonics i-Micronews PV Manufacturing, October 2008 Coherent's role in solar Market dynamics UV laser applications Customer alignment Talisker lasers Letter in Photon International, August 2008 Letter to the editor Role of lasers for c-Si Interview in Laser Magazine, March 2008 Laser types in solar Market trends Applications overview LGBC AVIA, Prisma lasers Press Releases     100th AVIA Laser Ships for Solar Cell Production, Apr.2009   New Lasers Increase Throughput, Mar.2009   Picosecond Talisker, Oct.2008   28W UV AVIA,Sept.2008

Presentations
PV Meeting Semicon Europa, October 2008 Presentation slides Lasers in solar review Trends to UV & ps AVIA, Prisma, Matrix Talisker, Paladin lasers	CLEO PhAST, May 2008 Presentation slides Applications overview Case studies UV, ns & ps lasers Excimer laser options
Conference Papers
PV Meeting Semicon Europa, October 2008 Applications update Laser adoption Material interactions Market dynamics AVIA, Talisker lasers	Photonics West,January 2008 Thin-film patterning Focus on a:Si panels Scribe requirements Laser selection Prisma lasers