Press Releases

New Thermopile Sensors Enable Laser Power Measurement up to 6 kW

Santa Clara, CA, March 17, 2020 – Coherent has extended the capabilities of its PowerMax series thermopile sensors to enable measurement of laser powers as high as 6 kW. The new PM1K+, PM3K+ and PM6K+ water-cooled, thermopile sensors incorporate the novel BB+ broadband coating to deliver reliable power measurements of CW or modulated lasers up to 1 kW, 3 kW, and 6 kW in output power respectively, within the spectral range of 190 nm to 11 µm.

The ability to sustain high power densities (≤14 kW/cm² at 1 kW, and ≤2.3 kW/cm² at 6 kW), together with a large, 50 mm diameter active area, makes these new PM series sensors particularly useful for measuring fiber lasers, CO₂ lasers, and other high power industrial laser sources. Additionally, each of the sensors is available with three possible connectors - DB25, USB and RS-232. The DB25 versions are compatible with several of the Coherent standalone power meters, including LabMax-TOP, LabMax -TO, LabMax-Pro SSIM, FieldMaxII-TOP, FieldMaxII-TO, FieldMaxII-P, and FieldMate, making them a suitable choice for both laboratory use and field service. The USB equipped models plug directly into a PC, which is most useful in manufacturing, QA and testing applications, particularly where data logging is required. Finally, the RS-232 versions are primarily targeted for embedded OEM integration, since these can plug directly into an industrial system controller. Then, the sensor can be controlled via direct host commands or through applications software included with the sensor.

Latest One-Box Femtosecond Amplifier Delivers Record Pulse Energy

Santa Clara, CA., February 10, 2020 – Coherent will introduce the Astrella HE at Photonics West 2020 (San Francisco, CA) – a one-box femtosecond amplifier that delivers up to 9 millijoules at a repetition rate of 1 kHz. This is the highest pulse energy commercially available from a water-cooled, single-stage, kHz regenerative amplifier. The use of closed-loop water cooling simplifies the installation of this titanium:sapphire amplifier and also lowers the capital and operating costs. The new Astrella HE has the same footprint and compact one-box format and user friendly operating software as existing Astrella amplifier products. It is available with a choice of 35 fs or 100 fs pulse widths.

Like other Astrella amplifiers, the new Astrella HE integrates a titanium:sapphire oscillator and a single-stage regenerative amplifier together with a pulsed green (527 nm) laser to pump the amplifier stage – all in a single box measuring only 1247 mm x 755 mm x 262 mm. A major challenge in power/energy scaling of titanium:sapphire laser amplifiers is heat management, specifically cooling the gain crystal. By clever design optimization, Astrella HE delivers higher pulse energy than any other kilohertz regenerative amplifier as well as excellent beam quality: M² ≤ 1.25. In addition to state-of-the-art performance, Astrella also provides industrial 24/7 reliability and stability because it is designed from the ground-up under the Coherent HALT/HASS program (Highly Accelerated Life Testing and Highly Accelerated Stress Screening).

The Astrella HE can be used to pump multiple tunable optical parametric amplifiers (OPAs) either to simultaneously run multiple experiments, or single experiments that need multiple independently tunable wavelengths. Astrella HE decreases dramatically the entry barrier to applications so far addressed by complex and more expensive multi-box ultrafast amplifiers. Applications like EUV generation approaching the water window or laser plasma acceleration can now be addressed by a compact UF amplifier, resulting in a cost-effective, compact, and reliable set-up. In turn, this will enable applications of EUV coherent radiation or energetic electrons to industrial diagnostics, biology, material science, and microelectronics.

Introducing the First Switchable Adjustable Ring Mode (ARM) Fiber Laser

Santa Clara, CA, November 11, 2019 – The new Coherent HighLight^TM FL-ARM with Fiber-Fiber-Switch is a high-power (2 - 8 kW), dual fiber output laser that can sequentially power two separate workstations or processes. Dual fiber output delivers increased throughput in cost sensitive, high-volume welding applications, particularly in automotive manufacturing, such as welding of doors, hang-on parts, ultra-high strength steel components, and aluminum body frames. Alternately, the second fiber can act as a redundant backup for the first, thus minimizing service downtime when required.

HighLight FL-ARM implements power sharing through the use of Coherent’s proprietary Fiber-Fiber-Switch technology. The process fibers themselves utilize Coherent’s unique Adjustable Ring Mode configuration, comprising a dual core delivery fiber which produces a central spot surrounded by another concentric ring of laser light. The power levels in the center and the ring can be independently adjusted on demand (from 1% to 100%) and switched at a rate 1000 times faster than competing products; it can also be independently modulated. This arrangement provides improved control of keyhole and melt pool stability during the welding process, leading to superior results. Added to this, HighLight FL-ARM employs a multi-stage back reflection immunity system that enhances laser reliability and lifetime, and enables safe processing of highly reflective materials, including brass, copper, and aluminum.

The HighLight FL-ARM with Fiber-Fiber-Switch is the first new product to be introduced by the recently created Coherent Center of Excellence for fiber lasers in Tampere, Finland.

Laser Marker Offers Increased Throughput and Flexibility for Product Serialization

Santa Clara, CA, November 7, 2019 – The Coherent PowerLine® E Twin is a laser-based marking sub-system that can increase speed by as much as 100% for serialization marking of delicate and heat sensitive parts, such as semiconductor integrated circuits. Its unique combination of high speed, large marking field, ability to produce individual marks, and powerful control software make it well suited for marking ICs with serialization codes, performance specifications, traceability data, and anti-counterfeiting features.

The PowerLine E Twin is a Class IV laser sub-system comprising two diode-pumped solid-state lasers, two galvanometer scanners, and all associated drive electronics, control software, and chiller. The combination of twin lasers and scanners can simultaneously produce two different marks on a single work piece (which may consist of several, individual ICs on strip, tray or wafer-level). Additionally, it can cover a marking field as large as a 300 mm wafer or JEDEC tray, thus delivering double the effective marking speed of traditional, single laser products. With the PowerLine E Twin, the control of the independent lasers and scanners occurs internally; the operator just sees a single, easy-to-use interface that efficiently translates job specifications into the necessary operating instructions. The software also includes Matrix Object functionality; this enables it to use supplied part position data to mark arrays of products, such as multiple ICs at the wafer-level, in strips, or in handling trays.

The PowerLine E Twin is designed for easy integration, and is meant to be a straightforward replacement for single laser markers. For example, it avoids the cost of unnecessary duplication and utilizes only one power supply and chiller, and incorporates lasers and scanners in a single mechanical assembly. Moreover, the system integrator can rely on Coherent’s application expertise to develop and refine processes and optimize laser system parameters, thus taking maximum advantage of the higher speed and operational flexibility offered by the PowerLine E Twin.

New Ultrafast Laser Broadens Horizons for Multiphoton Imaging

Santa Clara, CA, 10/19/2019 – The unique performance of the new Chameleon Discovery NX laser delivers deep multiphoton microscope images with superb brightness and high contrast, making it especially well-suited for live tissue imaging in neuroscience and other intravital applications.

The Chameleon Discovery NX offers breakthrough power levels (up to 3 W), and shortest pulses at the sample plane to enable complex two photon microscope configurations. Short pulse duration is key to high brightness/contrast images and is enabled by a group dispersion delay (GDD) pre-compensator with enhanced dynamic range. It avoids unwanted pulse stretching, even in wide field microscope setups using highly refractive objectives, allowing users to minimize unwanted sample heating and maximize image depth.

Chameleon Discovery NX provides several other industry-leading benefits: It boasts tuning from 660 nm to 1320 nm, while simultaneously producing a high-power fixed wavelength output at 1040 nm. It is also available with Total Power Control (TPC), enabling built-in high-speed power modulation. Incorporating the latest acousto-optic (AO) technology, this functionality provides high-contrast modulation on both the tunable femtosecond output and the 1040 nm output. TPC ensures that the laser’s excellent beam quality is delivered directly to the microscope scan head.

Furthermore, real-time power modulation provided by TPC is important in multiphoton microscopy for several reasons. It enables optimization of laser power for each image plane depth, and for fast “flyback” beam blanking when unidirectional raster scanning is required. The TPC function provides fast rise-time, and both analog and digital control of laser power, which may be synchronized with the microscope scanning optics.

In addition to multiphoton imaging, the Chameleon Discovery NX is well suited to ultrafast spectroscopy and other time-resolved studies. Its utility in these applications can be expanded with optional frequency extensions which broaden the wavelength coverage from 330 nm to 16 μm.

New Versatile Laser Sub-Systems for Organic and Glass Materials Processing

Santa Clara, CA, September 27, 2019 – The new Coherent PowerLine C is a CO2 laser-based sub-system that offers a combination of convenience, versatility, and economy for precision drilling, cutting, scribing, structuring, marking, and engraving of a wide range of materials. These include organics, such as polymers, paper, fabric, leather, vulcanized rubber or wood, as well as glass and ceramics.

The PowerLine C incorporates a sealed CO2 laser (available output powers of 180 W, 250 W, and 450 W), with a choice of scanning and beam delivery optics, in a compact, modular package. The combination of a fast scanner head, high laser power, and excellent beam quality, as well as powerful control software enables high processing speed, precision, and quality.

Coherent’s StarFlex software makes the PowerLine C easy to operate while also providing sophisticated process options. For example, a graphical user interface enables straightforward layout of cutting or marking paths, assignment of laser parameters, laser triggering (including offsets), and display of workload or process time. The PowerLine C has also been designed for ease of integration. It is housed in a 19” rack mount, uses a standard interface for network connections under Windows 10, and communicates using standard CAN bus technology.

Coherent will premiere the PowerLine C at Labelexpo Europe 2019 (Brussels, Belgium, September 24 – 27, 2019) and Coiltech (Pordenone, Italy, September 25 – 26), with actual product rollout in November 2019.

Coherent Offers Turnkey Solution for Precision Metal Parts Welding

Santa Clara, CA, September 18, 2019 – The new Coherent ExactWeld 230 is a turnkey solution for automated, precision laser welding of metal parts. It includes a 200 W (400 W optional) fiber laser, part clamping, up to four-axis (x, y, z, c), user friendly software, an optional vision system, and factory automation capabilities (Industry 4.0/IIoT ready). These features combine to maximize weld quality, and increase production yields, process consistency and operator productivity. ExactWeld 230 is an attractive choice for medical manufacturing such as endoscope production, as well as the fabrication of precision sensors, jewelry, timepieces and automotive electronics. ExactWeld 230 also incorporates Coherent’s innovative SmartWeld™ technology for producing complex “beam wobble” patterns, including circular and zigzag paths. SmartWeld™ enables bridging of larger gaps, which relaxes tolerances, increases process flexibility, and delivers welds with higher quality and reproducibility.

Unlike many competitive products, which address only part of the entire welding process (e.g. just a laser, part handling robotics or process monitoring equipment), Coherent ExactWeld delivers a complete, end-to-end solution. For example, a specific solution may include an integrated vision system for either operator or automated part monitoring, a pneumatically actuated precision fixturing (including sensors), and/or a rotary table for part loading/unloading. Plus, Coherent backs up ExactWeld with complete process development support to aid in the production of task-specific process recipes, and operator training to ensure operator proficiency. Furthermore, Coherent’s global network of offices and service facilities provides ongoing local support for existing processes and continued process development.

PowerLine E 8 QT: UV Laser Sub-System Enables High Throughput Plastics Marking

Santa Clara, CA, June 24, 2019 – A new marking sub-system from Coherent utilizes a powerful 8 W UV laser to enable high-speed marking of polycarbonates, plexiglass, PMMA and other plastics. Plus, the PowerLine E 8 QT combines modular, high performance scan optics and a sophisticated software interface to deliver significant operational flexibility. This allows straightforward implementation of complex tasks such as 3D marking on curved surfaces, on-the-fly marking, engraving and serialization.The ability to rapidly produce a high-contrast mark on a wide variety of clear and colored plastics makes the PowerLine E 8 QT an attractive choice for system builders supporting microelectronics, medical products, automotive, packaging and appliance production.

The PowerLine E 8 QT is a compact, air-cooled, Class IV sub-system which is designed for easy integration, operational reliability and rapid field service. In addition to the laser and scan optics, it also incorporates an integrated power sensor, mechanical safety shutter, and visible positioning laser. The system components are contained in a sealed enclosure which utilizes filtered, recirculated air to minimize external contamination. When service is required, various system components, such as the power sensor, purification unit, humidity sensors and scan optics, can be exchanged in the field, without exposing other system components to contamination. This eliminates the need to return the unit to the factory for almost all service tasks.

To further assist systems integrators, Coherent can supply extensive applications support for pre-sales proof-of-principle testing, as well as process recipe development. Once in service, all system parameters can be easily tailored for specific tasks

PowerLine Avia NX: High Power UV Laser Sub-System Speeds Wafer and Packaging Cutting

Santa Clara, CA, June 24, 2019 – A new laser cutting sub-system from Coherent combines a high power, ultraviolet (UV) laser and precision scan optics to deliver rapid throughput and exceptional cut quality when processing wafers, SIPs and PCBs. Specifically, the PowerLine AVIA NX matches a 40 Watt Coherent AVIA® laser source with a two-axis galvanometer deflector, a beam expander, and an f-theta scan lens (with a field of view large enough to cover a 300 mm wafer or PCB). This combination produces small, focused spot sizes at the work surface, with high positional accuracy and stability to create fine features and narrow cuts with minimal heat affected zone (HAZ).

The PowerLine AVIA NX is also designed and built to deliver unmatched reliability and longevity. Coherent’s AVIA NX laser leverages the company’s extensive expertise in building high power UV lasers to provide exceptional lifetime. In the PowerLine sub-system, this laser and other system components are contained in a sealed enclosure which utilizes filtered, recirculated air to minimize contamination from external sources. When service is required, most operations can be performed in the field, without returning the unit to the factory. This is simplified through the use of modular design, where any element of the sub-system can be removed for service or replacement without exposing the rest of the system to contamination.

The PowerLine AVIA NX is a Class IV laser sub-system designed for easy integration by system builders. Plus, Coherent can supply extensive applications support for pre-sales proof-of-principle testing and process recipe development. Once in service, all system parameters can be easily varied and tailored for specific tasks.

SmartWeld+ Delivers Significantly Improved Laser Welding Results

Santa Clara, CA, June 24, 2019 – SmartWeld+ is an add-on for Coherent StarFiber laser welding products that delivers dramatically improved results, particularly when welding dissimilar or otherwise challenging materials, such as aluminum and copper. Specifically, for dissimilar materials, it improves blending of the melt pool for a better metallurgical bond and more consistent results. When welding highly reflective or volatile materials, SmartWeld+ increases process stability and reduces spatter, porosity and cracking, because it produces lower viscosity and reduced surface tension in the melt pool. The ability of SmartWeld+ to better control energy input into the material also decreases the heat affected zone (HAZ). It is particularly suitable for welding thin, dissimilar and/or temperature-sensitive materials. Additionally, SmartWeld+ simplifies welding workpieces with poor fit-up tolerances since it allows the width and depth of the weld seam to be controlled independently of the focused laser spot size. Together, these features make SmartWeld+ a candidate for precision welding in medical device manufacturing, microelectronics fabrication, e-mobility production and even watchmaking.

SmartWeld+ comprises a processing head, containing fixed beam delivery optics and a galvanometer scanning module, together with sophisticated software for producing a variety of pre-programmed patterns. These “smart” patterns move well beyond beam wobble, to encompass spirals, ellipses and other complex shapes. Furthermore, the pattern size and orientation can be controlled to follow part contours and achieve constant weld quality and seam dimensions. The combination of fast scanning (up to 4 kHz) and high-precision motion makes SmartWeld+ particularly suitable for on-the-fly adaptation.
SmartWeld+ integrates smoothly with Coherent StarFiber products and significantly extends their capabilities.

Coherent Offers Design and Volume Production of OEM Fiber Assemblies

Santa Clara, CA, June 24, 2019 – For nearly a decade, Coherent has designed and fabricated custom fiber assemblies in high volume for its internal use, as well as for a few, select OEMs. Now, those same production capabilities are being offered to the broader commercial market, with a particular emphasis on medical device and life science equipment OEMs. These capabilities can be put to use for fiber-optic probes for OCT (optical coherence tomography) and other non-invasive 3D medical imaging modalities, as well as high power fiber connector assemblies for surgical and dermatological procedures (including lithotripsy, BPH treatment, laser lipolysis, endovenous laser ablation, and skin rejuvenation).

Coherent uses vertically-integrated processes to manufacture optical fibers and fiber assemblies, with extensive in-house expertise in both designing fiber preforms and drawing optical fiber, as well as optomechanical design and metrology. Specific capabilities include the design and fabrication of fiber optic probes for spectroscopy, medical probes for imaging (with fiber connectorization), fiber distal tip optics for custom imaging systems, and beam shaping and beam delivery optics for illumination and light therapy. Metrology capabilities include testing a variety of optical, mechanical and environmental characteristics, such as insertion loss and return loss, tensile strength, and beam profile. Coherent-Salem is an FDA registered, ISO13485 certified, high volume manufacturing site.

“While Coherent is probably not widely known as a fiber assembly provider, in fact, we have a long and successful track record as a major supplier to OEMs, with the capacity to produce thousands of units per week,” notes Andy Held, Vice President/General Manager of Coherent-Salem. “Particularly in the area of medical products and life sciences, we have the demonstrated ability to consistently deliver high quality, precision assemblies while meeting stringent lead-time and price constraints.”

HyperRapid NXT: Advanced Pulse Synchronization Improves Picosecond Laser Micromachining

Santa Clara, CA, June 24, 2019 – The Coherent HyperRapid NXT is a high-power picosecond laser that employs advanced pulsing technology to enable micromachining with precision and a minimal heat affected zone (HAZ). Specifically, HyperRapid NXT implements Coherent’s PulseEQ technology, which delivers strings of synchronous, invariant pulses on demand from an external trigger signal. This jitterfree, precision triggering and advanced energy control enables system builders to benefit from the highspeed synchronization capabilities now available from state-of-the-art scanners and stages.

HyperRapid NXT is a family of picosecond (pulsewidth <15 ps) lasers available in IR, Green and UV wavelengths, at a variety of output powers. This includes outputs of 100 W average power (250 μJ pulse energy) at 1064 nm, and 30 W average power (75 µJ pulse energy) at 355 nm. All models offer fully adjustable pulse repetition frequencies, from single shot to 5 MHz. In addition, these lasers are also designed, manufactured and tested to deliver the exceptional reliability and stability required for operation in industrial 24/7 environments.

HyperRapid NXT combines high output power, the ability to deliver targeted laser energy (regardless of scan speed), and the inherent benefits of virtually athermal picosecond processing. These characteristics make it an appropriate source for a variety of micromachining tasks that require high spatial precision and minimum HAZ. Typical applications include OLED cutting, SmartCleave® glass and sapphire filamentation cutting, and semiconductor wafer and low-κ material scribing, as well as cutting of modified polyimide (MPI) and liquid crystal polymer (LCP) – two constituents in the fabrication of 5G cellular phone antennas.

PowerMax Pro OEM: Fast OEM Laser Power Sensor Elevates In-Line Control of Critical Processes

Santa Clara, CA, June 24, 2019 – The Coherent PowerMax PRO OEM is a new laser power sensor whose large active area, fast response and high power capacity offer advantages over the semiconductor photodiodes and other detectors commonly used for continuous inline monitoring in applications having a narrow process window. Specifically, the new PowerMax PRO OEM utilizes Coherent’s patented transverse thermoelectric detector technology, which combines the response speed of a photodiode with the broadband wavelength coverage, large detection area, dynamic range, and laser damage resistance of a thermopile. This enables PowerMax PRO OEM to offer a higher performance and cost competitive alternative to photodiodes, which often require optical attenuation and complex preamplification for onboard power measurement in precision materials processing systems.

The new PowerMax model is particularly useful with CO2 lasers, where its high power handling capability, large active area (15 x 15 mm²) and broadband spectral response deliver fast, accurate and low noise measurements; plus, it eliminates the expense and complexity of the optical attenuators, preamps and TE coolers often required with photodiodes. It is also well matched for measuring ultra-short pulse industrial lasers with output in the ultraviolet, since an available coating prevents exposure related drift in detector response, such as occurs with photodiodes.

The PowerMax PRO OEM offers an attractive solution for embedded use in precision materials processing systems that operate in a highly confined process window, and therefore require constant monitoring of laser output. Typical applications include aesthetic medical systems and precision micromachining systems used in microelectronics manufacturing (e.g. via drilling), solar cell fabrication, medical device production, and various tasks in converting/packaging. In addition to the bare OEM detector, Coherent can also supply a ready to use “developer’s kit”, including cables, housing, and software integration.

Axon: Compact Ultrafast Laser Lowers Costs for Microscopy and Other Applications

Santa Clara, CA, June 24, 2019 – Coherent has introduced the Axon family, a completely new suite of compact femtosecond lasers, designed from inception to deliver lower cost, reduced complexity, and smaller footprint. Axon addresses demanding applications such as multiphoton microscopy (MPE), nanoprocessing, semiconductor metrology, and THz spectroscopy. Axon is a fixed wavelength, compact (212 mm x 312 mm x 62 mm), air-cooled laser delivered at a market-enabling price point. The first two models have output wavelengths of 920 nm and 1064 nm, with other wavelength versions expected soon. All Axon lasers feature the same form, fit and function, including 1 W of average power with integrated, software-controlled GVD pre-compensation. To further simply adoption of this laser, its output matches the existing femtosecond laser oscillators: short (< 150 fs) pulse width, a clean temporal profile and 80 MHz pulse repetition rate.

A major application of the Axon lasers is multiphoton microscopy. The 920 nm laser is designed for GFP and related imaging probes, and Ca2+ indicators such as GCAMP. The 1064 nm version matches well with red shifted Ca2+ indicators and red fluorescent proteins. Although MPE delivers inherent 3D images, deep penetration and high cell viability, market adoption lags well behind confocal microscopy because the cost and size of available femtosecond lasers and the challenges of integrating them with a microscope. The combination of the optional integrated fast modulation and small laser head allows for direct attachment of Axon to a microscope scan head, potentially negating the need for an optical table. Other applications for Axon include two-photon polymerization, material nanoprocessing and semiconductor and thin film metrology. The 1064 nm model is also an excellent tool for supercontinuum generation thanks to its high fidelity femtosecond pulse quality.

Director of Product Marketing, Darryl McCoy, notes that, “The short pulse width and high peak power of femtosecond lasers enable cutting-edge methods in biology, physics, applied science, semiconductor metrology and materials processing. We are committed to supporting developers in these important fields with lasers that offer a combination of performance, ease of use and economy in order to enable the widest possible user base. We are proud to introduce a new generation of laser that exemplifies this commitment.”

Monaco UV: Introducing High Reliability, Industrial UV Femtosecond Laser for Precision Cutting

Santa Clara, CA, June 24, 2019 – The new Coherent Monaco UV femtosecond laser provides industrial 24/7 reliability with the energy, repetition rate, and resulting minimal heat affected zone (HAZ) to drive high-throughput, high-precision cutting, scribing, and drilling in microelectronics. This makes the laser suitable for OLED cutting, wafer cutting, cutting of thin polymer films and foils, flex circuit and low-κ material processing.

While UV (345 nm) femtosecond lasers deliver lower HAZ than other ultrashort pulse lasers, their deployment into the industrial market has been slowed by unsatisfactory reliability. In contrast, Monaco UV utilizes the rigorous HALT/HASS design, manufacturing, and testing protocols employed in the company’s other high-reliability ultrafast and UV lasers. It is the first UV femtosecond laser which offers greater than 3X reduction in HAZ, while simultaneously delivering Coherent’s hallmark industrial reliability.

In addition to exceptional reliability, the output of the Coherent Monaco UV has been specifically designed to deliver the combination of pulse energy and repetition rate (20 µJ/pulse at 1.25 MHz) that best matches the ablation threshold of commonly utilized materials. This enables it to enhance production throughput, while simultaneously offering a lower cost per watt than competitive lasers. And, the monolithic Monaco UV is also the most compact (L=963 mm x W=358 mm x H=175 mm) industrial femtosecond UV solution available, simplifying integration for the system builder. Additionally, the Monaco UV utilizes the same powerful software interface as the rest of the Monaco family, making it easy for both the systems integrator and end user to migrate to this new source.

Monaco HE: New Femtosecond Amplifier Provides Unmatched Performance and Versatility

Santa Clara, CA, June 24, 2019 – The new Monaco HE is an ultrafast amplifier that delivers higher pulse energy over a wider operating range. Specifically, it delivers pulse energies of up to 2 mJ at repetition rates as high as 10 kHz (at 1030 nm) and provides up to 25 W of average power at repetition rates as high as 250 kHz, with independent adjustment of both the pulse repetition rate and the pulse energy. Because the pulse width can be software varied from <350 fs to >10 ps, this amplifier can service demanding scientific applications, as well as advanced materials processing tasks. In addition, the Monaco HE measures a compact 70.4 x 46.5 x 29.6 cm, making it attractive for both end users and OEMs.

Until now, laser amplifier users had to choose between titanium:sapphire systems that offer high pulse energy at low (1-10 kHz) repetition rates, or ytterbium-based amplifiers that typically feature high repetition rates but lower pulse energy. By combining several innovations in ytterbium laser technology, the all-new Monaco HE delivers both high pulse energy and high pulse repetition rates, and thus provides access to the performance gap that previously existed between these two technologies. Just as important, the Monaco HE was designed and manufactured from inception using rigorous HALT/HASS protocols. These techniques are essential to delivering exceptional levels of reliability and operational stability in lasers and amplifiers, and are a cornerstone of Coherent’s Industrial Revolution in Ultrafast Science.

The combination of high pulse energy and high repetition rate makes the Monaco HE well-suited for spectroscopic applications such as multidimensional spectroscopy and time-resolved spectroscopy, where it can also be used to pump tunable optical parametric devices such as an OPA or OPCPA. The high peak power also enables efficient THz generation, providing easier access to this spectral region of increasing interest and research activity. In addition, Monaco HE supports cutting edge industrial applications including two-photon polymerization and materials processing of thin, delicate films, where the high average power enables high throughput.

ExactWeld 230 P: Laser Welding System for Polymers Delivers High Speed and Superior Results

Santa Clara, CA, June 10, 2019 – The new Coherent ExactWeld 230 P enables particle-free high throughput welding of small to medium sized polymer parts. It combines a diode laser, servo-controlled clamping and responsive software to deliver distortion-free weld quality and rapid cycle times. An available vision system is designed to further enhance productivity by providing continuous weld quality assessment, correct product placement and automatic part offset correction. We believe these capabilities make ExactWeld 230 P an ideal solution for polymer part joining in automotive displays, instrumentation, sensors and lights, medical equipment, housings and tube connectors, as well as consumer electronics and appliances.

At the heart of ExactWeld 230 P is a galvanometer scanned diode laser that enables quasi-simultaneous welding over complex contours (over areas of up to 420 mm x 200 mm). With a range of available laser wavelengths and power options, the system can be optimized for specific materials and tasks, and is optionally available with a fiber laser to deliver the thinner weld seams required in some applications. A sophisticated servo-controlled part clamping system can be precisely configured for complex parts, and a rotary table speeds part loading/unloading and enhances throughput. To complete the package, Coherent’s worldwide service team and experienced applications specialists provide comprehensive support, including process optimization to assist customers in developing application-specific “recipes.”

Other ExactWeld 230 P options include software for database interfacing (SQL), robotic part handling, and RFID recognition to enable seamless integration into a multitude of manufacturing environments.

Coherent Creates a Center of Excellence for Industrial Laser Processing Systems and Sub-Systems

Santa Clara, CA, March 5, 2019 – Coherent Inc. has significantly expanded its Gilching, Germany micromachining and sub-system facility, and completed the relocation of the company’s laser marking group from nearby Gunding. This “Center of Excellence”, designated as Coherent Munich, will be a significant upgrade to the organization’s applications and R&D capabilities, and affirms Coherent’s commitment to the industrial materials processing and manufacturing segment.

Coherent Munich’s primary focus will be twofold: 1) Supplying high performance, integration-ready laserbased sub-systems servicing a wide range of precision industrial manufacturing and marking applications in medical device manufacturing, electronics packaging, automotive, and jewelry production. Specifically, this will include the development and production of fiber, CO2 and solid-state laser-based sub-systems incorporating a laser, optics, software and applications expertise; and 2) Supplying a complete product portfolio of laser machines to accomplish specific tasks, such as glass or tube cutting, precision welding of metals and polymers, black marking, roll-to-roll packaging, and others. Our new ExactSeries offerings, which bring innovative hardware, software, and process technology to cutting, welding, marking, surface treatment, and specialty applications, is the latest embodiment of the ongoing integration of ROFIN expertise into Coherent, Inc.

“Our goal is to make industrial manufacturing more efficient and cost effective by delivering superior laser-based products that leverage our deep underlying applications and process knowledge, and which are developed in close cooperation with our customers,” states Thomas Merk, Executive VP and General Manager of Industrial Lasers and Systems. “Combining our Gunding and Gilching operations brings a wider range and depth of expertise under one roof, enabling us to better accomplish this. We believe the creation of this Center of Excellence will therefore enable us to serve a broader range of applications with even more competitive sub-systems and turnkey solutions.”

Coherent Launches ExactCut — First in a New Series of Precision Laser Machines

Santa Clara, CA, February 19, 2019 – The first offering in Coherent’s new ExactSeries of fine materials processing equipment, ExactCut micromachining systems combine intelligence, integration, and interconnectivity for precision cutting of metals, alloys, sapphire, polycrystalline diamond (PCD), and ceramics. To significantly reduce integration and qualification time, ExactCut ships with pre-programmed process parameters for the desired application. It’s a ready-to-use solution for demanding manufacturing applications for medical devices, electronics, automotive, and horology. ExactCut also delivers high flexibility for multipurpose job shops.

ExactCut systems combine the latest generation of pulsed fiber laser sources (300 W / 3 kW pulse peak), a high stability granite motion module, and a sophisticated human interface. The intelligent and intuitive software simplifies the entry of parameter and process recipes; this is particularly valuable for short or prototype production runs and rapid changeovers. The ExactCut is designed for easy integration into high volume production, with a variety of interfaces for specialty tooling, rotary or linear stages, part handling robotics, and conveyor belts.

Backed by decades of applications expertise of the combined Coherent and Rofin organizations, ExactCut systems also feature sophisticated remote diagnostics and predictive maintenance, and are supported by Coherent’s worldwide service infrastructure.

Coherent THz-Raman® Modules Reveal Sample Phase Morphology

Santa Clara, CA, February 1, 2019 – The Coherent TR-Series of THz-Raman® spectroscopy modules deliver spectral information in the THz frequency (i.e., low wavenumber) range, which provides unique data about subtle phase differences, crystallinity, orientation and other sample characteristics. TR-Series modules can be used to upgrade an optical microscope or virtually any visible/NIR or Raman spectrometer. These products allow simple access to this key “structural fingerprint” frequency range, and enable non-destructive characterization of structural changes in real time. Coherent will display these TR-Series modules at their upcoming BiOS and Photonics West exhibits (San Francisco, February 2-3, and 5-7, 2019, respectively).

Coherent TR-Series modules utilize the company’s patented narrowband filter technology. Specifically, these notch filters are reflective volume holographic filters (VHGs) that are engineered to deliver long lifetime, high efficiency and excellent transmission. Their bandwidth is a factor of ten narrower than legacy gel-based holographic or thin film notch filters, enabling the capture of both Stokes and antiStokes Raman scatter very close to the laser excitation wavelength.

In spite of its unique potential, research and imaging based on the THz spectral region has been limited mainly to specialty laboratories. Because of the complexity and cost of the systems needed to generate and detect THz radiation, frequency-resolved THz data has been even more challenging. However, by using Raman scatter near to the excitation (Rayleigh) wavelength, these TR-Series modules now provide the same data, but with the convenience and affordability of using visible or near-IR light, i.e., with glass optics, fibers and silicon-based (CCD/CMOS) detectors.

These new products for Raman spectroscopy expand and complement Coherent’s comprehensive portfolio of lasers and laser systems for life science applications that address scanning microscopy and flow cytometry.

HighLight SQD Simplifies Fiber Laser Process Monitoring

CleanWeld™ – A new approach to fiber laser welding

Nufern NuBEAM Flat-Top Fiber Technology Receives 2017 Prism Award

New Ultrafast Laser Streamlines MPE Microscopy

Coherent Introduces New QBH Format, Air-Cooled Fiber Optic Cables

Santa Clara, California, June 26, 2017 – Coherent (formerly Optoskand AB) has introduced RQB Fiber Optic Cables – new air-cooled, beam delivery, fiber optic cables with a standard QBH interface, for use with fiber lasers operating at CW power levels up to 1.5 kW (and pulsed lasers as high as 1 MW). This makes these new cables an attractive option for cost sensitive applications level, and also enhances system simplicity when utilized with air-cooled fiber lasers.

RQB Fiber Optic Cables incorporate quartz block technology, which enables the use of anti-reflection coatings to reduce overall losses to under 3%. Additionally, these cables feature a mode stripper to prevent unwanted back reflections or pump light from propagating in the cladding, as well as an integrated thermoswitch in the connector to protect against overheating. They also include a safety interlock that continuously monitors the status of the fiber. RQB Fiber Optic Cables are available with core diameters from 50 µm to 1000 µm, a 0.20 numerical aperture, in lengths of 5 m to 200 m.

The use of external water cooling extends the RQB maximum power rating to 3 kW. Plus, the option of a square cross-section core delivers an essentially “flat-top” square beam with dimensions ranging from 100 µm x 100 μm to 1000 µm x 1000 μm.

New Fiber to Fiber Coupler with Power Handling Capability of 12 kW (CW)

Santa Clara, California, June 26, 2017 – A new Fiber to Fiber Coupler (FFC) from Coherent (formerly Optoskand AB) enables the use of replaceable, process fiber optic cables so that integral components of the fiber laser – most notably the feeding fiber – are not exposed to opto-mechanical damage, even in harsh industrial processes. Damage to the feeding fiber means long and often costly down time. But the new FFC enables the use of a separate fiber interface, and this separate delivery fiber can be exchanged in minutes in the case of damage.

The FFC is an eye-safe, stand-alone, water-cooled photonic component that handles laser power levels of 12 kW. A range of options enables coupling between fibers of different core diameters, as well as commonly used connector interfaces (QB, QD and Q5).

The FFC incorporates DGUV-certified safety electronics, and is an extension of the feeding fiber interlock circuit. It also includes integrated sensors, monitored and controlled by CANopen communication, whose threshold values can be set to enable or disable the interlock circuitry.

The FFC is ideal for high power industrial applications of fiber lasers, including Coherent HighLight FL series products.

New UV Nanosecond Laser Offers Unmatched Lifetime for Micromachining

Santa Clara, California, June 26, 2017 – The AVIA LX 355-20 is an economical new q-switched, diode-pumped solid-state (DPSS) laser offering substantially longer operating lifetime than competitive products at similar power levels. The AVIA LX 355-20 delivers 20 W (at 50 kHz repetition rate) at 355 nm, a diffraction limited (M²<1.3) beam, and an expected lifetime of 20,000 hours.

An unmatched combination of performance, reliability and economy make this laser an ideal choice for cutting, drilling and marking in microelectronics fabrication and packaging. Applications include cutting flex material, chip and mold form marking, IC package trimming, as well as wafer scribing and cutting. In addition, 3D chip package manufacturing tasks such as via drilling and other processing of glass, ceramics, copper and composites are enabled. A particular advantage of the AVIA LX 355-20 is a shorter pulsewidth that reduces the heat-affected zone and enables higher precision processing of thinner materials.

The AVIA LX 355-20 offers an attractive feature set. Its compact size (140 mm x 110 mm x 620 mm), single-unit construction (combining laser, controller and pump diodes) and three-point kinematic mounting simplifies integration; the only user requirements are power (48 VDC) and cooling water. The laser delivers long, maintenance free lifetime, thanks to the use of HALT/HASS protocols during design and production. Harmonic crystal mapping ensures that repositioning of the third harmonic generation (THG) crystal (required periodically in all frequency-tripled DPSS lasers) can occur automatically without any significant change to the output beam size or power distribution, thus eliminating the need to adjust downstream beam delivery optics after THG crystal shifting.

New 10 kW HighLight Fiber Laser Combines Innovation and Reliability to Enable Higher Throughput in Materials Processing

Santa Clara, California, June 19, 2017 – A new 10 kW fiber laser from Coherent debuts at Laser World of Photonics in Munich (June 26-29, 2017) as a part of the HighLight™ product family. HighLight products are high-power fiber, direct diode and fiber-coupled diode lasers that combine innovation and reliability into solutions for industrial materials processing applications.

HighLight lasers benefit from Coherent’s vertically integrated manufacturing. From diode epitaxy to gain fiber and delivery fiber, in-house sourcing ensures product quality and performance. The modular designs of the HighLight product family combine the best attributes from all of Coherent’s technology centers of excellence.

The new HighLight FL10000 combines the output of four individual 2.5 kW laser modules into a single output fiber, reaching 10 kW total output. Detachable output fiber diameters for the 10 kW laser range from 150 µm (BPP ≤4.5 mm x mrad) to 1 mm. Operation is CW or pulsed, at repetition rates up to 5 kHz. These output characteristics make the HighLight FL10000 an ideal match for metal sheet and tube processing in machine tool, automotive, energy and other heavy industrial applications. The HighLight FL10000 delivers the right power and beam characteristics to cut, weld, and surface treat a variety of thick metallic materials with high throughput.

HighLight FL-Series modularity enables OEMs to tailor a laser for their specific needs. At the full system level, the FL-Series features the option of up to four separate fiber outputs, thus enabling time or energy sharing, and simplifying integration into machining workstations and robotic systems. The control interface is compatible with industrial standards. The HighLight FL-Series offers several practical advantages over competitive products for challenging applications. For example, these lasers are immune to back reflections, enabling processing of highly reflective materials such as brass and copper. Furthermore, industry leading closed-loop power control delivers long-term stability and high process consistency. HighLight FL-Series products are versatile; the combination of different power levels (1-10kW) and range of fiber core diameters allows for precise adaptation in a variety of processing tasks.

New Visible Diode Laser Modules Feature High CW Power and Superior Beam Quality

Santa Clara, California, January 30, 2017 –Coherent has expanded their DILAS family of CW, fiber-coupled diode laser modules with two new visible wavelengths – delivering 2 watts at 520 nm (green) and 1.4 watts at 638 nm (red). Because these OEM modules are based on Coherent | DILAS’ unique, multi-single- emitter technology, they provide high optical efficiency and excellent beam quality. They are both offered with SMA connectors for 200 µm fiber having a 0.22 numerical aperture (NA) to enable simple collimation, as well as tight focusing to a small, high-intensity beam waist. The combination of compact (17 mm x 30 mm x 62 mm) packaging, fiber coupling, conduction cooling, and an internal NTC temperature sensor simplifies integration into a broad range of instruments and systems across life sciences, machine vision, and other OEM applications.

These unique DILAS modules avoid the well-known trade-off between power and coupling efficiency by imaging the output of several single emitters into one fiber using proprietary beam combining and shaping optics. The result is a module with the coupling efficiency and output quality of a single emitter, but with the higher power of a multi-emitter bar. These new modules are supplied in housings that are optomechnically identical to the existing ultraviolet (405 nm) and blue (450 nm) modules.

By extending the range of this modular platform from the UV through the RGB spectrum, these new high performance visible lasers are ideal for numerous photonic and biophotonic applications requiring multiple watts of green or red visible light. Examples include confocal microscopy, drug discovery, array readers, multi-wavelength flow cytometry, photodynamic therapy (PDT), white light generation, and pumping titanium:sapphire lasers.

New Femtosecond Lasers Offer Higher Pulse Energy and Higher Repetition Rates

Santa Clara, California, January, 30 2017 –Coherent has significantly extended the performance of their Monaco series of industrial-grade femtosecond lasers by increasing their adjustable pulse repetition rate to a maximum of 50 MHz. Plus, the company has launched a new high energy Monaco that provides up to 60 µJ/pulse in the near infrared (1035 nm), or, optionally 30 µJ in the green (517 nm). These improvements provide enhanced performance in precision materials processing applications, particularly for delicate and/or tough materials, and also deliver increased frame rates in demanding multiphoton microscopy imaging applications. All Monaco lasers produce a high quality (M2 < 1.2) beam, enabling tight focusing for high brightness and high spatial resolution. Additionally, the pulsewidth can be user set from under 400 fs to over 10 ps.

The improved Monaco 1035-40 provides 40 watts of average power in the near-IR (1035 nm), with the user selecting pulse repetition rates of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, and 50 MHz from a simple pull-down menu in the laser GUI, with no effect on output pulsewidth. The Monaco 517-20 provides 20 watts of green output with the same operational and output specifications. The all-new infrared Monaco 1035-60 and green Monaco 517-30 provide an additional operating point at 670 kHz for users requiring very high pulse energy: 60 µJ in the near-IR, and 30 µJ in the green. These lasers are ideal for cutting thicker substrates and drilling deep holes in ceramics, glass, and materials used for bio-absorbable stents. The short pulsewidth ensures excellent edge and surface quality without the need for post-processing steps in most applications.

In bio-imaging applications, these high repetition rate lasers enable higher frame rates than competitive products, particularly for power hungry applications such as photoactivation in optogenetic experiments. Here, the near-IR output can be used directly for two-photon excitation of red fluorophores such as mFruits. Or it can also be used to pump the Opera-F, a variable pulsewidth optical parameter amplifier (OPA) that then provides smoothly tunable output across the entire microscopy imaging spectral window.

Founded in 1966, Coherent, Inc. is one of the world’s leading providers of lasers and laser-based technology for scientific, commercial and industrial customers. Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and is part of the Russell 1000 and Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index. For more information about Coherent, visit the company’s website at http://www.coherent.com/ for product and financial updates.

New Family of Thulium Fibers Enables Production of Highest Power Fiber Lasers at 2 µm

Santa Clara, California, January 30, 2017 – A new range of Thulium doped fiber optic components from Coherent | Nufern enables construction of fiber lasers and oscillators operating at ~ 2 µm with higher output power than was previously possible. Specifically, advances in Thulium doping technology deliver significantly improved pumping efficiency, yielding higher power output (>1 kW) for gain fibers. Plus, these NuTDF laser and amplifier fiber products incorporate Coherent | Nufern’s NuMATCH technology. This refers to a family of both gain and passive fiber products which all have optimally matched mechanical and optical characteristics, and which are fabricated to tight tolerances. This compatibility matching maximizes system throughput efficiency, allowing the inherent high power potential of these products to be fully realized. Plus, the tight fabrication tolerances facilitate repeatable splicing during assembly, thus permitting this high performance to be routinely achieved, even in volume manufacturing environments.

NuTDF laser and amplifier fibers are available in a variety of configurations, including single mode (SM) and large mode area (LMA) designs, as well as in both single and double clad options. This enables construction of lasers having a wide range of possible output powers and beam modes. Matching passive fibers for all these options are also available, for example, for remote delivery of the laser output.

Thulium fiber lasers with output in the 1900 nm to 2175 nm range are useful for a wide variety of applications, including medical and surgical uses, cutting, welding, sintering and marking of various organic materials, and eye safe industrial metal cutting and welding. They also service defense applications, such as eye safe atmospheric transmission for point-to-point, free space telecommunications, and LIDAR/LADAR.

New Compact, Light Weight, Industrial Fiber Laser Processing Head

Santa Clara, California, January 30, 2017– A new, light weight, compact processing head from the Coherent division formerly known as LASAG is optimized for industrial laser applications where space is limited and minimum mass is required. Specifically, the new FLBK40 is a modular beam delivery system, including a variety of collimators, focusing lenses, cameras, camera adapters and an IR illuminator, that can be rapidly configured by the user as needed to deliver optimum performance for a wide range of fiber laser-based cutting, welding or drilling applications.

The FLBK40 system includes four different focal length collimators with QB connectors, to ensure that the head can be matched to the output characteristics of virtually any fiber laser. Plus, six different sets of focusing optics (four for welding and two for cutting) enable focusing at a number of different spot size and working distance combinations. And, the integrated IR illumination and camera options guarantee good visibility of the work surface independent of the ambient light conditions.

The FLBK40 weighs only 1.1 kg in its smallest configuration, and is built on a robust, ergonomic and industry proven design. The system is intended to deliver maximum precision and flexibility in various high precision, fiber laser materials processing uses in medical, electronics, watch and other micro applications.

Small 120W CO2 Laser Enables Compact Machine Tools

Santa Clara, California, January 30, 2017 – A new 120W CO2 laser from Coherent offers a 30% better power/volume ratio than most competitive lasers in this class, enabling the construction of more compact laser-based systems for space-constrained, industrial applications. Additionally, the Cx-10 offers a unique combination of performance and reliability features to deliver both superior processing results and lower total cost of ownership. Specifically, the Cx-10 delivers a shorter pulse fall time than other waveguide CO2 lasers at this power level, which translates directly into a smaller heat affected zone (HAZ) on the work piece, as well as increased throughput speeds. Exceptional power stability further ensures process uniformity and repeatable results, which is especially important in thin film processing applications. Reliability in the Cx-10 is enhanced through an integrated RF power supply and a modular RF board which also facilitates field serviceability.

Cx-10 lasers are intended to service a range of high volume marking, cutting and engraving applications employing a wide variety of materials, including acrylics, cardboard, ceramics, polymer films, thin metals, laminates, leather, paper, rubber, natural stone, textiles, wood and PCBs. The laser is liquid cooled and available at four different standard wavelengths, enabling its output to be matched to yield optimum results for specific materials. These wavelengths include 10.6 µm, which is suitable for most organic materials, 10.2 µm for improved processing of the polypropylene films used widely in food packaging, 9.6 µm for efficient cutting of the thin films used in flat panel display (FPD) fabrication, and 9.3 µm for applications with polycarbonate (PC) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), such as marking plastic bottles. Furthermore, all Coherent C/Cx-series lasers, with output powers from 20W to 120W, utilize a common platform in terms of mounting and output beam position. This enables system builders to rapidly retool their products with virtually no redesign.

Multi-Wavelength Laser Engine Simplifies OEM Life Sciences Instrumentation

Santa Clara, California, January 30, 2017 – Coherent has released a new family of flexible laser light engines, the OBIS CellX series, that delivers up to four separate laser wavelengths from a single module, thereby lowering the complexity and overall cost of laser integration in multi-wavelength life sciences instruments such as flow cytometers. Specifically, OBIS CellX is a compact one-box source in which the lasers, electronic control and beam conditioning optics are all completely integrated in a single package. The CellX features a single controller board, common power and RS232/USB connections, and a single I/O connector. Flexibility and utility are further enhanced by providing independent customer adjustment of the pointing and focus of each wavelength, allowing the TEM00 outputs to be aligned and positioned as needed for each specific instrument.

CellX is based on Coherent’s proven OBIS plug and play smart platform. It is available in two standard formats - a three-channel version with outputs at 405, 488 and 640 nm, and as a four-channel engine that also includes 561 nm. Beam parameters are particularly well-suited to flow cytometry and CellX offers a choice of either 50 mW or 100mW output power per wavelength, suiting cell analysis as well as the higher powers needed for cell sorting. In addition, patent-pending optical accessories are available that convert the CellX output into the focused, elliptical spots typically needed for flow cytometry. Customers can also easily generate flexible stripe patterns aligned to their flow cell using CellX laser-safe adjustments.

OBIS CellX is targeted at instrument manufacturers that need to incorporate multiple lasers together with their associated infrastructure and beam delivery. As an integrated off-the-shelf solution, CellX offers customers a uniquely cost-effective solution that reduces development time and costs. Custom beam configurations and alternative wavelength combinations are also available for multi-unit orders.

Higher Power Nanosecond Lasers Cut Thicker Films, PCBs, and Flex Substrates

Santa Clara, California, January 30, 2017 – New, high power ultraviolet (355 nm) and green (532 nm) additions to Coherent’s popular AVIA industrial nanosecond laser family extend and improve the performance of microprocessing applications in microelectronics, photovoltaics and related industries. Specifically, the new AVIA 355-55 features a very high (150 kHz) pulse repetition rate, resulting in an average power of 55 watts at 355 nm. The AVIA 532-80 produces high (1 millijoule) pulse energy, which, together with a maximum pulse repetition rate of 80 kHz, translates into an average power of 80 watts.

Coherent AVIA lasers are compact, rugged, vanadate lasers that are well-established in many microprocessing applications because of their superior performance. Just as important, they deliver unmatched reliability and longevity through the use of Highly Accelerated Life Testing (HALT) protocols, which identify failure mechanisms so that they can be designed out. Then, individual production units are tested using Highly Accelerated Stress Screening (HASS) methods. Coherent is the only laser manufacturer to employ this stringent HALT/HASS stress testing methodology, which identifies and eliminates any potential reliability issues with products before they are shipped to the customer, without decreasing their useful life. This minimizes cost of ownership for these lasers.

AVIA ultraviolet lasers are used for cutting flex substrates and thin printed circuit boards (PCBs) where higher lateral resolution (i.e., precision xy features) are a critical consideration. The higher power now available from the new AVIA 355-55 will extend these cutting capabilities to thicker (> 200 µm) flex and multi-layer materials. It will also enable existing applications to be accelerated to higher throughputs, while still delivering the same superior edge quality with minimal peripheral thermal damage.

AVIA green lasers are used for scribing films, drilling holes and slots, and cutting flex substrates that efficiently absorb green wavelengths, including certain PCB substrates, semiconductors, and photovoltaic components. The unique, high pulse energy of the new AVIA 532-80 provides high piercing capabilities for drilling, cutting and scribing, deeper features and thicker substrates than competitive lasers. And the 80 kHz repetition rate ensures high process throughput.

Founded in 1966, Coherent, Inc. is one of the world’s leading providers of lasers and laser-based technology for scientific, commercial and industrial customers. Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and is part of the Russell 1000 and Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index. For more information about Coherent, visit the company’s website at http://www.coherent.com/ for product and financial updates.

High Power Pulsed Fiber Laser Enables Precision Material Removal

Santa Clara, California, January, 30, 2017 – A new, 1 kW (average power) pulsed fiber laser from Coherent | Rofin offers the highest beam quality currently available at this power level, thus enabling high throughput, precision ablation for a variety of industrial and solar applications. Specifically, the FP 010 delivers a maximum pulse energy of 100 mJ, at pulse widths between 10 ns and 100 ns, and with repetition rates ranging from 10 kHz to 30 kHz. A beam parameter product of < 24 mm x mrad (for a 400 μm, round core output fiber) enables this power to be effectively concentrated into small focused spot sizes. The result is the ability to achieve a higher power focused spot at a given distance than other pulsed fiber lasers, or to achieve the same spot size, but at a longer working distance or over a larger scanning field.

In addition, the Coherent | Rofin FP 010 is constructed to deliver exceptional reliability and high uptime in demanding, multi-shift industrial environments. This is achieved, in part, by using the same, field-proven components as employed in the company’s standard, CW fiber laser products. Also, the use of pump laser bars having a wide emitter separation minimizes the impact of a single diode failure on overall system operation.

The unique combination high average power, high pulse energy and superior beam quality makes the FP 010 an ideal source for ablation, surface cleaning, and precision material and coating removal in a range of applications. These include AlSi removal from tailored blank parts prior to welding, edge deletion for thin film (CdTe, CIGS) solar cells, cleaning of molds, aerospace components and other precision parts, as well as other surface cleaning, activation and structuring uses.

Founded in 1966, Coherent, Inc. is one of the world’s leading providers of lasers and laser-based technology for scientific, commercial and industrial customers. Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and is part of the Russell 1000 and Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index. For more information about Coherent, visit the company’s website at http://www.coherent.com/ for product and financial updates.

OPA Delivers Short Pulsewidth and Wide Tuning

Santa Clara, California, February 12, 2016 – The Opera-F is a new optical parametric amplifier (OPA) from Coherent, Inc. (Santa Clara, CA) that delivers wide tuning, high conversion efficiency, and sub-100 fs pulse duration when pumped by the company’s Monaco high performance ytterbium ultrafast amplifier. The signal output of the Opera-F is tunable from 650 nm to 900 nm, and the idler is tunable from 1200 nm to 2500 nm. When pumped by the Monaco at 40 Watts, the Opera-F provides the industry’s highest power (up to 3 Watts) and highest pulse energy (up to 3 µJ) as well as an industry leading 1 MHz maximum pulse repetition rate. These characteristics make it the optimum tunable source for scientific experiments needing high data acquisition rates or a high level of signal averaging.

Ytterbium-based amplifiers feature several advantages over Titanium:Sapphire alternatives, including direct diode pumping and simplified architectures. However, ytterbium amplifiers usually have longer pulsewidths. This difference has been eliminated with the Opera-F, a single-box accessory which includes a non-collinear stage to generate pulsewidths as short as 50 fs, followed by a collinear stage which delivers very broad wavelength tuning. The output wavelength is tuned through software, with no physical adjustment required.

The high power and high repetition rate of the Opera-F are ideal for advanced multiphoton microscopy studies in neuroscience; the high power is a particular advantage for multi-beam imaging setups using a spatial light modulator (SLM). It is equally well-suited to liquid phase pump-probe experiments including solvation mechanics and studies of advanced solid state materials for light harvesting, displays and semiconductor industry.

Founded in 1966, Coherent, Inc. is one of the world’s leading providers of lasers and laser-based technology for scientific, commercial and industrial customers. Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and is part of the Russell 1000 and Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index. For more information about Coherent, visit the company’s website at http://www.coherent.com/ for product and financial updates.

© Copyright Coherent, Inc. 2016 All Rights Reserved

High Brightness Taipan HD Lasers

Santa Clara, California, February 12, 2016 – An expanded series of light show and entertainment lasers from Coherent, Inc. (Santa Clara, CA) enable show designers to produce sophisticated visual displays and effects with increased brightness and better definition. Specifically, the company’s newest Genesis Taipan HD series lasers all offer TEM00 beam characteristics, and are available with powers between 2 and 5W at six standard Taipan wavelengths (460 nm, 480 nm, 488 nm, 532 nm, 577 nm, and 590 nm) matching most of the standard Taipan Multitransverse Mode (MTM) product line. This wide selection of wavelengths enables laser projectors to deliver a full palette of primary colors, plus tinted white and mixed colors, such as D65 white. All Genesis Taipan HD products have the same compact footprint and low electrical/thermal budget as other Taipan lasers, as well as the usual 50 kHz direction modulation, simplifying their integration in existing projectors.

The TEM00 output beam of Taipan HD lasers is critical to their ability to produce sharper displays. Specifically, this type of output delivers the possibility for diffraction limited divergence resulting in the smallest achievable projected spot size, and hence the highest possible brightness. In contrast, most light show lasers generate a so-called multi-transverse mode beam, which produces much larger, irregular and dimmer projected spots or graphics, especially if multiple laser diode emitters or laser sources were used and beam-combined. Preliminary testing indicates 1.8X increase in brightness for the Taipan HD laser over other sources. In addition, their smooth Gaussian beam profile enables white displays with the absolute minimum of color fringing.

All Coherent Genesis Taipan lasers are based on the company’s unique optically pumped semiconductor laser (OPSL) technology. Characterized by scalable power and wavelength as well as high unit to unit consistency, this all solid state technology has been proven to be the most reliable visible laser type anywhere, with tens of thousands of units in the field.

Coherent distributes the Taipan product line via certified integrators only. For more information refer to http://www.coherent.com/products/?1610/Coherent-Certified-Integrators.

Founded in 1966, Coherent, Inc. is one of the world’s leading providers of lasers and laser-based technology for scientific, commercial and industrial customers. Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and is part of the Russell 1000 and Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index. For more information about Coherent, visit the company’s website at http://www.coherent.com/ for product and financial updates.

© Copyright Coherent, Inc. 2016 All Rights Reserved

Green Nanosecond Lasers Increase Materials Processing

Santa Clara, California, February 12, 2016 – Coherent, Inc. (Santa Clara, CA) has expanded their AVIA family of lasers with new models having green output, and which offer an unmatched combination of power, reliability and compact size for a range of precision materials processing applications. The new AVIA NX products are q-switched, diode-pumped, solid-state lasers that deliver up to 65W of average power at 532 nm from a laser head that measures less than two feet (587 mm) in length. Together with the excellent beam characteristics of the AVIA NX (M²<1.3), this high power creates increased throughput in cutting, drilling, marking and scribing applications.

The extraordinary performance and reduced footprint has been accomplished through an advanced, high efficiency optical pumping approach, as well as by employing the latest microelectronics miniaturization technology. Reliability has been designed into AVIA NX lasers through the use of Highly Accelerated Life Testing (HALT) protocols, which identify failure mechanisms so that they can be designed out. Individual production units are tested using Highly Accelerated Stress Screening (HASS) methods. This stringent testing protocol identifies and eliminates any potential reliability issues with the product prior to shipment, without decreasing their useful life.

AVIA NX lasers are ideal for a wide range of precision processing tasks in microelectronics and solar cell manufacturing. These include cutting and drilling of thin foils and flex materials, silicon micromachining, 3D chip package manufacturing, IC package trimming, ink jet nozzle drilling and solar cell scribing and drilling.

Founded in 1966, Coherent, Inc. is one of the world’s leading providers of lasers and laser-based technology for scientific, commercial and industrial customers. Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and is part of the Russell 1000 and Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index. For more information about Coherent, visit the company’s website at http://www.coherent.com/ for product and financial updates.

© Copyright Coherent, Inc. 2016 All Rights Reserved

Coherent's New Generation of High Power, Industrial, Picosecon

Santa Clara, California, February 12, 2016 – A new generation of industrial picosecond lasers from Coherent, Inc. (Santa Clara, CA) combine high performance and exceptional reliability in a lower cost platform to make a wide range of precision materials processing economically viable. The HyperRapid NX product range includes 1064 nm output models with pulse energies as high as 250 μJ (typically with 10 ps pulse duration), at repetition rates up to 2 MHz. This enables high throughput processes, including enough power for the beam to be split in order to run multiple, optical trains within one machine. The product line also includes high power models with output at 532 nm and 355 nm.

All HyperRapid NX lasers utilize integrated electronics to produce a highly compact and extremely reliable laser head. Advanced external control and triggering methods enable sophisticated operational capabilities, including burst mode for higher ablation efficiency, and time and energy control of each individual pulse. Also, regardless of wavelength and power, all HyperRapid NX laser heads feature an identical form factor, interface, and beam characteristics to simplify integration, and can even operate from the same power supply and chiller.

HyperRapid NX lasers are intended for a variety of materials processing applications that require high precision, high throughput and a minimal heat affected zone, or which involve materials that are difficult to work using other methods. Key applications include cutting, scribing, drilling and marking of brittle materials, ceramics, polymers and composites for use in microelectronics, display and solar cell fabrication.

Founded in 1966, Coherent, Inc. is one of the world’s leading providers of lasers and laser-based technology for scientific, commercial and industrial customers. Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and is part of the Russell 1000 and Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index. For more information about Coherent, visit the company’s website at http://www.coherent.com/ for product and financial updates.

© Copyright Coherent, Inc. 2016 All Rights Reserved

New Tablet Laser Measurement App Delivers Enhanced Ease-of-Use

Santa Clara, California, February 12, 2016 – A new mobile app from Coherent, Inc. (Santa Clara, CA) enables operation of the company’s laser power and energy sensors using a tablet computer, thus delivering an improved user interface and enhanced ease-of-use. Coherent’s new LabMax-Pro Mobile App is compatible with several popular tablet computers running the Android operating system (and having a display screen of 9” diagonal or greater), providing access to a comprehensive suite of laser power and energy measurement capabilities on a state-of-the-art, touchscreen display. These capabilities include instantaneous power reading, pulse shape analysis, beam position, data logging and statistics, as well as the ability to save data files and share them between mobile devices.

The app can be utilized with two different hardware configurations. In the first, the tablet is connected by USB cable to a Coherent LabMax-Pro meter, which works with virtually all of Coherent’s extensive selection of laser power and energy sensors. LabMax-Pro meters are the fastest on the market (continuous sampling at 10 Hz or 20 kHz, or burst sampling at 625 kHz), and the app fully supports these high speed measurements to enable real-time analysis of modulated or pulsed systems. In the second configuration, the tablet is connected by USB cable to one of Coherent’s new PowerMax-Pro USB sensors. These integrate traditional meter functionality within the sensor head cable, allowing a truly “meterless” tablet solution to laser power measurement.

By leveraging the high quality, yet economical, touchscreen displays currently available on the market, Coherent can deliver a powerful and easy to use laser measurement solution at a reduced cost. Compact tablet computers also offer a portable solution for field service personnel who need access to sensor data.

Founded in 1966, Coherent, Inc. is one of the world’s leading providers of lasers and laser-based technology for scientific, commercial and industrial customers. Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and is part of the Russell 1000 and Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index. For more information about Coherent, visit the company’s website at http://www.coherent.com/ for product and financial updates.

© Copyright Coherent, Inc. 2016 All Rights Reserved

Industrial Femtosecond Green Laser for Superior Materials Proc

Santa Clara, California, February 12, 2016 – Coherent has extended the capabilities of their Monaco family of industrial femtosecond lasers with the first model delivering visible (green) output, thereby enabling superior processing of a wider range of materials. The new Monaco 517 is a fiber-based laser that produces 20 watts at 517 nm, and combines short (<400 fs) pulsewidth and high (20 µJ) pulse energy to generate the high peak intensity needed for precision micromachining of “tough” materials like polymers. Plus, the laser’s MHz pulse repetition rate supports fast throughput. The Monaco 517 is also simple to integrate into any OEM system because its self-contained compact laser head measures only 635 mm x 340 mm x 167mm. Moreover, the monolithic construction of the laser means that optimum alignment is maintained throughout its entire lifetime, thus maximizing its value and utility for end users and OEMs alike.

Green output delivers three key advantages for materials processing in industries like microelectronics and display fabrication. First, it yields a lower ablation threshold than longer wavelengths, thereby expanding the range of materials and thicknesses that can be athermally processed. Next, the shorter wavelength allows smaller focused spots, enabling finer features to be created. Finally, several materials, including important semiconductors, have improved absorption properties in the green, so this wavelength maximizes cutting efficiency and depth control.

The Monaco 517 is ideal for a range of micromachining applications in the semiconductor, flat panel display, solar, and microelectronics industries. It is well-suited for processing metal and non-metal thin films and foils, and for scribing conductive oxides and semiconductors. In addition to processing homogeneous materials, such as glass and metals, the material versatility of the Monaco 517 makes it an optimum tool for drilling, cutting and patterning complex, layered-structures.

Monaco has been developed as part of The Industrial Revolution in Ultrafast Science, which is redefining customer expectations of performance and reliability for laser technology. By employing a rigorous, multifaceted HALT/HASS protocol in the design, engineering, and manufacturing of our ultrafast products, the customer receives a product with certified reliability and performance, irrespective of the intended use. It’s cutting-edge testing for cutting-edge performance.

Founded in 1966, Coherent, Inc. is one of the world’s leading providers of lasers and laser-based technology for scientific, commercial and industrial customers. Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and is part of the Russell 1000 and Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index. For more information about Coherent, visit the company’s website at http://www.coherent.com/ for product and financial updates.

© Copyright Coherent, Inc. 2016 All Rights Reserved

High Speed Laser Sensors Now Available in a Lower Cost, “Meteterless" Package

Santa Clara, California, February 12, 2016 – With the new PowerMax™ Pro USB/RS, Coherent, Inc. (Santa Clara, CA) brings their unique PowerMax-Pro sensor technology into a “meterless” format, substantially lowering the cost of ownership of this revolutionary, high speed laser power and energy sensor. PowerMax-Pro sensors, first introduced in 2014, utilize a novel, thin-film technology developed by Coherent, which yields a sensor having the broad wavelength sensitivity, dynamic range and laser damage resistance of a thermopile, combined with the response speed of a semiconductor photodiode. PowerMax-Pro sensors are more than one million times faster than conventional thermopile sensors; an ideal solution for fast CW laser power and rise time measurements, full modulated laser characterization, and pulsed laser energy measurements over the 300 nm to 11 µm spectral range.

PowerMax-Pro USB/RS sensors utilize state-of-the-art microelectronics miniaturization techniques to integrate an entire instrument within a USB 2.0 or RS-232 cable. Specifically, this puts all the signal processing and laser power measurement electronics normally contained in a Coherent LabMax standalone meter right into the sensor itself; measurements are enabled simply by connecting the sensor directly to a PC. PowerMax-Pro USB sensors are also compatible with Coherent’s new LabMax-Pro Mobile App, which allows control of the sensor using a tablet running the Android operating system.

PowerMax-Pro USB/RS substantially lower measurement costs by eliminating the need to purchase a standalone meter. They also reduce service costs, since only the single sensor needs to be calibrated, rather than a separate sensor head and the meter electronics. Their unique combination of lower cost and smaller size makes these detectors ideal for OEMs who want to embed power measurement electronics within their own instrumentation, for field service engineers who already carry a laptop computer or tablet, and for operators of computer controlled test benches. These sensors are also useful for general laboratory applications in which experimental data acquisition is performed from a central PC or tablet.

Founded in 1966, Coherent, Inc. is one of the world’s leading providers of lasers and laser-based technology for scientific, commercial and industrial customers. Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and is part of the Russell 1000 and Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index. For more information about Coherent, visit the company’s website at http://www.coherent.com/ for product and financial updates.

© Copyright Coherent, Inc. 2016 All Rights Reserved

High Power Violet Lasers Improve Cytometry

Santa Clara, California, February 12, 2016 – A new, high power, ultra-compact, violet laser from Coherent, Inc. (Santa Clara, CA) will provide improved performance for numerous short wavelength applications, including examples in life sciences, where it will enable brighter confocal imaging and faster flow cytometry throughput rates. The OBIS 405 LX provides over 250 mW of power at 405 nm, making it the highest power laser yet offered in this extremely small (70 x 40 x 38 mm, or 2.75 x 1.57 x 1.5 in.) self-contained platform. This plug-and-play, smart laser simplifies integration by offering direct analog and digital modulation capabilities (at up to 150 MHz). Similar to other OBIS LX/LS lasers, this new violet laser is ideal for OEM instrumentation, as well as for end users when partnered with an optional, CDRH compliant (key-activated) remote. Thanks to conservative design headroom, this new laser can be operated at up to 110% of maximum rated power.

OBIS lasers pioneered the plug-and-play concept, in which the laser cavity and all control electronics are contained in a single, compact package, and in which the interface and output configuration is standardized across all models within the product line. This simplifies laser integration, power upgrades, and wavelength additions to multi-laser instruments.

The superior beam quality of OBIS 405 LX makes it ideal for use in confocal microscopy and both multi-laser and single laser applications of flow cytometry. Its output is ideal for exciting traditional dyes, such as Alexa Fluor and Pacifica Blue, as well as the wide variety of Qdots.

Founded in 1966, Coherent, Inc. is one of the world’s leading providers of lasers and laser-based technology for scientific, commercial and industrial customers. Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and is part of the Russell 1000 and Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index. For more information about Coherent, visit the company’s website at http://www.coherent.com/ for product and financial updates.

© Copyright Coherent, Inc. 2016 All Rights Reserved

New Laser Line Generator for High Precision Machine Vision

Santa Clara, California, January 22, 2016 – A new series of laser line generators from Coherent, Inc. (Santa Clara, CA) enables the detection of smaller features in machine vision applications based on triangulation. Specifically, StingRay µFocus (Micro Focus) lasers feature a linewidth that is 40% smaller than standard Coherent StingRay products (at the same working distance), and can achieve focused linewidths as small as 20 µm, thus providing increased spatial resolution and the ability to discern finer details. Based on cost-effective laser diode technology, StingRay µFocus modules are available at wavelengths of 520 nm, 660 nm, 785 nm, and 830 nm, at power levels of up to 200 mW.

StingRay µFocus laser line generators deliver all the same performance and ease of use features as their predecessors. This includes an industry leading line intensity uniformity specification (±5%), which yields increased measurement speed and greater dimensional accuracy. These lasers also support “dynamic line balancing,” which allows for the correction of any intensity bias in configurations where the laser must be used at off axis illumination angles. To further enhance usability, Stingray µFocus lasers include an internal “health monitor” that indicates when a diode is approaching end of life, thus allowing for planned replacement, and avoiding production downtime due to an unexpected failure.

Stingray µFocus lasers are targeted at any machine vision application that requires high precision 3D profiling. This includes numerous uses in microelectronics manufacturing, glass inspection, medical and dental implant production, high precision extrusion and feature alignment in automotive assembly.

Founded in 1966, Coherent, Inc. is one of the world’s leading providers of lasers and laser-based technology for scientific, commercial and industrial customers. Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and is part of the Russell 1000 and Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index Index. For more information about Coherent, visit the company’s website at http://www.coherent.com/ for product and financial updates.

© Copyright Coherent, Inc. 2016 All Rights Reserved