Optical scientists from the University of South Australia (UniSA), the University of Adelaide (UoA), and Yale University have unveiled a new method to significantly boost the power of fibre lasers while preserving their beam quality.
This technological advancement positions high-power fibre lasers as a key player in defence applications, particularly in countering low-cost drones, and opens doors for use in remote sensing, UniSA said in a news release.
The breakthrough research, published in Nature Communications, showcases the potential of multimode optical fibre to increase power in fibre lasers by three-to-nine times without compromising beam quality.
The university said this allows the lasers to maintain focus on distant targets, making them indispensable for future defence strategies.
Dr Linh Nguyen, co-first author and researcher at UniSA’s Future Industries Institute, emphasises the importance of this development for the defence industry.
“High-power fibre lasers are vital in manufacturing and defence, and becoming more so with the proliferation of cheap, unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) in modern battlefields,” Dr Nguyen said.
He noted that these lasers offer a cost-effective solution with their low-cost-per-shot and rapid action capabilities, countering the threat posed by swarms of inexpensive drones.
According to him, the concept of asymmetric advantage, where a more economical approach can overcome a pricier, high-tech system through sheer numbers, underscores the strategic significance of high-power fibre lasers.
Dr Nguyen also pointed out that such lasers address the challenge of depleting missile resources caused by drone swarms, ensuring military assets retain firing power for critical missions.
Dr Ori Henderson-Sapir, project investigator at the UoA’s Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing, highlighted Australia’s historical prowess in developing innovative fibre optics technologies.
“Our research launches Australia into a world-leading position to develop the next generation of high-power fibre lasers, not only for defence applications, but to aid new scientific discoveries,” he stated.
This technology, offering an asymmetric advantage, aligns with the objectives of the Defence Strategic Review and AUKUS Pillar 2 objectives.
The researchers plan to present their findings at Photonics West, a premier international conference on photonics technology, in early 2024, showcasing the potential applications and impact of their breakthroughs in the field.
