Mid-IR laser products recognized

Good news for Poway, California-based Daylight Solutions: The Photonic Applications, Systems and Technologies Conference (PhAST) cosponsors and Laser Focus World magazine announced that Daylight Solutions has been selected as the first recipient of the PhAST/Laser Focus World Innovation Award. The award aims to recognize practical contributions rather than mere innovative ideas. Specifically, it recognizes companies for innovative solutions and product development of high-volume, commercially viable, mid-IR laser sources based on quantum cascade laser technology. Products are evaluated on criteria critical to product success: impact, functionality, life expectancy, effect on the optics industry, innovation and patents or trademarks, and more.

“For many decades scientists and engineers have known that the mid-IR spectral region is rich in molecular information. Many exciting discoveries have resulted that will one day advance the fields of medical diagnostics, homeland security, and countless industrial applications,” explains George Simonis, PhAST co-chair. “Though few doubt the potential of this spectrum, most people would agree that full exploitation of it on a commercial basis, requires new approaches to mid-IR laser sources and detectors. This is why Daylight Solutions’ entry was so innovative and deserving of this year’s award. It finds a way to make such applications more practical and commercially viable.”

Daylight’s Tiny Tunable couples high-power, room-temperature, quantum cascade laser technology, with miniaturized external, tunable cavities, and integrates these elements into telecom-style packaging. Note that mid-IR lasers, and the Tiny Tunable in particular, are able to support stand-off detection of explosives, reconnaissance and chemical detection, and have applications in other areas of security.

In addition to Daylight’s first place award, PhAST/Laser Focus World have awarded four Honorable mentions:

“Southampton, U.K.-based Fianium for showcasing important advancements in the fiber laser market and demonstrating potential new markets and applications which require spectral brightness which was previously impossible to achieve

“Karlsfeld, Germany-based Thorlabs for introducing a complete OCT system capable of 2D and 3D imaging and diagnosis of a sample’s internal optical properties

“Buena Park, California-based Sacher Lasertechnik for development of a commercial diode laser based portable source for Terahertz generation

“Sunnyvale, California-based PolarOnyx for creating the 100 “J femtosecond fiber laser and impacting future fiber laser applications