Ultraviolet Sources
Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) lithography has ushered in a new era for semiconductor manufacturing, empowering chipmakers to produce devices with unprecedented power and efficiency. Leading this transformation is ASML, whose debut EUV lithography systems set new benchmarks for the industry and established the company as the dominant force in advanced chip fabrication technology. Contributing editor Marie Freebody places EUV sources in two contexts -- semiconductor manufacturing, and UV sources more broadly -- to discern and report on the trends and application requirements driving innovation in EUV. The utility of EUV light for metrology, specifically semiconductor metrology, is an areas of focus, as are applications in medical imaging, materials inspection and analysis, solar, and attosecond science.
Key Technologies:EUV sources, EUV lithography, EUV metrology, UV sources for semiconductor manufacturing, semiconductor manufacturing , semiconductor metrology, optics in semiconductor manufacturing (mirrors and reflective optics, and their coatings), photomasks, soft x-ray sources, nondestructive materials analysis, EUV sources in bio imaging, High-NA EUV,
A History of Lasers: Technology Roadmap
Charting the history of laser technology through examination of seminal moments and breakthrough innovations, laser expert and author Jeff Hecht maps the arc of photonics' most enabling technology. In charting the road to today's developers conceptualizing and developing lasers to meet specific (and stringent) application requirements across the spectrum, Hecht shares stories about the technologists whose efforts stand tall in laser lore.
Key Technologies: Lasers, visible lasers, ruby lasers, CO2 lasers, flashlamps, solid state lasers, laser diodes, gas lasers, HeNE lasers, metal vapor lasers, dye lasers, nonlinear optics, blue laser diodes, Ti:Sapphire lasers
Lasers for Quantum
Emerging quantum technologies are poised to become a cornerstone of innovation over the next century, with a promise of transforming nearly all aspects of society. These technologies, encompassing quantum sensing, computing, and networking, rely on precise control and manipulation of quantum states. Lasers, as a critical interface with quantum systems, play an essential role in enabling these technologies; this article overviews historical and emerging use cases for lasers in quantum, overviewing applications and different source architectures. Despite laser sophistication, however, lasers often limit performance and reliability, slowing the deployment of quantum technologies beyond laboratory environments. Optically pumped Vertical External Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VECSELs) represent a relatively new laser architecture, offering single-mode, high-power, and low-noise operation across a broad range of wavelengths. The article additionally isolates VECSELs, and looks at how these unique attributes position VECSELs as key enablers of next-generation quantum applications. By addressing critical performance bottlenecks, these lasers are driving advancements in quantum technologies and demonstrating the potential to transition quantum systems from research labs to real-world applications, using lasers as a vehicle to bring quantum closer to end-users than ever before.
Key Technologies: Lasers in quantum, VECSELs, quantum sensing, computing, and cryptography, emerging quantum technologies (timekeeping, cooling), on-chip lasers.
Laser Micromachining
As microelectronics miniaturize, microchip packaging is also evolving towards more complex structures, using new materials. Manufacturers face growing challenges in creating the kind of vital, microscopic connections in glass substrates, preferred for their superior properties. This article examines how advances in femtosecond laser technology could transform the fabrication of through-glass vias (TGVs), offering a more streamlined, environmentally friendly alternative to traditional manufacturing processes. Driven by cost and performance advantages, the shift from silicon to glass presents its own manufacturing challenges. The text examines how femtosecond fiber lasers, with precise pulse-on-demand capabilities, could enable single-step processes, potentially eliminating chemical etching. Fluence Technology, drawing on laboratory testing, additionally highlights how these advanced approaches could achieve remarkable aspect ratios and higher processing speeds. A comparison of bottom-up and percussion drilling is included, highlighting the distinct benefits of each for different applications, and in the context of previous glass micromachining limitations. As manufacturers seek more efficient, precise, and sustainable processes, this technology could pave the way for faster, smaller, and more powerful electronics, shaking-up industries even beyond consumer electronics, including medical technology.
Key Technologies: Laser micromachining, laser drilling, laser drilling glass, industrial femtosecond lasers, semicon manufacturing, semicon packaging, optical glass, industrial lasers in manufacturing, consumer device manufacturing, PICs manufacturing, Packaging PICs
Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy
In 1940s, long before the first lasers were commercially available, researchers pioneered the study of photochemical reactions on the microsecond scale using xenon discharge lamps, giving rise to flash photolysis and laying the groundwork for modern ultrafast spectroscopy. With the advent of pulsed lasers, scientists could extend these observations to nanosecond, picosecond, and eventually even femtosecond and attosecond time scales. Laser-based pump-probe spectroscopy opened new possibilities to explore ultrafast phenomena, from primary photosynthetic processes in plants and retinal responses to light, to charge relaxation in crystallin and amorphous materials, and molecular vibrations. Initially, scientists often had to design and build their own systems, as ultrafast lasers were still a novel and rare resource. Today, complete spectroscopy systems can be sourced from a single supplier and fit within a footprint of less than one square meter. Modern advancements not only enable the characterization of electrically nonconductive or non-fluorescent samples but also allow the measurement instrumentation to be compacted into a single plug-and-play device, reducing the laser safety classification to level one.
Key Technologies: Ultrafast lasers, spectroscopy, lasers for spectroscopy, Ti:Sapphire lasers, femtosecond lasers, femtosecond spectroscopy, OLEDs, Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, materials characterization, bio-spectroscopy, molecular spectroscopy, UV spectroscopy, OPAs, ytterbium lasers, pump-probe spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, chemical analysis
Laser Fusion: A Luminary Perspective
Contributing editor Andreas Thoss provides an expert (luminary) look at the prospects for laser fusion -- both the technology and the road to commercial significance. Thoss speaks with two experts -- Constantin Haefner (VP of transfer at Fraunhofer) and Andreas Tuennerman (Dir. Fraunhofer IOF). Topics of discussion span the German approach to the laser fusion supply chain, advancing laser diode technology, a commercialization roadmap, and the R&D/industry relationship in this vital technology space.
Key Technologies:Laser fusion, laser diodes (high power), high-energy optics, high-powered lasers
EPIC Insights: Ultrafast Lasers
Ultrafast lasers are a key tool in many advanced technologies, from spectroscopy and imaging to materials processing. There is a constant effort in developing lasers with new characteristics and novel components to improve their performance, enable new applications, or extend their capabilities -- for example, new systems emitting at non-typical wavelengths (2 um, 3 um…); new photonic crystal fibers to control the pulse dynamics; optical components (chirped mirrors, gratings…) for a precise control over the dispersion of light; novel elements for the amplification of high-energy femtosecond pulses; and devices for the characterization and diagnosis of ultrafast laser pulses. This article overviews some latest developments to help broaden the use of ultrafast lasers in industrial settings.
Key Technologies: industrial lasers, ultrafast industrial lasers, laser materials processing, laser spectroscopy, laser optics, ultrafast lasers in advanced manufacturing, DUV sources, precision cutting, semiconductor manufacturing, beam shaping, custom laser-optics, reflective beam shaping
Executive Spotlight: John Lee, MKS
Photonics Spectra magazine debuts its "Executive Spotlight" column with this piece from MKS Instruments' president and CEO, John Lee. In the column, Lee looks at advanced packaging -- an indispensable technology for meeting the growing computational demands of AI. MKS' focus on packaging puts the laser and photonics company in a specialized position to capture technology gains in this critical sector. Photonics' role in developing/contributing to wafer fabrication equipment needed for semiconductors and the manufacture of package substrates and PCBs signals immense opportunity for the industry, and Lee offers insight on the roadmap..
Key Technologies: motion control, positioning equipment, semicon packaging, optical materials, optical (heterogenous) computing
Industry Insights: The Global Laser Market
"In 2024, TEMATYS in collaboration with YOLE Group, published a report on the global market of laser sources, segmented by the most common technologies and their applications. This article summarizes the main highlights of the report.
The global lasers market witnessed a year-over-year growth of 6.7%, reaching a total value of $ 15.2 billion in 2023. This growth was driven predominantly by the post-COVID momentum of industrial production. At the same time, key sectors which rely on lasers such as those of semiconductors and electronic devices, showed a sluggish performance during late 2023 and early 2024. These factors, in combination with macroeconomic uncertainties and turbulences in the supply chain due to the ongoing global tensions, had a strong impact on the global lasers market. Following this period of uncertainty, the industry rebounded during 2024, and the year-over-year growth of the semiconductors business was almost 20%. This benefited the global lasers market both due to their high demand for electronic materials processing and the increased sales of optical transceivers, driven by the global expansion of datacenters. 2025 is expected to be more challenging as the laser market and the industry in general, can be impacted by emerging political instabilities and destabilization of the supply chain due to trade wars."
Key Technologies: Lasers, industrial lasers, semiconductor manufacturing
Download Media Planner