Hamamatsu Photonics has succeeded in developing a liquid-crystal spatial light modulator (SLM) having the world’s highest pulse laser power capability up to 400 GW/cm2, by utilizing our advanced thin-film and circuit designing technologies. This new SLM for high-power industrial pulsed laser systems will contribute to achieve high-throughput, high-precision laser processing to processing resistant materials such as light-weight and high-strength carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP).
This work is partially supported by Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (CSTI), Cross-ministerial Strategic Innovation Promotion Program (SIP) and "Photonics and Quantum Technology for Society5.0" (Funding agency: National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, QST).
The aim of this project is to prove and demonstrate innovative manufacturing and fabrication techniques by using a cyber-physical system (CPS) that combines cyberspace (virtual space) and physical space (real space) to a highly advanced degree. The SLM can freely control the irradiation pattern of lasers and is viewed as an essential device for new manufacturing and fabrication techniques that utilize artificial intelligence (AI), such as CPS-type laser processing systems.
