EU project GALACTIC develops supply chain for Alexandrite laser crystals
The GALACTIC consortium qualifies Alexandrite laser crystals for high-performance applications in space. Graphics: LZH
Laser systems in earth observation satellites generate data for the analysis of the earth's atmosphere and surface.
So far, laser crystals made of neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (short: Nd:YAG) have been used. The emitted wavelength of Nd:YAG crystals, however, cannot be tuned.
Alexandrite crystals are tunable by nature and also superior to Nd:YAG crystals in other basic properties such as thermal conductivity and breaking strength.
Therefore, the European Space Agency (ESA) is currently investigating whether these crystals can replace YAG crystals in the future.
However, the prerequisite for this is the sufficient availability of space-qualified Alexandrite laser crystals. The USA still dominate the market for Alexandrite laser crystals, but they are already available as an industrial product in Europe.
The partners in the GALACTIC project now want to bring the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of European Alexandrite laser crystals for high-performance applications in space from currently TRL 4 to TRL 6.
About GALACTIC
In the GALACTIC project, the Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH), together with Altechna Coatings UAB and Optomaterials S.r.l., wants to improve the process of crystal growing and post-treatment, develop novel coating concepts and manufacture a laser demonstrator.
In that way, an independent, solely European supply chain for Alexandrite laser crystals is to be set up. GALACTIC receives funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 870427.
More information about GALACTIC is available at www.h2020-galactic.eu
Media Contact
All latest news from the category: Machine Engineering
Machine engineering is one of Germany’s key industries. The importance of this segment has led to the creation of new university degree programs in fields such as production and logistics, process engineering, vehicle/automotive engineering, production engineering and aerospace engineering among others.
innovations-report offers informative reports and articles covering technologies such as automation, motion, power train, energy, conveyor, plastics, lightweight construction, logistics/warehousing, measurement systems, machine tools and control engineering.
Newest articles
Bringing bio-inspired robots to life
Nebraska researcher Eric Markvicka gets NSF CAREER Award to pursue manufacture of novel materials for soft robotics and stretchable electronics. Engineers are increasingly eager to develop robots that mimic the…
Bella moths use poison to attract mates
Scientists are closer to finding out how. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are as bitter and toxic as they are hard to pronounce. They’re produced by several different types of plants and are…
AI tool creates ‘synthetic’ images of cells
…for enhanced microscopy analysis. Observing individual cells through microscopes can reveal a range of important cell biological phenomena that frequently play a role in human diseases, but the process of…
