Short-Pulse Laser Tested for Machining

Bloomfield, Conn.-based DeMaria ElectroOptics Systems Inc. has reported the development of a 150-ns CO₂ laser system for the electronics packaging and materials processing markets. The company developed the laser for remote sensing applications and expects to commercialize it in the near term.

The system incorporates an electro-optic Q-switch and sealed CO₂ waveguide technology. It produces pulse energies of 0.5 mJ and repetition rates of up to 100 kHz, which the company said translates into the ability to machine fine features without a heat-affected zone.