Abstract
Strategies Unlimited is offering a special research report on mid-infrared
lasers, the latest in a long series of comprehensive market reports on lasers
produced by Strategies Unlimited. The study examines the spectrum between
telecom lasers and the terahertz range: from about 1.8 microns to about 15
microns. The mid-infrared range is known for covert and eye-safe operation,
for the thermal vibrations of molecules (used in sensing and thermal imaging),
and for the cheap photons of high-power CO2 lasers, to name a few of the
features. However, the range is also known for expensive components, bulky
products, and until recently, low output power among the newer, more promising
technologies. Now new, compact, and more scalable technologies promise to
expand the market in new applications, particularly in military and sensing.
The report includes over 150 pages of detail on technology and application
trends. It includes forecasts by unit sales, selling prices, and revenues to
2014 for each application and laser type. The report also includes a model
for scaling the wafer-based semiconductor laser products to larger volumes and
lower prices. It lists of over 50 suppliers of the different types of
mid-infrared lasers, and discusses trends in consolidation within the supply
chains of each sector.
Table of Contents
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
2. MID-IR TECHNOLOGY TRENDS
- 2.1 What is Mid-Infrared?
- 2.2 Why or Why Not Mid-IR?
- 2.3 Mid-IR in the Atmosphere
- 2.4 A Mid-IR Timeline
- 2.5 Mid-IR Laser Types
- 2.6 Semiconductor Lasers
- 2.7 OPOs and OPAs
- 2.8 Mid-Infrared Detectors and Imagers
3. MID-IR APPLICATIONS: MATERIALS PROCESSING
4. MID-IR APPLICATIONS: MEDICAL
- 4.1 Laser Processing of Human Tissue
- 4.2 Mid-IR Medical Laser Treatments
- 4.3 Mid-IR Medical Laser Forecast
- 4.4 Medical Laser Manufacturers
5. MID-IR APPLICATIONS: SENSING
- 5.1 The Business of Sensors
- 5.2 Types of Optical Spectroscopy
- 5.3 Methods of Infrared Spectroscopy
- 5.4 Sources for Mid-IR Spectroscopy
- 5.5 Key Mid-IR Absorption Wavelengths
- 5.6 A Mid-IR Alternative: Raman Spectroscopy
- 5.7 Types of LIDAR
- 5.8 The MIRTHE Roadmap
- 5.9 Mid-IR Spectroscopy Segments
- 5.10 Mid-IR Laser Spectroscopy Forecast
- 5.11 A Model for Scaling QC and Diode Lasers
6. MID-IR APPLICATIONS: IRCMs
7. MID-IR APPLICATIONS: ILLUMINATORS
8. MID-IR APPLICATIONS: R&D
9. KEY MID-IR COMPONENT SUPPLIERS
- 9.1 Mid-IR System Components
- 9.2 Key Recent Events of Mid-IR Laser Suppliers
- 9.3 Key Suppliers of Mid-IR Semiconductor Lasers
- 9.4 Suppliers of Mid-IR SSL and Fiber Lasers
- 9.5 Suppliers of Mid-IR OPO and OPA Products
- 9.6 Suppliers of Mid-IR Gas Lasers
- 9.7 Suppliers of Mid-IR Optics
- 9.8 Suppliers of Mid-IR Transmission Media
- 9.9 Suppliers of Mid-IR Detectors and Imagers
LIST OF FIGURES
- 1.1 Mid-IR Laser Revenues by Application, 2010
- 1.2 Mid-IR Laser Revenues by Application, 2009 - 2014
- 1.3 Mid-IR Laser Revenues by Type, 2009
- 1.4 Price vs. Volume Learning Curve for Mid-IR Semiconductor Lasers
- 1.5 Mid-IR Laser Manufacturers by Region of Headquarters
- 2.1 The Electromagnetic Spectrum
- 2.2 Atmospheric Transmission Spectra
- 2.3 Emission Wavelengths for III-V Material Systems: GaAs, InP, and GaSb
- 2.4 Coherent OPSL Design
- 2.5 Mid-IR OPSL Performance - Power vs. Wavelength
- 2.6 Maximum Operating Temperature vs. Wavelength - Quantum Cascade Lasers
- 2.7 QC Laser High-Heat-Load Package
- 2.8 Pulse Energy vs. Wavelength - Newport TOPAS OPA
- 2.9 Average CW Power vs. Wavelength - Aculight Argos OPO Modules
- 2.10 Spectral Response of Key Detector Technologies
- 2.11 Judson' s Focal Plane Array Products by Wavelength and Cooling
- 3.1 Laser Absorption for Plastic Materials
- 3.2 Progress in Output Power in Yb- and Tm-Doped Fiber Lasers, 2001 - 2009
- 3.3 Forecast of Materials Processing Laser Revenues by Subsegment, 2008 -
2014
- 3.4 Forecast of Mid-IR Materials Processing Laser Revenues by Type,
Excluding Kilowatt CO2 Lasers, 2009 - 2014
- 4.1 Interactions of Light with Tissue - Irradiance vs. Pulse Duration
- 4.2 Absorption of Light in Tissue - 200 nm to 12 Microns
- 4.3 Forecast for Medical Laser Revenues by Procedure, 2008 - 2014
- 4.4 Forecast for Mid-IR Medical Laser Revenues, 2008 - 2014
- 5.1 Example of a Sensor Product Feature Map
- 5.2 Map of Molecular Detection Methods Including CRDS
- 5.3 Families of Mid-IR Vibrational Resonances by Wavenumber
- 5.4 Mid-IR Absorption of CO and CO2 by Wave-length and Wavenumber
- 5.5 Absorption Spectra of Various Gases by Wavelength
- 5.6 Examples of Useful Mid-IR Molecular Resonances by Wavelength
- 5.7 Biological Molecule Absorption Spectra
- 5.8 Forecast of Mid-IR Lasers for Sensing, 2009 - 2014
- 5.9 Cost and Price vs. Volume Learning Curve for Mid-IR Semiconductor
Lasers
- 6.1 Atmospheric Transmission Windows
- 6.2 Northrop' s Viper Laser Subsystem for NEMESIS DIRCM Systems
- 6.3 Fibertek' s Mid-IR Laser for Northrop' s Viper Subsystem
- 7.1 Insight Technology Rangefinder with Integrated Multifunction Lasers
- 7.2 Daylight Solutions Mid-IR Illuminator/Pointer/Beacon
- 7.3 Ranges of Infrared Illuminators
- 8.1 Newport TOPAS Ultrafast OPA
- 8.2 Forecast for Lasers for R&D, 2009 - 2014
- 9.1 Components of a Mid-IR System
- 9.2 Transmission of Common Optical Materials
- 9.3 Loss Spectra of Mid-IR Transmission Media
- 9.4 Loss Spectra of Three Kinds of Fibers
LIST OF TABLES
- 1.1 Reasons for Using the Mid-Infrared Spectrum
- 1.2 Key Mid-IR Laser Segments
- 1.3 Three Phases in Mid-IR Laser Sales
- 1.4 Forecast of Mid-IR Laser Revenues by Application, 2009 - 2014
- 1.5 Summary by Mid-IR Market Segment
- 1.6 Forecast of Mid-IR Laser Revenues by Type, 2009 - 2014
- 1.7 Summary by Mid-IR Market Segment
- 1.8 Mid-IR Laser Types and Applications
- 1.9 Number of Mid-IR Laser Manufacturers by Region of Headquarters
- 1.10 Trends in Vertical Integration by Segment
- 2.1 Infrared Spectral Ranges
- 2.2 Conversion of Wavelength to Frequency and Wavenumber
- 2.3 Reasons for Using the Mid-Infrared Spectrum
- 2.4 Atmospheric Transmission Windows
- 2.5 A Timeline of Mid-Infrared Technology Milestones
- 2.6 Key Laser Emissions in the Mid-IR Range
- 2.7 Comparison of QCL, Interband Cascade, and Conventional Interband Lasers
- 2.8 Families of Near-IR and Mid-IR Diode Lasers
- 2.9 Families of Quantum Cascade Lasers
- 2.10 Selected Results for Efficiency and Output Power - Quantum Cascade
Lasers
- 2.11 Notable Centers for Mid-IR Laser Research
- 2.12 Regimes of Operation - OPOs and OPAs
- 2.13 Two Types of Infrared Detectors
- 2.14 Types of Infrared Detectors
- 2.15 Imaging Wavelengths for Infrared Cameras
- 3.1 Laser Requirements to Process Different Materials
- 3.2 Types of Commercial CO2 Lasers
- 3.3 Comparison of Three Key Fiber Laser Types
- 3.4 Forecast of Materials Processing Laser Revenues by Subsegment, 2008 -
2014
- 3.5 Summary by Market Segment
- 3.6 Forecast of Mid-IR Materials Processing Laser Sales by Type, 2009 -
2014
- 4.1 General Laser Requirements for Different Medical Treatments
- 4.2 General Laser Requirements for Different Medical Treatments
- 4.3 Types of Long-Wavelength Laser Skin Treatments
- 4.4 Vendors of Dermatology Systems Using Mid-IR Lasers
- 4.5 Vendors of Dentistry Systems Using Mid-IR Lasers
- 4.6 Vendors of Surgical Systems Using Mid-IR Lasers
- 4.7 Forecast for Medical Laser Revenues by Procedure, 2008 - 2014
- 4.8 Forecast for Mid-IR Medical Laser Sales, 2008 - 2014
- 4.9 Maximum Selling Prices for Medical Laser-Based Tools
- 4.10 Status Regarding Vendors of Over-the-Counter Cosmetic Laser Products
- 4.11 Key Merchant Suppliers of Medical Lasers
- 5.1 Features of Key Types of Optical Spectroscopy
- 5.2 Key Features of Spectral Ranges for Spectroscopy
- 5.3 Key Features of Different Methods of Infrared Spectroscopy
- 5.4 Summary of Mid-IR Spectroscopic Sources
- 5.5 Mid-IR vs. Raman Spectroscopy
- 5.6 Preferred Wavelength Ranges for LIDAR Applications
- 5.7 Summary of Mid-IR Spectroscopic Segments
- 5.8 Potential Compounds for Breathalyzer Instruments
- 5.9 Volume/Price Segments for Mid-IR Spectroscopy Systems
- 5.10 Volume/Price Segments for Mid-IR Spectroscopy Systems
- 5.11 Forecast of Mid-IR Lasers for Sensing, 2009 - 2014
- 5.12 Outlook for Mid-IR Lasers by Type
- 5.13 Scenario for Price-Volume Combinations for Mid-IR Spectroscopic Tools
- 6.1 Infrared Transmission Windows
- 6.2 Laser Requirements for IRCM Systems
- 6.3 Forecast for Laser Sales for IRCM Systems, 2009 - 2014
- 7.1 The Evolution of Infrared Imaging and Illumination
- 7.2 Near-Term Volumes and Prices for Infrared Illuminators and Related
Applications
- 7.3 Forecast for Laser Sales for Mid-IR Illuminators, 2009 - 2014
- 8.1 Examples of Applications of Mid-IR Lasers for R&D
- 8.2 Forecast for Mid-IR Laser Sales by Type - R&D, 2009 - 2014
- 9.1 Notable Recent Events in Mid-IR Laser Suppliers
- 9.2 Suppliers of Mid-IR Semiconductor Lasers
- 9.3 Brief Profiles of Key Vendors of Mid-Infrared Products - Semiconductor
Lasers
- 9.4 Merchant Suppliers of Mid-Infrared Solid-State and Fiber Lasers
- 9.5 Brief Profiles of Key Vendors of Mid-Infrared Products
- 9.6 Some Vertically Integrated Mid-IR Medical Laser System Vendors
- 9.7 Suppliers of Mid-Infrared OPO and OPA Products
- 9.8 Suppliers of Mid-Infrared Gas Laser Products
- 9.9 Suppliers of Mid-Infrared Passive Optical Components
- 9.10 Suppliers of Mid-Infrared Transmission Media
- 9.11 Suppliers of Infrared Detectors by Technology
