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CSIR DEVELOPS HIGH-BRIGHTNESS LASER TO BENEFIT INDUSTRY In brief CSIR research, aimed at developing a more efficient industrial laser, has paid off, with the advantage of making local industry potentially more competitive. Using similar technology to make almost any laser operate in a ‘high brightness’ mode will result in more efficient lasers for long-range communication systems, and in the military for target designation. The technology may also be used to make lasers smaller and less expensive, by exploiting the extra efficiency to make the support systems work a little less. The challenge With lasers one generally has to choose between having lots of energy, and having a ‘nice’ laser beam. A quality that incorporates both these parameters is the so-called ‘brightness’ of a laser: high brightness means good laser beam quality and high energy. This is difficult to achieve because good beams tend to come at the expense of energy, while high energy beams are highly distorted and difficult to use in practical applications. So is it possible to have the best of both worlds This question was posed to the CSIR by a South African company intent on making industrial lasers to compete in the international market. CSIR research The CSIR has for several years invested in developing core expertise in shaping light with diffractive optical elements; optics that have feature sizes down to the micrometre scale, and sometimes to the nanometre scale. The idea is that given a laser beam of a particular intensity profile (i.e. how the energy carried by the laser is distributed in space), it is possible to reshape the profile of this laser beam by redistributing the energy. If this is done correctly, then in principle any laser beam shape can be achieved. The group worked on achieving this Schematic of a laser resonator – the heart of the laser – showing light bouncing between the mirrors before exiting at the right mirror. same result, but inside a laser, so that the diffractive optical elements are the mirrors of the laser. The idea was that if the mirrors were correctly calculated, and then fabricated, the laser itself would select the best beam for maximum brightness. The shape of the laser beam bouncing around inside the laser was chosen to extract as much energy as possible from the laser, but in a ‘good’ shape. The idea worked, and the result was a 25 times improvement in the performance of the laser – just with the help of carefully designed micro-structured mirrors. Outputs The group reported the work in the literature for the design of novel high brightness lasers, and filed for a PCT patent on some of the concepts. The work was also featured during invited talks at key international conferences. Outcomes The research has been taken up by the local photonics industry with a licence agreement signed that sees the technology a permanent part of the product line of export-orientated lasers. With a 25 times improvement in performance with only a change of one mirror in the design, the company can now offer a vastly improved product at very little additional cost. Such transfer of technology is necessary for South Africa to grow its knowledge-based economy. Image of a ‘nice’ laser beam, i.e. a laser beam of good quality and high energy: a Gaussian-shaped intensity profile. 40
industry advanced manufacturing CSIR laser outreach Building public understanding of lasers The Public Understanding of Laser Science and Engineering (PULSE) programme of the CSIR undertakes outreach programmes during which schools are visited by researchers from the CSIR. These visits, and instances when learners visit the CSIR, are aimed at raising laser science awareness. At school level, common laser applications are shown to the pupils, and the main emphasis is on building interest in mathematics and physical science. These outreach activities are adapted to also suit students, educators and communities. Building research human capital through the CSIR Rental Pool Programme The CSIR National Laser Centre manages a laser rental pool programme that provides researchers at tertiary education institutions (TEIs) the opportunity of engaging in laser-based research using a collection of state-of-the-art lasers and laser diagnostic equipment. The programme also provides much needed scientifi c and technical expertise to participating TEIs. The sole purpose of the laser rental pool programme is to develop laser research programmes, specifi cally within the context of TEIs - where the country’s future researchers reside. Getting to grips Laser: A laser is a device that controls the way that energised atoms release photons. The word laser is an acronym for Light Amplifi cation by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Lasers are used in everyday life in, for example, supermarket scanners, laser printers, eye surgery, CD players, laser welding and cutting. Dr Igor Litvin aligning a laser resonator for customised laser beam shapes. 41 PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Page 1 and 2: ANNUAL REPORT 2010/11
Page 3 and 4: 5AUDIT REPORT 106 Report of the Aud
Page 5 and 6: contribution to the pursuit of scie
Page 7 and 8: engagement with all its stakeholder
Page 9 and 10: focuses on establishing new develop
Page 11 and 12: Nanotechnology, specifi cally nanos
Page 13 and 14: Infrastructure and associated opera
Page 15 and 16: uilt environment Getting to grips I
Page 17 and 18: uilt environment The Port of Doha,
Page 19 and 20: uilt environment Locally, the South
Page 21 and 22: The changing security environment p
Page 23 and 24: defence & security placed close tog
Page 25 and 26: defence & security recalled per tar
Page 27 and 28: defence & security communication an
Page 29 and 30: The demand for energy in South Afri
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Page 33 and 34: For many South Africans, limited ac
Page 35 and 36: health group has hosted and trained
Page 37 and 38: health these devices now enables re
Page 39 and 40: The importance of manufacturing in
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Page 45 and 46: industry advanced manufacturing tra
Page 47 and 48: industry advanced manufacturing tec
Page 49 and 50: industry advanced manufacturing One
Page 51 and 52: With its 495 000 workers and R162 b
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Page 79 and 80: Archibald S, Scholes RJ, Roy DP, Ro
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Page 83 and 84: Kumar R, Yakubu MK, Anandjiwala RD.
Page 85 and 86: 405(12), p.2659-2663. Mishra SB, Mi
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Page 91 and 92: J John MJ, Thomas S. 2010. Cellulos
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Wright C. 2010. Children’s sight
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 93
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are fairly presented in conformity
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CSIR. All subsidiary companies are
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CSIR Board Members (1 April 2010 -
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CSIR leadership team The CSIR manag
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Meetings 7 October 2010 24 March 20
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Report of the Audit and Risk Commit
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the fi nancial position of the Coun
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Role in the National System of Inno
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to accessing each other’s researc
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Table 2: Building and transforming
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The CSIR achieved outstanding perfo
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Significant progress was made in 20
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B Five-year review of income and ex
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121 EXECUTIVE REPORT
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ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 123
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Statements of financial position as
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Statements of cash flows for the ye
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1 PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (co
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1PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (con
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3OPERATING PROFIT GROUP The net ope
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6PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT 2011
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6PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (con
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8INTEREST IN JOINT VENTURES AND ASS
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13 DEFERRED TAx ASSET GROUP Balance
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18 RETIREMENT BENEFITS OF EMPLOYEES
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19 REMUNERATION OF BOARD MEMBERS, D
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20 CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND FACIL
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22 FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (continued
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23 RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING PROF
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25 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (cont
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26 SUBSEQUENT EVENTS 26.1 Satellite
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Interests of the CSIR Net indebtnes
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169 2010 FIFA SOCCER WORLD CUP
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ACCESS Applied Centre for Climate a
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Printed on Hi-Q Titan Plus environm
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