2022 August: BRL is currently Hiring
We are currently searching for applicants to fill the role of Laser Physicist. For further details, please contact info@laserdamage.co.uk.
2021 March: Electro Optics Magazine - BRL features in EO Magazine article 'Testing Matters' alongside latest whitepaper
This month's edition of Electro Optics Magazine features an article on the test ethos of BRL and our latest whitepaper on threshold elevation. Gemma Church explains how and why BRL takes a robust and accurate approach to laser damage testing, alongside comments from our CEO Dr Rona Belford on the potential to overtest samples during a laser damage test.
2021 February: BRL Releases Second Whitepaper on High Power Laser Damage and Annealing
BRL's latest whitepaper expands on the subject of annealing and its influence on accurate determination of laser damage threshold. This whitepaper addresses the threshold elevation that can arise from "over-testing", specifically by using too many laser shots per test site. We report on threshold elevation with increased number of shots per site for different coatings and different substrates with the same coating. The whitepaper can be found here.
2021 February: New Assistant Physicist and Systems Programmer Joins BRL
Andrew Ritchie has taken up a new position at BRL as an Assistant Physicist and Systems Programmer. Andrew's experience in systems programming and robotics will be used to address a high level of system integration at BRL, enhancing the efficacy of our knowledgeable team of laser damage test experts.
2020 September: BRL Exhibition at SPIE Security + Defence Edinburgh
BRL presents "Laser Damage for Optical Coaters" via the Digital Exhibition at SPIE Security + Defence 2020. This virtual demonstration shows exactly what happens to optical samples under test and explains which samples you need for different types of certification. Exciting live footage of samples damaging is presented. It is now available to view on the SPIE website.
2020 August: Electro Optics Viewpoint - BRL CEO discusses the pivotal role of optical coatings and Laser damage testing in high power lasers development
This month's Electro Optics Viewpoint presents a short profile of BRL's capabilities as a laser damage test house and highlights the requirement of high LIDT for high power lasers. This Viewpoint, authored by BRL's CEO Dr Rona Belford, also examines the distinct regimes of laser damage and how they pertain to pulsed, CW or ultrafast laser systems.
2020 July: Electro Optics Magazine Release BRL's New Annealing Whitepaper
This month's Electro Optics magazine features BRL's latest whitepaper, "High Power Laser Damage & Annealing - Justification for ISO Standard Recommendations" by Dr Rona Belford and Kieran R Ross. We detail the potential for large scale variance in LIDT values by ignoring important details of the ISO standards. It is now available on the Electro Optics website.
2020 June: BRL Releases Whitepaper on High Power Laser Damage and Annealing
BRL has released a new whitepaper detailing the effects of small parameter changes, deviating from ISO standard laser damage testing. These small changes give rise to inacurate, high results due to annealing. The importance of ISO standards are justified. The whitepaper can be found here.
2020 June: Article Featuring BRL Reissued in June Edition of Electro Optics Magazine
Electro Optics Magazine has reissued an article by Andy Extance as part of a Tech Focus on Laser Optics. "Coating Techniques Push Laser Component Limits" was first issued in 2018, discussing advances in coating technology and highlighting BRL as a state of the art laser damage test house. Please scroll down to see the entry from 2018. The article can also be found here.
2020 June: June Digital Issue of Electro Optics Magazine Features BRL's CW Whitepaper
Our recent whitepaper on CW Laser Damage is free to read via the June digital issue of Electro Optics Magazine.
2020 May: Electro Optics Magazine Release Latest BRL Whitepaper
This month's Electro Optics magazine features BRL's latest whitepaper. The whitepaper, "High Power Pulsed and CW Laser Damage, Understanding the differences in Pulsed and CW damage" by Dr Rona Belford, Kieran R Ross and Dr Matthew Duff, details and contrasts pulsed and CW laser damage mechanisms, as well as presenting LIDT results for optical substrates. It is available on the Electro Optics website.
2020 April: BRL Releases Demo "Laser Damage for Optical Coaters"
BRL has released a video targeted at optical coaters. We explain what the coater needs to provide in terms of data and sample. We also show videos of both pulsed and CW damage. The demo was originally compiled for the exhibitors showcase at SPIE Photonics Europe 2020. The video can be found here.
2020 March: BRL Releases Whitepaper on High Power Pulsed and CW Laser Damage
BRL has released a whitepaper, detailing and contrasting the differences in Pulsed and CW laser damage. We also dispel some of the common misunderstandings relating to CW Laser Damage and its units. This work was funded by Leonardo Edinburgh, Gooch and Housego Precision Optics and BRL Laser Damage. The whitepaper can be found here.
2020 February: BRL Extends CW Damage Testing Capability
BRL now offers continuous wave (CW) laser damage testing up to a linear power density of 500 kW/cm. This linear power density will cover more than 95% of the CW market.
2019 October: New Laser Physicist Joins BRL
Matthew Duff has taken up a new position at BRL as a Laser Physicist.
2019 May: New Laser Physicist Joins BRL
Kieran Ross has taken up a new position at BRL as a Lead Physicist.
2019 April: BRL now offer a comprehensive CW laser damage service commencing 02.04.2019.
2018 November: BRL Have Commissioned a New CW Laser System and Will Be Initiating a Study on Continuous Wave (CW) Laser Damage.
2018 July: New Laser Physicist Joins BRL
Arran Fernie has taken up a new position at BRL as a Laser Physicist.
2018 May: BRL Appear in Electro Optics Article
This month BRL was included in a feature article in Electro Optics. The article, "Coating techniques push laser component limits" by Andy Extance, discusses the current advances in coating technology and the importance of laser damage testing. It is available on the Electro Optics website.
2017 June: Whitepaper on High Power, High LIDT Laser Optics
BRL has co-authored a whitepaper on laser damage in high-power optics with Gooch and Housego. It is available on the Gooch and Housego website. The paper showcases our recent Laser Damage Live videos, which you can find on our media page.
2017 April: New Media Launched
We have just begun a series of videos on live laser damage. These show unusual and dramatic damage events recorded in our labs. Watch it on our media page.
2017 March: New Website
Welcome to our new, revamped website! We hope you find it easier to navigate but please let us know if you experience any issues or have any comments.
2017 January: Completed Expansion into the Eye-Safe Regime, Supported by Business Gateway
2016 October: Photonex Coventry
Dr Mulholland gave an invited talk on laser damage testing. He gave examples of BRL's work with the Kerr Effect and showcased two new videos taken of live damage events.
2016 September: SPIE Security + Defence Edinburgh
BRL exhibited, showing the first live damage videos illustrating beam focussing due to the Kerr Effect.
2016 August: 2-Micron Research Project
BRL successfully completed the SMART feasibility project on 2-micron laser damage testing. The project was successful and BRL are taking their concepts a stage further. Much work is still required to gain confidence in the procedures investigated.
2016 August: BRL Attained ISO 9001:2015 Accreditation.
2016 June: Fourth Laser Test Bed Operational
2016 April: SPIE Photonics Europe Brussels
BRL exhibited and Dr. R E Belford gave the demo talk Laser Damage Basics.
2016 January: Dr Kieran Mulholland Appointed as our New Research Physicist
Dr Kieran Mulholland joined our group full time. He has a PhD in experimental nuclear physics and has previous experience of laser damage techniques.
2015 December: Sean Taylor Appointed as our Electronics Engineer
Sean is responsible for the extensive electronic and sensing equipment in our firing labs.
2015 September: 2-Micron Research Project
BRL commenced a one-year SMART feasibility project. Laser damage at 2 microns presents limiting difficulties which make the test both expensive and challenging to execute. This research project approached the problem from a materials based viewpoint and proposed a novel method for performing laser damage testing at 2 microns using an alternative methodology.
2014 December: BRL Attained ISO 9001:2008 Accreditation
2014 August: BRL Fast Tracked in Business Gateway
2013 October: Photonex
Dr Belford presented an invited talk entitled "Laser Damage on optical components".
2013 August: Completed SMART Award “Intelligent, Low Cost Route to Multi-Wavelength Laser Damage Determination”
2013 June: Third Laser Damage Test Bed Operational
Multi-wavelength laser damage test bed became active due to the completion of a Scottish Enterprise feasibility project.