SAM #IL-13924and2025-198

LLNL Collaboration Opportunity: Optimized Placement of Quartz Rotators for Laser Thermal Depolarization Mitigation

This opportunity from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) invites industry partners to collaborate on and commercialize a novel technology for mitigating thermal depolarization in high-power laser systems. - LLNL has developed optimized architectures for passive mitigation of thermal depolarization, specifically through the placement of quartz rotators in laser systems - The technology offers cost-effective alternatives to complex solutions like Faraday rotators, improving performance and longevity of laser optical components - LLNL seeks companies with relevant expertise and facilities for potential collaboration and commercialization - No procurement of products or services; this is a request for statements of interest from potential collaborators - No specific OEMs, part numbers, or quantities are mentioned - The place of performance and contracting office is Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA - No attachments or additional technical requirements are provided

Description

Opportunity:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract no. DE-AC52-07NA27344 (Contract 44) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to enter into a collaboration to further develop and commercialize its Optimized Placement of Quartz Rotators in Reverser and Other Solutions to Mitigating Thermal Depolarization.

Background:

Depolarization of laser optical components from thermal stress remains a major limitation in high-average-power laser amplifiers.  Non-uniform thermal gradients induce mechanical stresses and birefringence.  If left uncompensated, laser performance degrades—in power/energy, repetition rate, beam quality, coherence and may even lead to parasitic mechanisms and internal laser damage.  The current solutions that mitigate or compensate these effects are often either complex, costly optically active rotator methods or uses magneto-optical effects to restore the polarization, e.g., extremely costly Faraday rotators.

Description:

Novel and cost-effective series of architectures and techniques relating for passive mitigation of thermal depolarization in high average power and peak power laser systems. 

Advantages/Benefits: 

Cost effective thermal depolarization Increased laser performance Longer system life

Potential Applications: 

Damage tolerant laser architectures capable of accessing new tradespace in high average power or high peak power laser systems applied to compact laser particle accelerators, fusion energy class laser drivers.  Other applications include high-precision materials processing, extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, x-ray and gamma ray source generators, laser-based remote-sensing, high-resolution imaging in astrophysics, high-energy density physics.

Development Status: 

Current stage of technology development: TRL ☐ 0-2     ☒ 3-5     ☐ 5-9

LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information. 

Please visit the IPO website at https://ipo.llnl.gov/resources for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.

Note:  THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT.  Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's Optimized Placement of Quartz Rotators in Reverser and Other Solutions to Mitigating Thermal Depolarization should provide an electronic OR written statement of interest, which includes the following:

Company Name and address. The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact. A description of corporate expertise and/or facilities relevant to commercializing this technology.

Please provide a complete electronic OR written statement to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's Optimized Placement of Quartz Rotators in Reverser and Other Solutions to Mitigating Thermal Depolarization.

The subject heading in an email response should include the Notice ID and/or the title of LLNL’s Technology/Business Opportunity and directed to the Primary and Secondary Point of Contacts listed below.

Written responses should be directed to:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Innovation and Partnerships Office

P.O. Box 808, L-779

Livermore, CA  94551-0808

Attention: 2025-198

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