News Update

European association for infrared thermography

A European association for infrared thermogra-

phy has been Formed under the banner ‘European Asso- ciation of Thermographer Un- ions’ (ATU).

The aim of the association is to promote the exchange of information on new thermo- graphic applications and tech- nology across Europe’s national borders.

Comprising two delegates from each of the national associations currently in op- eration throughout Europe, the ATU plans to hold regular meetings and conferences on subjects relating to infrared thermography.

The association also in- tends to start a new thermo- graphic library which will provide a pool of information for those working in the field.

Mr Pallinger, an active thermographer for over 17

years and now running his own consultancy in Munich, Germany, has been appointed the new Chairman of the Association. Previously, he was Chairman of the German thermographer’s association and so has experience of the major issues that must be addressed by the new body.

One of these, the setting up of new standards for thermo- graphic practice, is an area which Mr Pijllinger intends to address quickly.

As the thermographic mar- ket has increased with new suppliers of equipment and more companies offering ther- mographic services, he be- lieves there is an urgent need to define the correct working procedures for a number of key applications, including building thermography, leak detection and industrial con- dition monitoring.

In time, he hopes that a new certification body will be established that will ensure ‘registered’ thermographers carry out their work to an acceptable standard as defined by the association.

an issue when using liquid hydrogen cooling. The chemi- cal industry will also offer many new application areas.

The ATU has already be- come involved in two projects which are potentially of great interest to thermographers. The first relates to the devel- opment of a new technique that uses infrared thermogra- phy to detect different gases.

The second project, called Leonardo, is being developed in Scandinavia and will in- volve the association in var- ious educational programmes designed to increase the knowledge of thermography throughout schools and gov- ernments.

Using laser technology to provide the necessary excita- tion of the gas at wavelengths which can be detected by an infrared camera, the technique is thought to have enormous applications potential.

Whilst the current focus of the ATU is towards condition monitoring applications, Mr Piillinger hopes that it will soon expand to embrace other application areas including re- search and development, en- vironmental monitoring and police surveillance.

In addition to detecting gas Herr Pdlinger, Thermografie pipeline leaks and other un- Pdinger, Ostpreussenstrasse derground gases, the techni- 50, D-81927 Mtinchen, Ger- que may also be adopted in many. Fax: +49 (O/89 930 power stations where safety is 36 91

Company expands its semiconductor capabilities

R ecently, Coherent ac- quired 80% of the out-

standing shares of Tutcore OY Ltd, of Tampere, Finland, and an option to acquire the remaining shares in the future.

Tutcore specializes in the growth and processing of alu- minium-free epitaxial wafers for the production of semi- conductor lasers, while Coher- ent claims to be the world’s largest manufacturer of lasers for scientific, medical and commercial applications.

Bernard Couillaud, CEO of Coherent, stated that the purchase of Tutcore gives Coherent the ability to pro- duce the highest quality epi- taxial wafers.

‘Tutcore,’ he said, ‘Is a strategic component in our move to become the leading supplier of high quality laser diodes for telecommunica-

tions, material processing, printing, medical and solid- state laser pumping applica- tions.’

Demand for laser diodes in these markets is said to be currently about $200 million annually and expanding ra- pidly.

Bernard Couillaud added, ‘With Tutcore’s advanced ma- terial growth and processing capabilities, and the proces- sing and packaging techniques developed both in Finland and in California, we are now fully integrated and ready to start volume produc- tion of semiconductor laser devices in the 10 000 square foot clean room that is near- ing completion at our Santa Clara facility.’

Harry Asonen, a Tutcore founder and its Managing Director, added, ‘By joining

forces with Coherent, Tutcore will be able to focus on the development of novel materi- als and devices that satisfy the growing needs of existing and new customers for both com- panies.’

According to Vittorio Fos- sati, Director for Laser Diode Programs, at Coherent, ‘In the last year we have been work- ing extensively with material grown by Tutcore. We’re very excited with the devices pro- duced. Our preliminary results show significantly improved lifetimes, as well as lower beam divergences and better spectral purity than currently available products. These are some of the key characteristics that the market has been asking suppliers to provide.’

Compared with more con- ventional aluminium-based materials, aluminium-free wa-

fers eliminate the aluminium oxidation at the laser facets, which is the principal cause of laser diode failures.

Tutcore uses molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) to grow its aluminium-free wafers. When used in laser devices, these wafers result in im- proved performance, higher yields and better reliability as compared with either alumi- nium-based or aluminium-free material currently grown by metal-organic vapour deposi- tion (MOCVD).

Tutcore will remain located in Tampere and continue its collaboration with the Tech- nical University of Tampere.

Coherent Laser Group, 5100 Patrick Henry Drive, PO Box 54980, Santa Clara, California 95056-0980. USA. Fax: + 1 408 764 4800

iv Optics & Laser Technology

Vol29 No 2 1997