Ultraviolet lasers and fiber lasers are both types of lasers, and their difference lies in their application fields and technical characteristics. In this article, we’ll explore the differences between these two types of lasers.

Application field

Fiber lasers are mainly used in industrial processing and communications. In the field of industrial processing, fiber lasers are usually used in cutting, marking, welding and other processing processes. In the field of communication, fiber lasers are mainly used for signal amplification and fiber transmission in fiber optic communication systems.

In contrast, UV lasers are mainly used in fields such as biomedicine, semiconductor manufacturing, microscopy, lithography, and chemical analysis. In the field of biomedicine, ultraviolet lasers are mainly used in photodynamic therapy, fluorescence microscopy, etc. In the field of semiconductor manufacturing, ultraviolet lasers are mainly used for etching, cleaning and testing of semiconductor chips.

Technical features

Fiber lasers use the amplification effect of optical fibers to achieve technical characteristics such as high power, high efficiency, high beam quality and long life. Fiber lasers also have the advantages of small size, high reliability, and simple maintenance. The wavelength of a fiber laser is usually around 1,064 nanometers, which allows it to match the transmission wavelength of an optical fiber, enabling long-distance transmission and integration in optical fiber communication systems.

In contrast, UV lasers have the advantages of shorter wavelengths, higher photon energies, and more focused and straight-line beams. Ultraviolet lasers enable higher resolution, finer processing and analysis. Due to their high photon energy, UV lasers can excite electronic transitions in materials, enabling more efficient photochemical reactions and fluorescence detection.

Manufacturing cost

Due to the amplification effect of optical fiber, fiber laser makes its manufacturing cost relatively low. At the same time, the fiber laser has a long service life, which can reach tens of thousands of hours, making its maintenance cost relatively low.

In contrast, UV lasers are expensive to manufacture. Because it needs to use high-purity materials and relatively complicated technology, its manufacturing cost is relatively high. At the same time, because its light beam is relatively focused and straight, it requires stricter safety protection measures during use, which also increases the cost of use and maintenance.

To sum up, fiber lasers and UV lasers each have different application fields and technical characteristics. When choosing a laser, it needs to be selected according to specific application scenarios and requirements.