1.LMN: We would like you to do an introduction of Light Conversion.

Algirdas:Our company was founded in 1994,Feb,so three mo nths ago this year is our company’s 20 year anniversary.Our company is spin-off company from Vilnius University, our first product was optical pararmetrical amplifier, because Vilnius University was and is the center of parametrical amplication processes.From 1994, from the beginning, our optical parametric amplification products and the market for our product was scientific market,starting from 2006,we developed and showed to the market our femtosecond laser and different modifications of our Pharo laser. And right now we are offering to the market the same xxx and femtosecond laser lasers.

2.LMN: Light Conversion is famous for its ultrafast laser, especially femtosecond lasers. What can your product do in practical application? please give us some examples (product example).

Algirdas:Okay.Our product as a optical parametric amplifiers and femtosecond lasers. We have two markets, one is scientific market, the other is industrial market. Our product for scientific market and amplification is spectroscopy. We provide total soltions for spectroscopy experiment. We have laser, parametric amplifier, spetro meters, the scientist can buy from us and receive total solution for pump spectroscopy.

Second, optical experiments, and photo nics experiment for science. Another market is industrial market. We are working with laser xxx ,which produce laser machine. Our laser is used for different amplifications, like today Villija made the presentation at the co nference and she showed the whole wide range of possible applications of our laser and I’d like to mention a few me tal processing, also transparent materials, We are working on femtosecond pulse regime, in this field we can do something with our products.

3.LMN: Could you introduce some market achievements of your company ultrafast laser sources in past year? Do you have some market plan for China market?

Algirdas:First I would like to say our achievements in 20 years are very well, there are 3 main regions, they are Europe, United State and China. And Europe we have more than 600 products, in US is more than 400, in Japan, more than 300, and the fourth place is China, a bout 150 units. For us, China market is increasing year by year, I think in China a bout 60% of our products are for scientific markets, others are for industrial, industrial customers in China. We believe that China will have representative here, and we believe that our product will find more wide application in china industry.

4.LMN: ultrafast laser is a very hot topic now. So what do you think of the development trend of ultrafast laser?

Algirdas:I think ultrafast laser include picoseconds, femtosecond lasers, for industry, everything depends on the process, which process is the best, femtosecond or picosecond, which works most efficiently and according to 3 years situation, more industry will be likely to use femtosecond laser and receiving good result and different processes. I think the future is for femtosecond light, so it’s necessary for laser producers to offer to the market good quality, long term stability femtosecond laser.

Femtosecond laser market is bigger than picoseco nds lasers. Femtosecond is used widely in US, but in China we see the same case, and I believe the femtosecond laser market will increase

5.LMN: Finally, Lithuania is strong in laser industry, we can hear several famous companies such as Light Conversion, Eksma. Would you explain to us the reason why Lithuania has a good laser industry?

Algirdas:I could say that the laser situation in Lithuania is “not bad”. This situation is related to our background. In the world, the first laser was a bout 50 years ago, after 10 years, the first laser in Lithuania realized. In Vilnius University and Institute of Physics of Academy of Sciences Lithuania, 1972 began the foundamental scientific investigation in different laser physics. unios period, we made different project as background industry. Start from 1993, appear different laser companies, today we have more than 20 laser companies in Lithuania, of cause it cannot compare to China. China has a lot of laser companies. But China has large population, in Lithuania o nly has 3 million, 20 companies I think is good situation.

There are many companies providing femtosecond laser, the competition is intensive and strong, Fianium, Coherent, TRUMPF, also Light Conversion. The customers choose the company according to product.

Author:
Johnny Lee, Deputy Chief Editor,Laser Manufacture News,