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Als Mitarbeiter des LaserApplikationsZentrums der Hochschule Aalen forscht Robin Wenger an der Optimierung des laserbasierten 3D-Drucks von Metallen. Foto: © Hochschule Aalen | Jan Walford

At the LaserApplicationCenter (LAZ) at Aalen University, research is being conducted into how future technologies can not only remain theory, but can also be applied in practice. The university is particularly strong in the areas of "photonics" and "new materials and manufacturing technologies". This is not least due to the fact that these fields of research have great potential - especially for industry in the region.

Global market leaders such as Zeiss and Trumpf work closely with the research facilities at Aalen University and support science, for example in the form of two endowed professorships. "We want to create further synergies in the region. Photonics is an exciting, promising technology that is quickly finding its way into applications," explains Prof. Dr. Harald Riegel, Rector of Aalen University. The chairs are researching energy storage systems, energy converters and in the life science sector. The photonic research projects are primarily aimed at promoting sustainability and resource conservation, for example through innovative manufacturing processes that use less material and energy.

Highly motivated research team

Young scientists are working on their Bachelor's theses, Master's theses and doctorates at the chairs at Aalen University. Many of them have chosen the university not least because of its good reputation. Robin Wenger, for example, also took one of the 30 Master's degree courses at Aalen University, the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing (AMM) course. He wrote his Master's thesis on a research project on laser-based 3D printing of metals at the LaserApplicationCenter (LAZ). "In my master's thesis, I wanted to optimize the Laser Powder Bed Fusion process."

The process with the euphonious name is based on a laser micro-welding process, is very sensitive and is highly dependent on temperature. This makes the error-free production of components complicated, time-consuming and expensive. The LAZ research group's approach aims to develop a highly dynamic temperature control system. This could increase component quality, prevent process errors and homogenize material properties, thereby saving money and time - prerequisites for being able to manufacture components economically and use them in industry. This is a topic for the future that Robin is now pursuing as part of his doctorate at the LAZ. "We are a super young team, with highly motivated and committed researchers and engineers," he emphasizes. "It's incredible fun to be involved in the further development of the laser-based 3D printing process, which has a lot of research potential."

Teamwork in the lab enables complex Master's theses

Theresa Willburger is currently writing her Master's thesis, also on the AMM course. "I am particularly fascinated by how diverse the future technology of photonics can be applied and in how many areas it can be used." For example, in the production of optical components inside technical glass. Willburger uses ultra-short pulsed laser radiation to specifically change the refractive index of glass. In this way, she produces so-called waveguides, which are used, for example, in integrated optical circuits in quantum technology. In her experiments, she investigates the various processes that take place during the interaction between the laser radiation and the glass. A complex topic, but she is not working alone. "What I like best about my working group at the LAZ is that there is good cooperation. When you're faced with a problem, you help each other. There is also excellent collaboration across working groups at the university, which I really like," she says, describing her experience in the lab.

From internship to doctoral thesis

In his Master's thesis, Sebastian Funken worked on the surface structuring of glass materials using ultrashort pulse lasers - and found out which processes can be used to modify soda-lime glass with long focal lengths. This glass processing is used, for example, in the life science sector as a lab-on-a-chip, a kind of "mini-laboratory" for transporting the smallest amounts of liquid on the smallest measuring devices - for example to determine blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.

Funken also particularly appreciates the many opportunities for activities and internships at Aalen University and with cooperation partners. "It is helpful to gain practical experience in laboratories at an early stage in order to gain an insight into research work and to see whether you enjoy working in a scientific environment." He has also just started his doctorate at the LAZ in order to contribute to the research and development of innovative technologies and materials. "I decided to do a doctorate in order to further deepen my knowledge and skills and conduct research on exciting scientific projects," says Funken enthusiastically.

Close collaboration between research and industry

The students and doctoral candidates carry this enthusiasm for science into the region, which is very strongly positioned in photonics with major global market leaders such as Trumpf and Zeiss. By collaborating with industry, researchers can better understand the requirements of industry and work specifically on solutions that are needed in application. "This knowledge transfer strengthens the region's ability to innovate and keeps relevant expertise and young scientists here," explains Dr. Thomas Harrer, Head of the LaserApplicationCenter at Trumpf. So while research benefits from a stronger focus on applications and the opportunity to put its results into practice, industry gains access to new technologies and innovations - a win-win situation, so to speak.