Matthew Dale finds that new fibre designs are being developed to enable more efficient and higher-power fibre laser systems

Nick Morris reviews the state of the burgeoning fibre laser industry

In recent years fibre lasers have begun to be talked about as a possible viable alternative to semiconductor and gas lasers. Fibre lasers hold a number of attractions. As well as very good beam quality the long, thin design geometry of a fibre laser means that a fibre laser is often smaller than its equivalent-powered semiconductor or gas laser.