A femtosecond laser that survived 19.8 g at the Dakar Rally

The challenge

Litilit wanted to assess the durability of its NEOLIT ultrashort pulse laser outside the lab. Racer Benediktas Vanagas had assumed that lasers are sensitive and fragile devices that need special conditions to work. The Dakar Rally offers constant shaking and jolting: more than 500 kilometres every day over dirt, rocks, sand and dunes.

What was tested

The NEOLIT, a book-sized box, travelled in the driver’s storage compartment attached to the car door. It had not been specially protected. The test looked at:

• Shock and impact
• Constant vibration and jolting off-road
• Travel without any special protection or packaging

The test

Vanagas placed the laser in the compartment during the prologue stage. It stayed there until the car hit a rock, which ended the team’s race. The crew came back safe and sound. This was the first time an ultra-precise femtosecond industrial laser has been carried on the Dakar track.

How the laser is built

According to Litilit, the NEOLIT does not use semiconductor materials such as gallium or arsenic, which makes it longer-lasting and more durable than other lasers of its type. Its one-piece construction gives high stability and protection against vibrations and temperature changes.

“Even though we had not specially protected the laser, it survived the journey and the accident and is working as it should. We found the laser to be extremely robust, reliable and resistant to external factors such as shock and impact.”

Nikolay Gavrilin, CEO, Litilit

Results

After the journey and the 19.8 g impact, the laser was working as it should. With this laser Litilit was also a finalist in the SPIE Prism Awards 2022. Read the original announcement in our news.