dr. yiquan wan, an associate professor of materials science in the inamori school of engineering at alfred university (n.y.) has received $3 million in funding from the office of naval research hel-jto high energy laser multidisciplinary research initiative program to study planar waveguide lasers built from high thermal conductivity materials.

prof. yiquan wan will be leading a team studying high thermal conductivity materials.
(wikimedia commons)

according to an announcement from the university, wan will work for the next five years to create advanced ceramic processing and additive manufacturing techniques “with a goal of achieving better thermal management of laser gain media.”

wu told the university website, “understanding the synergetic effects on laser performance of using high thermal conductivity materials for planar waveguide structures will be an important step towards developing novel and advanced technologies to increase the power of solid-state laser systems for department of defense-related applications.”

in addition to dr. wu, there will be researchers from rochester institute of technology (rit), the university of rochester, and a second professor from alfred university.

alfred university president mark zupan said, “a year ago, yiquan was recognized with a prestigious career award for his rising-star accomplishment and future potential. this latest office of naval research grant further validates the promise and impact of his scholarship and the possibility that its insights will allow the manufacture of even more sophisticated lasers in the future.”