To achieve ever shrinking dimensions and higher resolutions of circuit elements, projection lithography (PL), is growing in complexity and cost to manufacturers. It is limited to producing 2D images on flat surfaces. Extension to 3D imaging is restricted by trade-off between focus depth and resolution. Advanced, cost-efficient solutions to fabricate wafer-scale 3D components are required. HoLiSTEP unleashes the potential of sub-wavelength Holographic Lithography (HL) as a powerful and enabling disruptive lithography. HL will overcome limitations of PL and facilitate production of novel 3D topographies with high resolution while making the production of high-resolution IC much more affordable. An industrial prototype operating at 345nm with 200nm resolution will be produced and validated in an operational environment. Several advancements in holographic stepper subcomponents must be realised: A UV fibre-based laser with 20W output power at 345nm and 1.5m coherence length, an alignment system with 25nm overlay precision, an adaptive optical system with correction precision of 1/20λ and software modules for vector diffraction models. Energy consumption of HL technology is drastically reduced compared to PL due to low power-consumption of the laser and production of complex structures in one exposure. HL images are not sensitive to mask defects, eliminating frequent mask replacements and use of toxic materials. Moreover, holographic masks act as projection optics, eliminating the need for complex optical systems. The HL prototype will be verified for 3D patterning for MEMS, MOEMS and micro-optical components to show better resolution, flexibility of 3D printing and reduced cost. HoLiSTEP will empower a positive transformative effect on environment, economy and society by enabling a wider range of companies to produce novel high-resolution 2D and 3D images at lower costs.

V4F aims to show proof-of-principle of a new technology capable of unprecedented control over interactions with specially synthesised targets to significantly improve the energy balance of aneutronic fusion reactions. New concepts and advanced simulations of inertial confinement of aneutronic fusion reactions and particle acceleration will inform pioneering experiments in high-energy matter-interactions. Results could offer the prospect of breakthrough increases in alpha-particle yields from fusion reactions and mitigate the instabilities found in conventional fusion reactions. This work offers the tantalising possibility of aneutronic fusion as a waste-free nuclear energy source and radical new configurations of particle accelerators, leading to an efficient positron beam acceleration. The results will benefit society with game-changing new approaches to clean, safe energy production and significant downscaling of positron accelerators with dramatic impacts in medicine, industry and fundamental science.

There is an absence of lasers with the necessary wavelengths and characteristics to access the possibilities for deeper high-resolution biological tissue imaging in the third bio-window between 1650 nm and 1870 nm. Motivated by recent breakthrough results in multi-photon imaging at twice the depths currently achievable, we will meet the urgent need for new sources to address the outstanding research questions in this spectral region. Results will guide and enable instrument development in this appealing and relatively unexplored biophotonics imaging wavelength range. The AMPLITUDE consortium proposes a new concept of label-free, multi-modal microscopy and endoscopic imaging operating in this new wavelength region with multiple imaging and spectroscopic technologies, including NIR confocal reflectance microscopy, multi-photon microscopy and spontaneous Raman spectroscopy. By progressing ultrafast fibre laser developments at 1700 nm, we will deliver new imaging capabilities in an appropriate form factor and at cost suitable for widespread adoption. This will be further enhanced by providing additional output at 850 nm using second harmonic generation from one integrated laser device. This will enable a pioneering new compact and efficient multi-modal capability combining confocal and non-linear imaging techniques, overcoming performance limitations in medical and biological imaging applications, including improved pathohistological staging of tumours and in-vivo endoscopic assessment of depth of lesion invasiveness. Deeper multi-photon microscopy with autofluorescence imaging of cellular metabolic conditions, whose aspects are tightly related to cellular functioning and to cancer, implemented in tandem with Raman spectroscopy will provide exhaustive characterisation of the examined tissue at morphological, metabolic and molecular levels, allowing in-vivo optical biopsy for bladder cancer diagnosis, grading and staging.

A world record power 2.5kW laser providing from picosecond down to femtoseconds pulses at repetition rates up to 1GHz with excellent beam quality will be developed and brought to the market at highly competitive costs enabling widespread industrial uptake. By harnessing the unique characteristics of patent protected tapered double-clad fiber amplifiers power-scaled multichannel laser, unparalleled high-power beam qualities, M2<1.1, and pulse energies 2.5-250µJ will be achieved. Using the state-of-the-art highly stable laser diodes as seed lasers allowing parameter flexibility by ultrafast electrical control of pulse duration and repetition rate will a broad range of high-power laser processing application requirements to be met. An extremely stable advanced all-fiber based configuration allow development of a compact ultrashort pulse laser system. A newly-designed delivery fiber utilising cutting-edge technology of high purity glass material fabrication will be used to capable of handling the very high power ultra-short pulses, preserving beam quality over several meters distance. Pioneering technology based on 3D nano-imprint lithography will be exploited to produce coherent beam combining optics and fiber-facet-integrated micro-lenses for advanced beam shaping elements to elongate voxels. Together these will provide laser pulse delivery via patented polygon scanner technology capable of handling high-power pulses at speeds of up to 1.5 km/s. These will enable demonstration in automotive and renewable energy sectors of ultrafast 3D ablation, low-thermal welding of dissimilar metals and faster cost-effective cutting of ultra-hard materials. Exploitation in the form of high-power laser processing systems will immediately follow, benefitting from the unmatched performance data and detailed cost benefit and investment case analysis performed.