GoPhotonics interviewed Gustavo Rivas, the Technical Sales Manager of Cybel, LLC. Gustavo Rivas is an electrical engineer from the District University of Bogota, over the past few years, his focus has been in the photonics industry including the fiber lasers and fiber amplifiers industry. With over three years of experience at Cybel, Gustavo has contributed to the company's success through his expertise in sales engineering. Before Cybel, Gustavo also worked with other multinational companies, bringing a wealth of experience to his work.

Q. Can you tell us about Cybel? When was the company founded? And what is your objective?

Gustavo Rivas: Cybel LLC is a company that specializes in the design and manufacture of high-performance fiber lasers, fiber amplifiers, and broadband light sources. The company was founded in 2011 with the objective of providing cutting-edge fiber optic solutions for various industries and applications.

Q. Can you tell us about your product portfolio?

Gustavo Rivas: Cybel offers a diverse product portfolio that includes fiber amplifiers, fiber lasers, ASE sources, and custom solutions. Our fiber amplifiers and lasers are designed to deliver high power, excellent beam quality, and reliable performance across a wide range of wavelengths, this range includes the 1 μm, 1.5 μm & 2 μm band. We have this wide variety of products also in multiple platforms including OEMs and Benchtops. 

Q. What market segments do you cater to? Which segment is the largest for you?

Gustavo Rivas: Cybel caters to various market segments, including telecommunications, industrial manufacturing, aerospace and defense, medical, and scientific research. Our OEMs platforms allow us to provide our fiber lasers and fiber amplifiers to markets where compact and reliable units are needed, with our benchtops we contribute for multiple scientific teams across the US and worldwide.

Q. Can you tell us more about the Fiber Amplifier products that you develop? What are their applications? Who are your customers for this product?

Gustavo Rivas: Cybel develops fiber amplifiers that are used to boost optical signals with high power and low noise. These amplifiers find applications like free space optical communication, as well as in scientific research, Atom cooling, and quantum manipulation, remote sensing, and defense applications. Cybel's customers for fiber amplifiers include telecommunications companies, research institutions, and defense contractors.

Q. Can you tell us more about the Fiber Laser products that you develop? What are their applications? Who are your customers for this product?

Gustavo Rivas: Cybel's fiber laser products are designed to provide high-power laser beams with excellent beam quality and stability. These lasers are used in applications such as Gas sensing, LiDAR/LaDAR scientific research, and Range finders & target designators. Cybel's customers for fiber lasers include industrial manufacturers, research institutions, and defense contractors.

Q. What is an ASE Source? Can you tell us more about these products?

Gustavo Rivas: ASE stands for Amplified Spontaneous Emission. An ASE source is a broadband light source that emits light across a wide range of wavelengths. Cybel develops ASE sources that are used in various applications, including fiber optic sensing, metrology, and spectroscopy. These sources provide a broad spectrum of light for applications where a wide range of wavelengths is required.

We have a novel ASE source that provide high power ASE sources in the 2 micron band, this type of sources are unique and allow multiple applications including testing of optical components.

Q. Cybel has been awarded a number of patents. Can you tell us more about these patents? What are they for? 

Gustavo Rivas: Cybel has amassed more than 8 US patents and recently secured an additional 3 patents. These patents are aligned with the company's core mission, which revolves around advancing laser and amplifier technologies, especially within the 2-micron wavelength band. This wavelength range includes thulium and holmium fiber amplifiers.

The patents represent innovations aimed at achieving two key objectives: higher power and enhanced performance. Cybel's expertise in the 2-micron band positions them as leaders in this field, serving various applications like medical lasers, remote sensing, and environmental monitoring.

These patents underscore Cybel's commitment to pushing the boundaries of laser and amplifier technologies, catering to diverse industry needs.

Q. Does Cybel offer standard catalog products or do you develop custom products as well? What is the percentage breakup of the two in terms of revenue? If you develop custom solutions, can you tell us more about the process and timeline?

Gustavo Rivas: Cybel offers both standard catalog products and custom solutions. We work closely with customers to develop customized solutions to meet their specific requirements. The process for custom solutions typically involves discussing the customer's needs, defining specifications, designing and prototyping the solution, and delivering the final product. The timeline for custom solutions can vary depending on the complexity of the project and the specific requirements.

Q. What application in the upcoming years do you feel will help drive an increase in demand for Fiber Amplifiers and Lasers?

Gustavo Rivas: The increasing demand for Fiber Amplifiers and Lasers is expected to be driven by multiple applications. The roles of quantum computing and free space optical communication applications will play an important development in the upcoming future.

In quantum computing, lasers and fiber amplifiers enable qubit manipulation and quantum information processing. This technology is essential in Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) for secure communication. Quantum interferometry, used in high-precision measurements, relies on lasers and fiber amplifiers. Free space optical communication also requires lasers for high-speed data transmission. Fiber amplifiers help maintain signal integrity in long-distance FSO systems. As quantum computing and FSO applications expand, so will the demand for these components.

Lasers are crucial for quantum computing's rapid growth and technological advancements. Overall, the future growth of these technologies will significantly boost the demand for Fiber Amplifiers and Lasers.

Q. What does 2023 look like for Cybel? Are there any new products on the horizon? What is your product roadmap for the next 3 years?

Gustavo Rivas: In 2023, Cybel experienced a fantastic year marked by fruitful collaborations with partners and dedicated support for our valued customers in their research and projects. Our unwavering commitment to innovation remains at the forefront of our mission.

We are excited to announce that we have been actively working on the development of new products, with a strong focus on areas we believe hold immense potential within the industry. Our current projects concentrate on two key areas:

Space Applications: Cybel is actively engaged in the creation of products tailored for space applications. These innovations aim to address the unique challenges of space exploration, such as reliability, compactness, and efficiency. We are dedicated to contributing to the advancement of space technology and exploration through our cutting-edge solutions.

Long Wavelengths in the 2-Micron Band: Recognizing the significance of the 2-micron wavelength band, including applications with thulium and holmium fiber amplifiers, Cybel is developing products in this range. These offerings are designed to offer enhanced performance, higher power, and improved capabilities for various applications, ranging from medical lasers to environmental sensing.

Cybel's success in 2023 is a testament to our commitment to innovation and our close partnership with researchers and organizations in their quest for excellence. As we continue to work on these exciting projects, we look forward to contributing to the industry's growth and success in the years ahead.

About Cybel

Cybel is an independently-owned American Photonics Company that specializes in the design and fabrication of fiber lasers and fiber amplifiers operating in the 1.06µm, 1.55µm, and 2µm optical bandwidths. Cybel offers OEM and benchtop standard or PM fiber for CW or pulsed applications. Cybel has its headquarters in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and its R&D center in Fairfax, Virginia. Cybel's core competency is the design, fabrication, and production of high-quality fiber laser and amplifier products. Cybel presently provides optical solutions in Benchtop units and in two flexible OEM platforms: the SKYLINE, and the MAKO. Cybel is also partner with a number of stellar photonics companies from around the world who offer complementary lines of high-quality products such as: optical test equipment, specialty optical fibers and components, optical modulators, and semiconductor lasers.