Klaus is CEO and Founder of high-E Photonics, a developer of ultra-efficient, high-energy pulsed laser systems purpose-built for fusion energy applications. With over 20 years of experience in high-energy laser development, he has held key roles at TAU Systems (Wakefield accelerator laser drivers), NKT Photonics (ultrafast and CW 2 kW fibre lasers), and TRUMPF/AMPHOS (Innoslab systems). During his academic career as a Professor at Heriot-Watt University, he focused on high-energy disk amplifiers.
Klaus leads high-E Photonics’ mission to solve one of fusion’s most critical supply-chain bottlenecks: commercially viable, highly efficient laser drivers.
high-E Photonics has developed the J-Class laser technology platform, a breakthrough pulsed laser system delivering more than 10% wall-plug efficiency and representing a 50× improvement over legacy fusion laser systems. The company’s patented architecture achieves high optical efficiency while reducing pump diode counts by a factor of five, directly addressing the cost and scalability challenges that have hindered laser-driven inertial confinement fusion.
Under his leadership, high-E Photonics is positioned to deliver efficient, cost-effective laser systems that will help enable the transition from scientific demonstration to commercial fusion energy.
What high-E Photonics Brings to Fusion
The company’s Tm-based laser platform offers fusion developers a scalable pathway from laboratory validation to pilot-scale fusion facilities, with a roadmap targeting multi-kilojoule commercial fusion plants. By dramatically improving wall-plug efficiency and reducing component costs, high-E enables economically viable laser-driven fusion at repetition rates compatible with commercial power generation. high-E Photonics is seeking strategic partnerships with leading fusion developers, where the company can supply prototype systems for validation and testing.