High-power diode lasers operating around 1500-nm for eyesafe applications

Steve Patterson; Paul Leisher; Kirk Price; Keith Kennedy; Weimin Dong; Mike Grimshaw; Shiguo Zhang; Jason Patterson; Suhit Das; Scott Karlsen; Rob Martinsen; Jake Bell

doi:10.1117/12.795157

14 April 2008 High-power diode lasers operating around 1500-nm for eyesafe applications

Steve Patterson, Paul Leisher, Kirk Price, Keith Kennedy, Weimin Dong, Mike Grimshaw, Shiguo Zhang, Jason Patterson, Suhit Das, Scott Karlsen, Rob Martinsen, Jake Bell

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 6952, Laser Source Technology for Defense and Security IV; 69520W (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.795157
Event: SPIE Defense and Security Symposium, 2008, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

Er:YAG solid state lasers offer an "eye-safe" alternative to traditional Nd:YAG lasers for use in military and industrial applications such as range-finding, illumination, flash/scanning LADAR, and materials processing. These laser systems are largely based on diode pumped solid state lasers that are subsequently (and inefficiently) frequency-converted using optical parametric oscillators. Direct diode pumping of Er:YAG around 1.5 μm offers the potential for greatly increased system efficiency, reduced system complexity/cost, and further power scalability. Such applications have been driving the development of high-power diode lasers around these wavelengths. For end-pumped rod and fiber applications requiring high brightness, nLIGHT has developed a flexible package format, based on scalable arrays of single-emitter diode lasers and efficiently coupled into a 400 μm core fiber. In this format, a rated power of 25 W is reported for modules operating at 1.47 μm, with a peak electrical to optical conversion efficiency of 38%. In centimeter-bar on copper micro-channel cooler format, maximum continuous wave power in excess of 100 W at room temperature and conversion efficiency of 50% at 6C are reported. Copper heat sink conductively-cooled bars show a peak electrical-to-optical efficiency of 43% with 40 W of maximum continuous wave output power. Also reviewed are recent reliability results at 1907-nm.

Citation Download Citation

Steve Patterson, Paul Leisher, Kirk Price, Keith Kennedy, Weimin Dong, Mike Grimshaw, Shiguo Zhang, Jason Patterson, Suhit Das, Scott Karlsen, Rob Martinsen, and Jake Bell "High-power diode lasers operating around 1500-nm for eyesafe applications", Proc. SPIE 6952, Laser Source Technology for Defense and Security IV, 69520W (14 April 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.795157

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