Semiconductor Master-Oscillator Power-Amplifiers (MOPAs) are versatile tools for various applications. We will present high-power (P ⪆ 5 W), high-coherence length (Lc ⪆ 100 m), small-sized (L ≤ 25 mm), hybrid semiconductor MOPAs at 920 nm, 976 nm, 1030 nm, 1064 nm, 1120 nm, and 1154 nm. We compare their performance to corresponding distributed Bragg reflector tapered laser and discuss strategies to extend the wavelength range.
For several non-destructive spectroscopy methods based on quantum mechanical effects (e.g. MID-IR quantum-OCT) the size of currently used solid state lasers prevents effective miniaturization. Red-emitting diode lasers with single longitudinal and single lateral mode emission are therefore required for successful out-of-the lab usage. To address this challenge, the FBH developed specialized tapered lasers (TPL) emitting near 660 nm with an integrated tenth order distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) surface grating, requiring only a single epitaxy step. The facets were passivated and coated to obtain reflectivities of 5% for the front and 30% for the rear facet. The DBR-TPL chips were mounted p-side down on CVD-diamonds with structured contacts to allow separate contacting of the ridge waveguide (RW) and tapered (TP) sections. The DBR-TPLs feature a nearly diffraction limited output beam with a spectral width below 0.5 pm, corresponding to a coherence length of almost 1 m. An optical output power of more than 1 W could be demonstrated at currents of 50 mA and 2.5 A for the RW and TP sections, respectively. The beam quality at 1 W was M21/e2 = 1.1 (M24σ = 2.1). The DBR-TPLs are a first important component in the concept for a miniaturized portable quantum-OCT scanner. Here, the sample will be illuminated with MID-IR photons while the entangled NIR photons will be measured with a cost-effective, Si-based spectrometer.
In this work, Ridge Waveguide Amplifiers (RWA) with a gain wavelength around 1122nm and different device geometries are analyzed in detail using electro-optical measurements. The measurement results are compared with simulations based on a beam propagation approach to evaluate them and gain a better understanding of the device behavior. Optimized operating conditions are derived with respect to the electro-optical and amplification efficiency of the amplifier. The potential of RWAs with a combination of diffraction-limited beam quality and high output power is demonstrated in miniaturized laser modules supplied with polarization-maintaining optical fibers for input and output and optional nonlinear crystals. More than 200mW of yellow-green laser light with a wavelength of 561nm is provided through the fiber, enabling applications in the bio-medical field.
The performance characteristics of two stack modules (emitting near 780 nm) each consisting of 24 wide-aperture (1200 μm) diode laser chips is presented and the results are discussed. The stack modules are constructed using diode lasers from two different epitaxial design iterations. Compared to the first iteration, the second iteration was optimized for higher conversion efficiency and optical in-pulse power (lower losses), without compromising the beam characteristics. The stack modules make use of an established (field-proven) FBH design that utilizes innovative edge-cooling of both sides of the diode stack with large-channel (micro-channel free), water-cooled, thermally-expansion-matched heatsinks. We investigate here their performance up to high duty cycles and results for pulse width up to 10 ms at high duty cycle (50 %) operation is presented. Test of the completed modules show that the iteration 2 (power-optimized) chips deliver about 15 % more optical power without compromising the beam propagation ratio. Specifically, the stack module with first iteration chips delivers approx. 1.4 kW whereas the stack module with the optimized chips delivers approx. 1.6 kW. For the stack module that uses the first chip iteration a fiber coupling to a 1 mm core fiber was demonstrated with approx. 90 % coupling efficiency and loss channels are discussed. Finally, very high duty cycle operation (50 %) is demonstrated for the first time, using an iteration 1 stack module.
Diode lasers pump sources for future high-energy-class laser systems based on Yb-doped solid state amplifiers must deliver high optical intensities, high conversion efficiency (ηE = > 50%) at high repetition rates (f = 100 Hz) and long pulse widths (τ = 0.5…2 ms). Over the last decade, a series of pump modules has been developed at the Ferdinand-BraunInstitut to address these needs. The latest modules use novel wide-aperture single emitter diode lasers in passively side cooled stacks, operate at τ = 1 ms, f = 100…200 Hz and deliver 5…6 kW optical output power from a fiber with 1.9 mm core diameter and NA of 0.22, for spatial brightness BΩ > 1 MW/cm2 sr. The performance to date and latest developments in these high brightness modules are summarized here with recent work focusing on extending operation to other pumping conditions, as needed for alternative solid state laser designs. Specifically, the electro-optic, spectral and beam propagation characteristics of the module and its components are studied as a function of τ for a fixed duty cycle DC = 10% for τ = 1...100 ms, and first data is shown for continuous wave operation. Clear potential is seen to fulfill more demanding specifications without design changes. For example, high power long-pulse operation is demonstrated, with a power of > 5 kW at τ = 100 ms. Higher brightness operation is also confirmed at DC = 10% and τ = 1 ms, with > 5 kW delivered in a beam with BΩ > 4 MW/cm2 sr.
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