A long-standing challenge for semiconductor lasers is scaling the optical power and brightness of many diode lasers by coherent beam combination. Because single-mode semiconductor lasers have limited power available from a single element, there is a strong motivation to coherently combine the outputs of many elements for applications including industrial lasers for materials processing, free space optical communications, and defense. Despite the fact that such a coherently-combined source is potentially the most efficient laser, coherent combination of semiconductor lasers is generally considered to be difficult, since precise phase control is required between elements.We describe our approach to coherent combination of semiconductor lasers. The Slab-Coupled Optical Waveguide Laser (SCOWL), invented at Lincoln Laboratory, is used as the single-mode diode laser element for coherent combination. With a 10-element SCOWL array, coherently combined output power as high as 7 W in continuous wave using an external cavity has been demonstrated, which is the highest output level achieved using a coherent array of semiconductor lasers. We are currently working on a related approach to scale the coherent power up to 100 W.
Fluorescence of Li excited by laser light and simultaneous thermal Sr* collisions in the reaction Sr(5p)+Li(2s)+Ace (X=669.8 nm}~Sr(5s')+Li(41) shows an asymmetric excitation spectrum of the energy transfer versus A, . The peak variation with light intensity demonstrates the strong-6eld regime and verifies current models. A change in the slope of the quasistatic wing agrees with the result of a recent three-level model.
High power laser diodes and especially high power laser diode modules made enormous progress in the last few years. Different aspects of high power laser diodes are treated starting from general description of high power laser diodes and their mounting techniques, characterising the electro-optical behaviour of single laser bars and finally presenting beamshaping optics for the collimation of large modules. The later technique allows for symmetrical focal spots in the kilowatt range with a beam quality of about 170 mm*mrad. Different aspects of current applications of high power laser diodes are presented.
As diode pumped solid state lasers gain more market share, the performance, stability and lifetime of the diode pump source faces unprecedented scrutiny. Lifetimes of diode pumps in excess of 35,000 hrs are sought with no intervention or maintenance from the end user. One lifetime and power limiting phenomena for arrays is that of solder creep typical with traditional mounting using soft solders such as Indium. Harder solders such as Gold/Tin on Copper-Tungsten submounts provide a more robust and stable mounting system for long term high power pump sources. Furthermore, beam multiplexing of laser bars require tight wavelength and polarization purity which are affected by mounting induced strain. In this investigation, high power 940 nm laser bars, operating in the 100 to 200 W power range, were mounted using AuSn/CuW and In soldering schemes. The differences in thermal and strain characteristics are investigated through the examination of the emitter wavelength, nearfield measurements, polarization and smile. The measurements are correlated with finite element modeling to predict the 3-dimensional thermal distributions within the laser bars.
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