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Cranbury, N.J., July 15, 2004
Princeton Lightwave Inc. (PLI), a producer of near
infrared high-power diode lasers and application
specific detectors for communications, defense, and
sensing applications, announced today that the
Department of Defense’s High Energy Laser Joint
Technology Office has selected PLI to develop highly
scalable eye-safe solid state lasers with InP-based
ultra-low photon defect diode pumping. This US Air Force
contract provides in excess of $1M in funding over two
years and will culminate in the development of
multi-kilowatt eye-safe solid state lasers.
In this program, PLI will build on its capabilities
in InP-based high power single-mode and multi-mode laser
diodes. PLI lasers are based on separate confinement
quantum well structures which allow for control of the
injection current components and minimization of optical
losses. In combination with telecom-qualified processing
and packaging technologies, PLI’s laser diodes provide
industry-leading powers and efficiencies with device
lifetimes exceeding one million hours.
Central to this DoD program is the development of InP-based
two-dimensional diode pump laser arrays with very high
output powers. These laser arrays will be optimized for
pumping an Er:YAG gain medium at wavelengths very close
to the solid state laser emission wavelength. Such a
design will greatly reduce undesirable heating of the
gain medium and allow for the scaling of these laser
systems to multi-kilowatt outputs while maintaining high
beam quality.
“The transition to InP-based long wavelength pump
lasers is a natural progression for the next generation
of long wavelength eye-safe solid state and fiber
lasers,” stated Dimitri Garbuzov, PLI’s Chief
Scientist. “In addition to alleviating active media
overheating, the use of InP-based pump sources avoids a
critical problem inherent to GaAs diode lasers
associated with the degradation of the diode laser
mirror facets. The photon flux for InP pump lasers can
be several times larger than that of traditional GaAs-based
pumps at comparable device lifetimes.”
“We appreciate the confidence that this
government-funded program reflects in Princeton
Lightwave’s high power near-infrared diode laser
capabilities,” says PLI’s CTO, Mark Itzler.
“PLI’s leadership in this area continues to enable
the development of state-of-the-art optical systems such
as the solid state lasers being designed under this
contract.“
About Princeton Lightwave, Inc.
Headquartered in Cranbury, New Jersey, PLI provides
leading edge semiconductor lasers and detectors as well
as sub-systems based on these components for optical
communications, defense, and sensing applications. PLI's
extensive product capability is based upon unique InP
and GaAs optical chip development, packaging and
integration technology, and system-level optical and
electronics design. Its multi-disciplinary team designs
and delivers components and system-level products based
on high power pump modules, single-mode and multi-mode
light sources, and high performance detectors.
For more information visit http://www.princetonlightwave.com
PR Contact: pr@princetonlightwave.com
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