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Cranbury, N.J., April 22, 2005
Princeton Lightwave, Inc.(PLI), a producer of near
infrared high-power laser diodes and application
specific photodetectors for communications, defense, and
sensing applications, has developed an eye-safe
diode-pumped solid state laser (DPSSL) with record
output power . The module emits more than 100W in quasi
CW mode at a wavelength between 1.6 and 1.7 um.
This device has been produced as part of a research
program in collaboration with the Army Research
Laboratory in Adelphi, MD, and supported by the
Department of Defense’s High Energy Laser Joint
Technology Office. The effort started in June 2004 with
the goal ofdeveloping highly scalable eye-safe solid
state lasers using a novel InP pump with low photon
defect in order to minimize heat dissipation.
Using high-brightness microlensed stacks of ten 1-cm
laser bars for pumping an Er3+:YAG rod at 1470 nm and
1530 nm, PLI’s scientists have achieved peak powers of
80 W in quasi-continuous wave (QCW) operation (0.5 J per
pulse) with single-end pumping and 110 W QCW with
double-end pumping of a 4-cm long, 3.5 mm diameter
Er:YAG rod. This DPSSL was operated in the pulse regime
with pulse duration of 5 to 9 ms and a repetition rate
of 1 Hz. The low divergence of the pumping beam
permitted the use of a simple external cavity DPSSL
configuration without a lens duct.
A critical aspect of this DOD program has been the
development of InP-based two-dimensional diode pump
laser arrays with very high output powers at 1470 nm and
1530 nm. To date, 1-cm arrays at 1530 nm have produced
output powers as high as 54 W in continuous wave (CW)
operation, and two-dimensional stacks formed from 10 of
these arrays with microlens collimators have
demonstrated powers in excess of 330 W in CW and of 350
W in QCW regime.
PLI expects to significantly improve current DPSSL
performance through improvement of the rod
characteristics and better thermal management. Initial
results of 3 W QCW output for a similar prototype laser
were reported by PLI two months ago.
The current achievements will serve as the foundation
for a new generation of high power eye-safe solid-state
lasers with resonant diode laser pumping. The extremely
low photon defect of the intended laser architecture (5%
difference in energy between the 1530 nm pumping
wavelength and SSL output wavelength) combined with
thorough DPSSL design can greatly reduce beam quality
degradation due to thermal effects to provide a seamless
scaling to a multi-kW output power with high beam
quality.
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.ofsoptics.com.
PR Contact: pr@princetonlightwave.com
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