Osram claims record in semiconductor laser brilliance
This property is crucial for the efficiency of fibre-coupled laser systems. The more brilliant the laser, the more light can be injected into an optical fibre which increases the output power of modules for pumping fibre lasers used for material processing. This progress is one of the results of the project “Integrated microoptical and microthermal elements for diode lasers of high brilliance” (IMOTHEB) funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
4.8W per millimeter and milliradiant (W/(mm*mrad)) was achieved, one of the highest known values for broad area laser diodes, claims Osram, adding that an optimization of the chip design, particularly the integration of microthermal and microoptical elements for beam shaping on the chip were key to obtaining these results.
One of the aims of the IMOTHEB research project was to develop laser chips so that could deliver greater optical output power with constant beam quality. As one of the project partners the Max Born Institute provided considerable support for the chip development work in the form of extensive methodologies and analyses. The findings will now successively flow into product development.
An important application of fibre-coupled lasers is the pumping (injection of optical energy) of high-power lasers for material processing. Fibre lasers in particular are gaining in importance, for example for cutting and welding sheet metal in the automobile industry. At the same time, there is growing pressure on costs. The aim of IMOTHEB was therefore to reduce the system costs for such pump modules. Project partner DILAS Diodenlaser researched concepts for the automated assembly of diode lasers.
Another key factor was the brilliance of the laser sources. DILAS used a demonstration module to show that the improved Osram chips were capable of increasing the output power of the module by ten percent. The project (FKZ 13N12312) started in October 2012 and was supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as part of the “Integrated Microphotonics” initiative. Osram Opto Semiconductors coordinated the project.
Visit Osram at www.osram.com
If you enjoyed this article, you will like the following ones: don't miss them by subscribing to :
