Low-Cost Laser Diodes for Navy Applications

OBJECTIVES OF THIS PHASE Very low cost, kilowatt class high brightness, high efficiency and high operating temperature fiber laser pump modules are enabling technologies for battlefield laser weapons. Required characteristics of these fiber laser pump modules include: • Fabrication cost in the range of $1 per watt • Pump powers to 1.5 kW • Fiber core diameters as low as 200 μm • Rugged, monolithically constructed surface emitting arrays • Eliminating reliance on unreliable micro-channel coolers • Wall-plug efficiencies to 75% at 80 ºC Achieving these goals requires the development of advanced laser diode arrays with performance, reliability and low cost-of-manufacture that go well beyond the current state-of-the-art. In this Phase II program, QPC will pursue two complementary technologies for very low cost, high performance fiber pumps: 1. Massively parallel surface emitting diode arrays using monolithic beam deflectors, and 2. Diode arrays with tailored lateral refractive index profiles to generate much lower lateral beam divergence.