High Power Eye-Safe Laser Diodes with Low Alpha Structure

In this program, we propose to advance the state of the art in the generation of high power (many watts), diffraction- limited optical output from a tapered semiconductor laser. A single mode waveguide section monolithically integrated with a tapered power section will be used to spatially filter the optical power. Low linewidth enhancement factor active regions with large optical mode will be developed to overcome the optical beam filamentation problem that currently limits the realization of high-power diffraction-limited laser diode sources. This work will be carried out at 1.55 - 1.9 microns, a wavelength range considered to be in the eye safe spectral region.