High Power Fiber Coupled Visible Semiconductor Laser Diodes

Spectra Diode Laboratories proposes to develop a fiber coupled visible laser diode emitting 10 W of continuous wave red light at an emission wavelength of 670 nm. An output power of 10 W represents more than an order of magnitude increase beyond present commercially availabel visible laser diode systems. The laser diode is fabricated from an epitaxial InGaP/AlGaInP layer structure grown lattice matched to a GaAs substrate. Epitaxial growth is odne by metal organic chemical vapor deposition. The active layer utilizes a quantum well active region resulting in a laser diode with very low threshold current and high power conversion efficiency. Light from a monolithic array of broad area laser diodes is coupled into an optical fiber. A standard optical fiber is connected to conveniently deliver the light to any location. The result is an efficient, high power visible laser diode in a rugged, compact, reliable package. The availability of such a high power visible laser diode will spur numerous applications in military and commercial arenas.