LOW COST TWO DIMENSIONAL LASER DIODE ARRAY PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES

A LOW COST METHOD OF PRODUCING TWO DIMENSIONAL (2D) LASER DIODE ARRAYS IS BEING INVESTIGATED. USING AN ASSEMBLY PROCESS, GREAT SIMPLICATIONS ARE EXPECTED IN DIODE ARRAY PACKAGING. HIGH EFFICIENCY LASER WAFERS ARE BEING PROCESSED INTO BROAD AREA LASERS IN BAR FORM AND MOUNTED. A PROTOTYPE 2D LASER ARRAY OPERATING AT 808 NM IS BEING ASSEMBLED AND TESTED IN THIS PROGRAM. THE GOAL IS TO ACHIEVE BETTER THAN 40% CONVERSION EFFICIENCY AT A POWER DENSITY OF 3 KW/CM2. THE BENEFITS OF A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM IS THE REALIZATION OF LOW COST, RELIABLE 2D DIODE LASER ARRAYS FOR PUMPING SOLID STATE LASERS. THE SOLID STATE LASER WOULD FIND USE IN MILITARY SYSTEMS FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND REMOTE SENSING. COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS INCLUDE METAL MACHINING WITH HIGH POWER COMPACT LASERS AND SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS.