Wavelength Beam Combining of Single Mode, Triple Ridge Waveguide Diode Lasers

In this program, Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) and Clemson University (Clemson) will design and demonstrate a novel diode triple ridge waveguide (TRW) diode bar architecture. To be effective within directed energy weapon (DEW) applications, high power, high wall-plug efficiency, and excellent beam quality are needed in beam combined laser systems. While several directed energy sources exist, their relatively low efficiencies and large size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) limit their adoption for many potential applications. To address this issue, PSI and Clemson will develop a new single mode diode bar technology that is compatible with use in an external wavelength beam combining (WBC) cavity, and that can generate 5 W of single mode output power per emitter. We will design and develop new fabrication techniques, demonstrating the feasibility of the TRW approach, as well as design, fabricate, and test high-performance diode bar packaging. Successful fabrication of high-power, single mode TRW diode bars will support the development of single mode (M2 < 2), beam combined laser modules that will provide kWs of optical power in the 1 mm wavelength band for DEW applications.