Improved High Power Diode Array Manufacturing

"Diode pumping of solid state lasers compared to conventional lamp pumping offers higher overall efficiency, lower maintenance, and lower heat generation that are desirable for compact and robust lasers. The demand for this technology from both thecommercial and defense sectors has been rapidly growing. This growth has pushed the need for increasingly higher power and lower cost diode arrays.Recent innovations in diode packaging technology has resulted in the development of high performanceSilicon Monolithic Microchannel (SiMM) cooled diode arrays. These arrays use microchannel cooling and high precision placement of the diode bars to achieve the highest performance in both power output and diode light collimation. This Phase I proposal isto transition the technology to efficient low cost manufacturing by improving the assembly processes. Components will be redesigned to decrease labor cost in assembly and to enhance the performance of the SiMM arrays in both pulse and CW operations. Fourprototype arrays will be delivered for performance characterization. In addition, the requirements for robotic placement of the diode bars and microlenses will be identified and specified for low cost high volume manufacturing of the SiMM diode arrays.The success of the Phase I effort will incrementally lower the cost of manufacturing the SiMM arrays, improve its capability for both high power pulse and CW operations, and allow DIODETEC to pro