Ridge-waveguide laser diode produces 2.2 W at 1060 nm with a circular beam

Jan. 23, 2017
A high-brightness ridge-waveguide (RW) continuous-wave (CW) laser diode emitting 2.2 W of light at a 1060 nm wavelength into a circular beam profile has been demonstrated.

A high-brightness ridge-waveguide (RW) continuous-wave (CW) laser diode emitting 2.2 W of light at a 1060 nm wavelength into a circular beam profile has been demonstrated by researchers from Technical University of Berlin (Berlin, Germany), King Abdul-Aziz-University (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia), and Ferdinand-Braun-Institut, Leibniz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik (Berlin, Germany): the beam quality (m2) was between 1.4 and 1.9 across the whole operating-current range for the RW laser. A broad-area (BA) version of the laser delivered 4.2 W of multimode output. Cavity lengths were a few millimeters; both lasers had a divergence angle of less than 10°. The low divergence, low astigmatism, and circular beam shape of these lasers make them suitable for simple and low-cost fiber-coupling.

With these results, the so-called high-brightness vertical broad-area edge-emitting (HiBBEE) laser structure, which was recently patented by two of the researchers, was experimentally demonstrated for the first time. The HiBBEE structure includes a waveguide consisting of four indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) quantum wells separated by gallium arsenide phosphide (GaAsP) barriers. Cladding, contact layers, and electrodes complete the configuration. Although the geometry allows for several vertical laser modes, their contrasting confinement factors and optical losses lead to mode selection. Potential uses for these lasers include medical laser therapy, frequency conversion, and spectroscopy. Reference: Md. Jarez Miah et al., Opt. Express, 24, 26, 30514–30522 (2016); http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.24.030514.

About the Author

John Wallace | Senior Technical Editor (1998-2022)

John Wallace was with Laser Focus World for nearly 25 years, retiring in late June 2022. He obtained a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and physics at Rutgers University and a master's in optical engineering at the University of Rochester. Before becoming an editor, John worked as an engineer at RCA, Exxon, Eastman Kodak, and GCA Corporation.

Sponsored Recommendations

Advancing Neuroscience Using High-Precision 3D Printing

March 7, 2025
Learn how Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Used High-Precision 3D Printing to Advance Neuroscience Research using 3D Printed Optical Drives.

From Prototyping to Production: How High-Precision 3D Printing is Reinventing Electronics Manufacturing

March 7, 2025
Learn how micro 3D printing is enabling miniaturization. As products get smaller the challenge to manufacture small parts increases.

Sputtered Thin-film Coatings

Feb. 27, 2025
Optical thin-film coatings can be deposited by a variety of methods. Learn about 2 traditional methods and a deposition process called sputtering.

What are Notch Filters?

Feb. 27, 2025
Notch filters are ideal for applications that require nearly complete rejection of a laser line while passing as much non-laser light as possible.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Laser Focus World, create an account today!