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Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH of Regensburg, Germany says that, as part of the BRILASI research project, it has improved the efficiency, output power, life-time and beam quality of laser bars (chips).

The results include laser bars with a wavelength of 910-980nm that achieve an optical output of 120W under real industrial conditions and a typical efficiency of 70%, as well as bars with a wavelength of 808-880nm and an efficiency of 62% at 120W (almost twice the output and 10% higher efficiency compared to previous components). The firm will launch the improved generation of laser bars with products that have a 50% fill factor. Structures with a fill factor of 20% complete the range.

“With this latest generation of laser bars we will be able to offer much more powerful components”, says Dr Jörg Heerlein, head of product marketing lasers. The new, more powerful laser bars allow system output to be increased but with the same life-time, says Osram Opto. Systems can also be made smaller and more reliable while offering the same output.

The main applications include pumping solid-state lasers and direct material processing, but they are also suited to optical fiber coupling applications (for which laser bars in the 910-980nm wavelength range with an output of 80W are expected initially).

Samples of the new unmounted laser bars are already available. The product launch for standard industrial laser bars with a 50% fill factor is planned for this summer; structures for optical fiber coupling applications will be launched this autumn.

*The research project BRILASI (Brilliant High-Power Laser Diodes for Industrial Applications, FKZ 13N8601) was initiated by the German Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF), with VDI (the Association of German Engineers) as the executing organization and Osram acting as the project coordinator. The project team comprised partners from the laser system and end-user sectors as well as representatives from research institutes.

Osram says it has achieved the project’s objective with laser bars that can be used at 100-170W in a 20,000 hour continuous wave (CW) or long-pulse mode (depending on the emission wavelength and mounting technology). The key was optimization of the epitaxial structures, particular with regard to minimizing electrical losses (reducing the electrical series resistances without increasing the optical absorption losses). The laser resonator was also improved, says Osram.

See related item:

Osram adds water-cooled vertical laser stacks and laser bars to high-power laser range

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