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16 July 2007

 

QPC announces first shipments of BrightLase Seed Laser to defense customer

QPC Lasers Inc of Los Angeles suburb Sylmar, CA, USA has announced the initial shipments of its high-power BrightLase Seed Laser to a US-based customer developing high-energy fiber lasers for directed-energy weapons applications.

This follows the product’s introduction at the 20th Annual Solid State and Diode Laser Technology Review in Los Angeles in June, the premier technical meeting for the Department of Defense high-power laser community.

The laser is based on QPC’s BrightLase single-mode laser technology, which offers higher power than conventional diode-based seed lasers in a footprint significantly smaller and lighter than traditional solid-state or fiber-based seed lasers, it is claimed.

The product provides diffraction-limited, single-frequency output and is available in both C-mounted and single-mode-fiber coupled packages with power up to 1.5W CW at the industry-standard wavelength of 1064nm and up to 1W CW at the eye-safe wavelength of 1550nm. QPC has also internally demonstrated single-frequency powers exceeding 3W at conversion efficiencies greater than 50% at 1064nm. Substantially higher peak powers can be achieved under pulsed excitation conditions. To enhance reliability, the products are assembled using hard-solder processes and thermally expansion-matched mounts.

Seed lasers serve as the engines for amplified laser systems used in applications including defense (long-range atmospheric sensing, missile defense and range finding), industrial drilling, and marking. By delivering more power than conventional semiconductor seed lasers currently available, the Seed Laser reduces the need for expensive and bulky initial amplifying stages in high-power laser systems, Rudy claims, as well as shrinking the system’s overall size, weight, and cost.

“Commercialization of the BrightLase Seed Laser is another important QPC milestone, and we are pleased with the reception we have received from both the military and industrial markets for this product,” says VP of marketing & sales Paul Rudy. “This product complements our diode laser pump product line,” he adds.

See related items:

QPC introduces BrightLase seed laser

QPC hires VP of manufacturing as it transitions to commercial production

QPC raises a further $9.5m in financing

QPC quadruples revenue on transition to production

QPC Lasers awarded Navy contracts; closes private financing

QPC tripled revenue in 2006; BrightLase orders boosted to $2m

Visit: http://www.QPClasers.com