Project Title:

Development of 780- and 792-Nanometer Diode-Laser Pumps for Solid-State Lasers

08.07-6000A
NAS1-19035
Development of 780- and 792-Nanometer Diode-Laser Pumps for Solid-State Lasers
Spire Corporation
	Patriots Park
	Bedford, MA 01730
		Kurt J. Linden
(617-275-6000)

Abstract:

	For use in optically pumping the recently available Tm-activated Ho:YAG and Nd:YLF
solid-state lasers, 780-nanometer and 792-nanometer, quantum-well, diode-laser arrays
will be developed. The diode-laser array is an effective, optical-pumping method
because of its high efficiency, high reliability, and small volume and weight. To
make this diode-laser pumping scheme a commercial reality, a reproducible and inexpensive
process is required. The main contributing factor to the high cost of diode-laser
pump arrays has been the low yield of epitaxial material emitting at the proper wavelength.
The company has demonstrated the ability to make quantum-well structures of high
uniformity over two-inch wafers in a production MOCVD reactor. Building on present
808-nanometer, diode-laser array activities, operational laser arrays will be fabricated
and delivered under this project.

Potential Commercial Application:

Potential Commercial Applications: Applications would occur in pumping several different
lasers used for detection of wind shear and atmospheric microbursts, for atmospheric
aerosol sampling, and for soliton generation and femtosecond research.