High-performance direct-bonded semiconductor disk lasers
At a Glance
Section titled āAt a Glanceā| Metadata | Details |
|---|---|
| Publication Date | 2024-03-12 |
| Authors | Garrett D. Cole, Catherine Nguyen, Gar-Wing Truong, David Follman |
| Institutions | Thorlabs (United States) |
Abstract
Section titled āAbstractāMembrane-external-cavity surface-emitting lasers (MECSELs) were originally demonstrated by Prof. Mansoor Sheik-Bahaeās group at the University of New Mexico (UNM) in 2015. MECSELs consist of an epitaxial active region combined with at least one transparent heatspreader, typically SiC or diamond, employing external cavity mirrors for feedback. The standalone gain element allows for significant flexibility in emission wavelength and is amenable to enhanced power scaling via optimized thermal management. In an extremely fruitful collaboration with UNM beginning in 2017, we progressed from serially-produced chip-scale prototypes, to 4ā wafer-scale manufacturing of double-bonded (SiC/epi/SiC) devices capable of single-mode frequency-doubled output powers in excess of 10 W. Leveraging this unique architecture, we see a bright future ahead for multi-Watt-output optically-pumped semiconductor laser systems emitting throughout the visible and infrared spectral regions.