VCSEL ARRAYS: High-power VCSELs mature into production

摘要

Certain qualities that include high reliability and spectral stability, high-temperature operation, simpler packaging and lower cost provide the advantage to VCSEL arrays when it comes to laser-pumping and replacement of flashlamps, illumination, and other applications. High-power vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) technology has been in development for a number of years and is finally coming to maturity, with applications that now include high-power solid-state-laser pumping including replacement of flashlamps, high-energy speckle-free illumination, material ablation, and medicine. This technology is replacing the incumbent technology of edge-emitting lasers in demanding applications. Users are seeking out high-power VCSEL arrays for applications where a much higher level of reliability, higher operating temperature, good-quality uniform flat-top beam profile, and simpler packaging and lower cost are required. Vertical cavity laser arrays are now available with a continuous-wave (CW) power of several hundred watts and quasi-CW (QCW) power of greater than 800 W from arrays that are only several millimeters on a side.