Heatsink Requirements for Coherent Operation of High-Power Semiconductor Laser Arrays

摘要

The heatsink requirements for coherent operation of laser-diode arrays are examined through thermal analysis of semi-infinite heatsinks and the phase locking of laser diodes. The thermal analysis is extended to shaped heatsinks by the use of PATRAN and NASTRAN computer programs. It is shown that mounting laser-diode arrays at the edge of semi-infinite copper heatsinks results in temperature variations between individual laser-diode elements that are too large to permit coherent operation except at relatively low power levels. It is also shown that the use of diamond and shaped heatsinks makes it possible to operate large arrays coherently to high optical output levels.