High-brightness fiber coupled diode laser systems

Abstract

There are many advantages of delivering optical power from high power laser diode arrays through an optical fiber. However, most high power diode lasers require complicated optical trains in order to couple their light into a fiber because of the poor beam quality. Recently, Nuvonyx has reported implementations of a single spatial mode, high brightness laser diode bar technology that exhibits much improved beam quality. Optical power from the high brightness laser diode arrays is coupled into a 400 &mgr;m core fiber with a 0.22 numerical aperture (NA) at power density levels exceeding 1.4 MW/cm². These systems are suitable as standalone industrial direct diode laser systems or as multikilowatt fiber laser pump sources. In addition, Nuvonyx presents experimental results of further development in its fiber coupled diode laser systems program including techniques for wavelength stabilization and spectral beam combination.