Recent advances in power scaling of high-power optically-pumped semiconductor lasers for ultrashort pulse generation and continuous wave single frequency operation

Abstract

We report on our research in power scaling VECSEL around 1 μm to exceed 100W per chip. Recently, we have utilized these optimized VECSEL chips to achieve a new record for a mode-locked VECSEL. The output power of the laser was 3.4W. This corresponds to a pulse energy of 7.5nJ and a pulse peak power of 13.3kW. Both are record values for a semiconductor laser in the femtosecond regime. These optimized structures have also been used to demonstrate high power operation with a highly coherent TEM₀₀ mode and to demonstrate a record single frequency output power of 15W.