3 - High-power semiconductor lasers

Abstract

Over the last decades, high-power and high-brightness semiconductor lasers have transformed the solid-state laser, telecommunication, medical and military markets. This chapter covers concepts, characteristics and challenges of high-power semiconductor lasers. We begin by describing general considerations including epitaxial design, laser cavity designs and packaging specific to high-power lasers. We introduce several common high-power and high-brightness semiconductor lasers such as Fabry–Pérot lasers, grating-based lasers, large mode-area lasers, and optically pumped lasers, as well as concepts for long-wavelength operation. Arrays of devices for ultra-high-power are introduced, and device reliability challenges are addressed.