High-power 2D laser diode arrays for pumping solid state lasers

Abstract

Long life, high power and high repetition frequency 2D laser diode (LD) arrays are needed for pumping solid state lasers. The reliability of AlGaAs/GaAs high-power lasers has been studied. Over 1 X 10<SUP>9</SUP> operation shots in 4-stack 2D LD arrays with 350 W peak output power and over 1 X 10<SUP>13</SUP> shots in single-stripe laser diodes with 2.3 W peak output power have been obtained. 2D LD arrays of 3.5 kW (emitting area 3.2 cm x 1.0 cm), 2.5 kW (emitting area 1.0 cm x 1.0 cm) and 2.2 kW (emitting area 6.5 cm x 0.12 cm) were demonstrated under quasi continuous wave operation.