Microchip lasers and laser arrays: technology and applications

Abstract

Microchip lasers and laser arrays are miniature diode pumped solid state lasers that can be manufactured in large volume at low cost and can outperform conventional diode-pumped lasers. Semiconductor processing and packaging techniques are used in their manufacture. Some of their characteristics include simple single-frequency and low noise operation, tunability over the gain bandwidth (up to 100 GHz) without a mode jump, short pulse (sub-nanosecond) high peak power capability and high speed (multi-GHz) frequency modulation capability. Power levels of more than 500 mW cw have been demonstrated with a TEM00 output beam. Operation of microchip lasers has been demonstrated in several materials including YAG, YLF, vandate, garnets, glass, and stoichiometric compounds. One- and two-dimensional arrays of microchip lasers can be scaled to high output power with constant brightness while maintaining many of the unique characteristics of the individual microchip lasers. High power 2-D arrays and addressable Q-switched linear arrays have been demonstrated. The manufacturing cost for these devices can be significantly less than for most other lasers and they can be used for high power industrial materials processing, communications, imaging, and laser radar as well as medical applications. The operating characteristics and applications of these laser devices will be discussed.