Monolithic Diode-Laser Arrays [Paperback]

Although semiconductor-diode lasers are the most compact, highest gain and most efficient laser sources, difficulties remain in developing structures that will produce high-quality, diffraction-limited output beams. Indeed, only a few designs have emerged with the potential for producing high-power, high-brightness monolithic sources. This book presents and analyzes the results of work performed over the past two decades in the development of such diode-laser arrays.Over the last two decades, the search for a compact, high-power semiconductor source has produced many designs and concepts for monolithic diode-laser arrays and optical amplifiers. However, only a few design approaches have emerged with the potential for producing high-power, high-brightness monolithic sources. Although semiconductor-diode lasers are the most compact, highest gain and most efficient laser sources, challenges remain in developing structures that will produce high-quality, diffraction-limited output beams. This book presents and analyzes the results of work performed over the last twenty years in the development of high-brightness diode-laser arrays.1. Introduction and Background.- 1.1 History of Diode-Laser Array Development.- 1.2 Nonsemiconductor Laser Arrays.- 1.3 Contributing Factors to Developing Monolithic Diode-Laser Arrays.- 1.3.1 Key Technological Advances.- 1.3.2 Performance Limitations of Single-Element Diode Lasers.- 1.3.3 Distinction Between Coherent and Incoherent Diode-Laser Arrays.- 1.3.4 Applications for Diode-Laser Arrays.- 1.4 Design Concepts for Coherent Diode-Laser Arrays.- 1.4.1 Laterally Coupled Diode-Laser Array Concepts.- 1.4.2 Longitudinally Coupled Diode-Laser Array Concepts.- 1.4.3 Output Coupling Mechanisms.- 2. Fundamentals of High-Power Operation.- 2.1 Threshold Characteristics.- 2.2 Current-Gain Properties.- 2.3 Optimizing Operation Above-Threshold.- 2.3.1 Differential Quantum Efficiency.- 2.3.2 Conversion Efficiency.- 2.3.3 Maximizing Conversion Efficiencyl“+