Quite simply, a diode pumped solid state laser is a solid state laser that is pumped with laser diodes. These types of high-power lasers require laser optic components to be precise and have a high surface quality for broad use in many technical applications, such as optical information processing, laser gyroscopes, laser spectroscopy, medical applications, and more.
Read on to learn more about the technology of laser optics as it relates to diode pumped solid state lasers, what some of the optical components are within (such as a homogenizers), and what the components are used for.
Laser Optics: What Is a Solid State Laser?
To understand the technology behind diode-pumped solid-state lasers (also known as DPSSL), it’s important to understand what a solid-state laser is, as well as a laser diode. A solid state laser (SSL), employs solid-state grain media, such as glasses or ion-doped crystals, usually doped with transition metal ions or rare-earth. Solid-state lasers can include fiber lasers, bulk layers, and diode-pumped solid-state lasers. SSLs are optically pumped with arc or flash lamps, which provide the high power needed for an application. The most common type of SSL in use today is the DPSSL.
Laser Optics: What Is a Laser Diode?
A laser diode is a type of semiconductor laser that is electrically pumped. In a laser diode, the gain is achieved by an electrical current that flows through a p-n junction as the gain medium or a p-i-n structure, which is actually the more common of the two. This gives the laser the ability to release energy as photons. There are different types of laser diodes used in diode-pumped solid-state laser applications.
Laser Optics: Using SSLs and Laser Diodes Together
When a high-power laser is needed for an application, a diode-pumped solid-state laser is used. The types of laser diodes used in DPSSLs include:
- Edge-emitting laser diodes. These are used in low-power lasers (200mW) typically, and the benefit of using them is that they provide diffraction-limited beam quality.
- High-power diode bars. These can emit more than 100W and achieve high output powers. You can also combine several bars for a higher output.
- Broad area laser diodes. These generate several watts, but are still a viable choice for achieving diffraction-limited laser output without using complex laser optics.
- Diode stacks. Diode stacks provide the highest power, however, their beam quality and brightness is low, so they are only used in specific laser optic applications.
Types of diode-pumped solid-state lasers include bulk lasers and fiber lasers, although DPSSLs are less commonly used in fiber lasers. Bulk lasers use a bulk piece of glass or laser crystal. Another type of DPSSL is a semiconductor laser, which is much less common. The most common type of semiconductor laser is a vertical external-cavity surface-emitting laser (VECSELs).
There are several types of laser optic components within DPSSLs.
Laser Optics: What Are Optical Components in DPSSLs?
At IRD Glass, we have the capabilities to produce homogenizers, laser cavities, and laser mirrors, among other laser components. Some more detail is listed below.
Light Pipes and Homogenizers
The job of both laser light pipes and homogenizers is to mix light, which creates an evenly distributed and more uniform beam of output energy. The optical materials used within light pipes and homogenizers depends upon the specific application needed but can include sapphire, n-BK7, and fused silica. There are different types of light pipes and homogenizers, including round, square, octagonal, rectangular, and hexagonal.
Laser Mirrors
Laser mirrors are specifically designed for laser applications and have minimal scatter for beam steering applications and can be designed to withstand high power densities.
Laser mirrors are typically front surface reflectors for best performance. Shapes include flat mirrors, concave mirrors, right-angle mirrors, and other shapes. Typical laser mirror coatings include gold, silver, aluminum, and dielectric thin films.
Laser Cavities
A laser cavity uses frequency-selective optics. This stabilizes the resonator in the laser and prevents all but one transversal and longitudinal mode of the laser from being amplified in the oscillator. The result of this is extremely stable single-frequency (SF) or single longitudinal mode (SLM) emission and a perfect diffraction limited beam.
IRD Glass has been the leading supplier of customized precision glass, optics, ceramics, and sapphire product fabrication for over 40 years. To learn more about laser optics, diode-pumped solid-state lasers, and our capabilities, speak to a representative today for a quote.