Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer
High-Power, High-Efficiency 1.907nm Diode Lasers, Phase I
Project Description
nLight proposes to develop high-power, high-efficiency laser diodes emitting at 1907nm. Performance is expected to improve from the current state-of-the-art technology at 15C of 20% electrical-to-optical (E/O) conversion efficiency and 11.5W continuous-wave power (CW) to 25% E/O efficiency and 18W of CW power at the conclusion of Phase I. At the conclusion of Phase II, these values are expected to improve to 38% E/O efficiency and greater than 35W CW power. Quasi-CW power will be >>100W per laser bar. Such lasers meet the brightness and power requirements for the direct pumping of the quasi 4-level 5I7 to 5I8 transition in singly-doped Ho:YAG lasers. Compared to the diode-pumping of Thulium-sensitized Ho:YAG, direct diode pumping of Ho:YAG takes advantage of Holmium's much larger emission cross section, the absence of Ho:Tm up conversion, and Ho:YAG's large energy storage lifetime. Direct diode pumping of Ho:YAG also results in decreased system size, weight and complexity and an improvement in overall system efficiency when compared to pumping with a diode-pumped Th:YAG laser, all critical metrics for space and airborne platforms. This work could be extended to 18xxnm and 20xxnm quite readily with comparable power and efficiency performance.
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Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners
| Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
Langley Research Center
(LaRC)
|
Lead Organization | NASA Center | Hampton, Virginia |
| nLight Photonics Corporation | Supporting Organization | Industry | Vancouver, Washington |
Primary U.S. Work Locations
-
Virginia
-
Washington
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This is a historic project that was completed before the creation of TechPort on October 1, 2012. Available data has been included. This record may contain less data than currently active projects.