Reliable pump sources for high-energy class lasers

High-energy class laser systems operating at high average power are destined to serve fundamental research and commercial applications. System cost is becoming decisive, and JENOPTIK supports future developments with the new range of 500 W quasi-continuous wave (QCW) laser diode bars. In response to different strategies in implementing high-energy class laser systems, pump wavelengths of 880 nm and 940 nm are available. The higher power output per chip increases array irradiance and reduces the size of the optical system, lowering system cost. Reliability testing of the 880 nm laser diode bar has shown 1 Gshots at 500 W and 300 μs pulse duration, with insignificant degradation. Parallel operation in eight-bar diode stacks permits 4 kW pulse power operation. A new high-density QCW package is under development at JENOPTIK. Cost and reliability being the design criteria, the diode stacks are made by simultaneous soldering of submounts and insulating ceramic. The new QCW stack assembly technology permits an array irradiance of 12.5 kW/cm². We present the current state of the development, including laboratory data from prototypes using the new 500 W laser diode in dense packaging.