Diode laser maker DILAS of Mainz, Germany says that its new fiber-coupled tailored bar (T-bar) module meets the critical metric of <1kg/kW of overall module weight to optical output power, while maintaining nearly 50% efficiency.
In terms of specifications, the fiber-coupled module produces >300W output power at 976nm from a 200μm/0.22NA fiber in a total package weight of ~300g. The device is also of suitable brightness to meet the requirements for flyable systems on lightweight aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs).
DILAS says that the key innovation is the combination of the high-power, high-brightness, tailored diode laser bar and the lightweight, compact, low-thermal-impedance heat sink. In addition, micro-optics attachment is completely automated, which optimizes the beam quality from the diode laser bar, enabling high-efficiency fiber coupling.
The firm reckons that exceeding this critical weight-to-power ratio of 1kg/kW is a milestone for high-brightness fiber-coupled diode lasers. In addition to defense applications, potential applications in other markets are opened up, including industrial and medical where the overall size, weight reduction, and efficiency can reduce system ownership and operating costs.
