Developing a Methodology for Elaborating a Pulsed Optical Safety Area for High Power Laser Diodes

Abstract

The laser diodes are efficient sources of optical radiation. The maximum optical peak power depends on the pulse duration of the driving current pulse - reducing the pulse duration the safety peak power is increased. The aim of the study is to elaborate a methodology to determine the safety operation area of the high power laser diodes designed for CW operation. Using this methodology, the designer of certain laser devices may exploit the maximum of the laser diode under pulsed operation. The methodology is based on measuring the dynamic behavior of the junction temperature and the dependence of the efficiency of the laser action versus the peak current for rectangular pulses with parameter the pulse duration. The maximum peak current is determined as a 10% walk off from the linearity between peak current / optical peak power for every pulse duration. The curve (max. peak current) / (pulse duration) is plotted. Knowing the maximum peak current, the repetition frequency for a given pulse duration may be calculated for a given average power.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2006
Accession Number
ADA454163

Entities

People

  • Plamen Yankov

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Directed Energy Weapons
  • Electronics Industry
  • Energy
  • Frequency
  • Heat Sinks
  • Laser Beams
  • Laser Diodes
  • Laser Guided Missiles
  • Lasers
  • Light (Electromagnetic Radiation)
  • Measurement
  • Peak Power
  • Power Electronics
  • Power Supplies
  • Repetition Rate
  • Semiconductor Lasers
  • Semiconductors

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy