High-power laser bar

Regensburg, Germany - Osram Opto Semiconductors' SPL BF98-40-5 laser bar reduces the complexity of coupling light into fibers, thereby simplifying diode or fiber laser systems for material processing in the automobile industry for vehicle chassis welding, soldering, and coating. The laser bar delivers a 976 nm wavelength, 3W brilliance per millimeter, and a 1 mrad divergence angle at an optical output of 44W. It is 5mm wide and consists of five emitters, each 100µm wide and each with a cavity length of 4mm. Apart from its high brilliance, the laser bar offers electro-optical efficiency of, for example, 65 percent at 44W. This reduces the level of cooling needed for the laser diode and improves the efficiency of the entire system. Tests show a drop in output of <1 percent after 4000 hours of operation at an optical output of 65W and a cooling water temperature of 25°C. For more information, please visit www.osram-os.com.