JDSU (Milpitas, CA) has introduced a new single-emitter diode-laser platform that the company says is the most powerful fiber-coupled diode laser now on the market. The next-generation L4 series is designed to target the fiber-laser pump market and certain industrial, medical, and dental applications. The packaging, which leverages chip designs developed during JDSU’s involvement in the Super High Efficiency Diode Sources program sponsored by DARPA (www.darpa.mil), takes up less space compared to previous designs, enabling original equipment manufacturers to pack more diode lasers into a smaller space. Other key features include wavelengths ranging from 910 to 980 nm and 100 µm fiber delivery at 0.22 numerical aperture (NA) or 0.15 NA. The company has already shipped more than 2000 L4 units and is ramping up offshore production in anticipation of shipping 10,000 to 12,000 units per month by early 2008.
“With the new L4 platform, JDSU has increased the performance, power, and efficiency of our diode lasers, all within a smaller footprint,” said Alex Schoenfelder, vice president and general manager of Integrated Photonics at JDSU. “Our customers benefit by getting higher-performance diode-laser solutions that aren’t more expensive than previous offerings, thanks to our high-volume manufacturing capabilities.” Contact Franck Leibreich at [email protected].