Coherent Introduces Industry's First 65W Pump Laser Diode

Coherent, a leader in high-power semiconductor lasers, debuted a new generation of industrial-grade pump laser diodes at LASER-World of Photonics in Munich, Germany, June 27-30, with a record output power of 65W, mainly for industrial, consumer applications fiber laser, is expected to be on the market in the fall of 2023.
30% higher power, lower operating current
Coherent says the latest versions of its 915nm and 975nm emitters offer a 30% increase in power over previous versions-which were introduced at the SPIE West photonics show in January.
Beginning in the fall of 2023, the devices will be available as either piggyback-mounted or bare die (Bare Die) and are targeted for high-power fiber laser applications, such as handheld fiber laser welding equipment, which Coherent says is increasingly replacing traditional arc welding.
The diode is said to require less operating current than Coherent's previous version. With these unique advantages and compatibility with existing substrates, it promises to enable a wide range of very low-cost fiber laser design architectures.
Enhanced by "E2" Front Mirror Passivation Technology
"We believe this is the industry's first commercially available pump laser diode with an output power of 65 W," said Dr. Karlheinz Gulden, senior vice president of Coherent's Laser Components and Subsystems business unit.
"Conventional thinking often calls for more expensive ceramic substrates at these power levels - but our laser design breaks the limitations because we were able to increase the output power while reducing the operating current. In addition to the record-breaking output power, this is what makes it a unique and compelling product."
Manufactured on the company's 6-inch wafer diameter GaAs fabrication facility, the emitter chip utilizes the company's proprietary "E2" front-mirror passivation technology to prevent serious damage to the laser at such high output power.
The E2 process was developed more than 20 years ago at the high-power diode facility in Zurich, Switzerland (originally owned by IBM), initially for use in 980 nm pump lasers, which are capable of enhancing signals in long-distance optical networks.
This latest high-power diode product will be on display at Laser Munich alongside a range of new industrial laser products from Coherent. They include:
- A new version of the Monaco, a 50W industrial ultraviolet (UV) femtosecond laser for high-speed, high-volume dicing of wafers and stacking of OLED displays;
- The latest adjustable ring mode (ARM) fiber laser, HighLight, with a smaller beam spot that improves deep fusion welding of electric vehicle batteries;
- The new "PowerLine FL" series of fiber laser subsystems for cutting and welding applications.