Product Portfolio
AMS Technologies is a leading supplier of laser diodes and carries an exceptionally broad portfolio of component-style laser diodes as well as laser diode modules for a wide variety of wavelengths and optical output powers.
For our range of complete diode laser systems, please click here.
Laser Diodes
Various series of general-purpose laser diodes are available, with wavelengths ranging from near infrared (NIR) to red (also available as multi-beam laser diodes) to ultraviolet (UV). Our high-precision multimode laser diodes operate multimode spatially and longitudinally, featuring up to 100 W output power in pulse mode. Stripe widths from 60 µm to 400 µm are available to optimize beam structure and power for the application.
The high-power single mode or multi mode instrument laser diodes with wavelengths from 1064 to 1650 nm are designed to meet the specific performance demands of optical test equipment, OTDR and telecom applications.
We carry several series of single mode laser diodes, i.e. Fabry-Perot laser diodes that operate on a single transverse resonator mode leading to a diffraction-limited output. However, multiple longitudinal modes may occur which can lead to differing optical frequencies, separated by the free spectral range of the resonator. Single mode laser diodes are also available pigtailed with a fiber featuring fiber Bragg grating for wavelength stabilization.
Our broad range of single frequency laser diodes with a wavelength-selective grating integrated in the laser chip operates on a single resonator mode, emitting quasi-monochromatic radiation with a very small linewidth and low phase noise. Due to the Gaussian mode the output is diffraction-limited. Especially cost-effective single frequency laser diodes (mode-hops may appear) are also available.
The combination of an inherent narrow linewidth performance and wavelengths ranging from 657 to 2350 nm makes our discrete mode (DM) laser diode series ideal for sensing a broad range of chemical elements, gases and substances as well as environmental monitoring.
Our “virtual point source” laser diodes include a microlens mounted directly in front of the diode’s emitting edge. With this technology, the laser diode’s beam behaves like it were emitted from the virtual point source, with a well-defined divergence angle, a circular beam profile and all aberrations like astigmatism corrected.
If you are planning an External Cavity Diode Laser setup (ECDL in Littman or Littrow configuration), have look at our series of gain chips that are modified Fabry-Perot laser diodes with an excellent AR coated output facet – with external feedback, these gain chips reveal narrow single frequency operation in combination with superior tuning capabilities.
The available pulsed laser diodes include extremely high brightness 1550 nm pulsed laser diodes, capable of up to 75 W output power, and 905 nm hybrid pulsed laser diodes, integrating a pulsed laser firing circuit with the laser diode into the same hermetic TO-package.
Various series of uncooled as well as TEC-cooled 980 nm pump laser diodes in butterfly, mini-DIL or ultra-small packages address all areas of low-noise all-optical amplification and power consumption requirements.
Our series of tapered lasers/amplifiers on C-mount are the first choice for master oscillator power amplifier setups, combining excellent beam quality with highest output power from a single emitter and inheriting all properties of a seed source. Further high-power laser diode series on C-Mount or submount provide the high output power, high coupling efficiency and high reliability required for pumping solid-state and next generation fiber lasers as well as direct laser and other high-power laser diode applications.
Single Laser Diode Modules
AMS Technologies carries very compact fiber pigtailed laser diode modules which efficiently couple laser power into an optical fiber, practical for high-volume, price sensitive applications. Our series of fiber-coupled single emitter laser diode modules uses special micro optics for transferring the asymmetric radiation from the laser diode chip into an output fiber with small core diameter.
Compact, high-performance, fiber-coupled laser diode modules incorporating highly integrated, sophisticated electronics for laser drive, protection, modulation and feedback functions as well as a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) can be ordered with a wide variety of options regarding wavelength, power and collimation optics. And our series of multi mode (MM) fiber coupled laser diode modules with one or four laser diodes per module provide fast modulation of high-current laser diodes with fiber arrays attached. The laser diodes to be integrated into these modules are selected according to the customer´s need.
For free space applications, our series of free space miniature laser diode modules combines the supplier’s VPS (virtual point source) laser diodes with high-quality optics, solid packages and laser drive electronics, offering superior beam qualities in a very compact package for OEM applications. This laser diode technology can also be ordered as free space laser diode modules in a larger form factor, incorporating electronics for laser drive, protection, modulation and feedback as well as TEC-based temperature stabilization – everything you need to operate these laser diode modules from a simple 12 VDC supply.
Ultra-stable laser diode modules are available from AMS Technologies either fiber-coupled or as free-space versions, containing the laser diode, the driver electronics and the temperature control. Powered by a single 5 V DC supply, these modules maintain the wavelength stability to better than 0.2 or even 0.1 nm.
Fiber-coupled Multiple Laser Diode Modules
We carry a wide portfolio of laser diode modules that couple the outputs of multiple laser diodes (with either the same or different wavelengths) into a common fiber output.
Our dual- and triple-wavelength combiners for OEM applications (also available with visible RGB wavelengths) include laser diodes, dichroic combiner optics in a compact, fiber pigtailed package. Larger, highly integrated fiber optic multi-wavelength laser diode modules can be delivered either with two or with up to four temperature-controlled laser diodes with individual driving, control and stability electronics and fiber optic pigtail output – also available as RGB white light laser sources.
A broad range of fiber-coupled multi-single emitter laser diode modules, based on multi-emitter coupling technology, provides single-wavelength (440 to 1064 nm), high-power (up to 330 W), high-brightness outputs. Fiber-coupled laser diode modules based on single or multiple laser diode bars are also available with output power ranges of up to 40 W, 25 to 120 W or 40 to 350W.
Related Products
We offer a broad range of complementary products:
- Stand-alone diode lasers and sources in handheld, benchtop, rack-mount or desktop form factors
- Ultra-compact and highly reliable laser diode drivers addressing the requirements for low-, medium- and high-power laser diodes, bars, stacks and modules. Our laser diode drivers provide constant current or constant power mode with industry-leading stability, some models also featuring external modulation, computer control or including a TEC temperature controller for stabilizing the laser diode’s temperature.
- Laser cooling solutions for reliably cooling laser diodes, modules and systems: our very wide thermal management portfolio ranges from thermoelectric, Peltier modules (TECs), heat sinks and fans to TEC-based plate to air thermal management assemblies like our mini direct cooling thermoelectric kit to liquid to air thermal management assemblies like recirculating chillers.
- Laser safety products, including protective eyewear as well as laser safety windows, curtains and cabins
- Precision optics, manufactured of various optical materials and coated to very specific and demanding tolerances, including disk-shaped optical beamsplitters, optical scanners and deflectors, optical mirrors, windows, filters, lenses, prisms, polarization optics or etalons
- Optomechanics and motion control like optical mounts, rotary and translation stages, optical tables, breadboards and platforms
- Optical test and measurement equipment
Definition
Laser diodes are semiconductor components, with a principle of operation similar to that of LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), but emitting laser radiation. Recombination processes of electrons and holes in a laser diode’s heavily doped p-n junction, operated at a high current density, leads to emission of light with a wavelength determined by the semiconductor material used. With today’s materials, laser diodes cover a spectrum from infrared (IR) to ultraviolet (UV).
The end surfaces of a laser diode are partially reflective and thus form the optical resonator of the laser source. External cavity type laser diodes and gain chips require external optical elements such as mirrors or diffraction gratings (e.g. fiber pigtails with fiber Bragg gratings) to form a longer laser resonator, allowing for tuneability and other functions.
Laser diodes are electrically pumped, a direct current in the forward direction ensures the continuous generation of electron/hole pairs. Most laser diodes emit light at the edge of the semiconductor crystal. The cross-section of this edge surface is usually rectangular, resulting in an elliptical beam profile. Laser diodes with radiation perpendicular to the chip surface (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers, VCSELs) provide better beam quality but lower power.
Laser diodes can be operated in continuous wave (CW) mode or in pulsed mode, allowing for very short laser pulses with higher peak power.
Laser Diode Bars, Laser Diode Stacks
For higher optical power, several laser diodes are realized next to each other on a common strip-shaped chip (bar) and operated electrically in parallel. Due to this geometry, such laser diode bars have a lower beam quality compared to single diodes but can deliver a lot of power up to the triple-digit Watt range. Units with stacks of several such bars (laser diode stacks) provide even higher output powers.
Temperature Stability is Key
Since both the wavelength of the emitted light and the lifetime of a laser diode depend strongly on the semiconductor’s temperature, cooling or rather controlling the temperature of laser diodes (narrowband lasers in particular) is of great importance. For this purpose, some low to medium power laser diodes have a thermoelectric cooling element (TEC) integrated in the diode housing, directly cooling the semiconductor substrate. For precise temperature control, a thermistor is often also built into the housing. Laser diodes of higher power, laser diode bars or stacks are often cooled by means of heat pipes or liquids such as water or liquid nitrogen.
Driving Laser Diodes
Laser diodes are current-controlled laser sources, so driver circuits for these components keep the current at a constant level or modulate it. A dedicated laser diode driver is usually used, often in combination with a TEC driver for temperature control. The laser diode driver’s control feedback loop can either keep the current fed to the laser diode (CC or constant current mode) or its optical output power (CP or constant power mode) constant at the level that has been defined by the user. For CP mode, the current sourced by a photodiode that often is integrated into the laser diode package provides the control parameter (output power).
Laser Diode Modules
Our laser diode modules consist of one or more laser diodes plus additional components like TEC, driver(s), control electronics, combiner optics or a fixed pigtail, all integrated in a housing that is significantly larger than the laser diode package itself.
Major Properties
- Wavelength: The wavelength at which the laser diode’s light beam shows its maximum or peak (for defined and constant operating conditions).
- Linewidth: The spectral linewidth of a laser diode is the width of the optical spectrum of the component’s light beam (in nm or MHz) at given constant operating conditions. Most often the linewidth is given as "full width at half maximum" (FWHM), defined as the distance between the two points in the output spectrum at which the optical power has dropped to half the value measured at the maximum (peak) point.
- Output Power: This value defines the laser diode’s optical output power, given either for CW mode or as peak power for short intervals in pulsed operation.
- Threshold Current: Threshold value for the current through a laser diode at which the diode begins to emit laser radiation.
- Package: Butterfly or flat pack solutions are more suitable for planar environments (e.g. PCB, heat sink). 14-pin butterfly packages come with either telecom or pump pin-out. TO (or TO can) packages are a good choice for a circular (tube) environment. TO-based packages are available in different sizes (5.6 mm, 9 mm, etc.) and pin configurations (M-/N-P-type).
Alternative Terms: Laser Diode Bar; Laser Diode Array; Laser Diode Stack; Laser Diode Module; Laser Diode Source; Laser Diode System; Diode Laser
