A compact killowatt-level QCW high-power semiconductor laser array based on dual-chip integration

With the increase of output power, more heat generation and higher operation current have become important issues, which affect the electrical-optical performance and reliability of high power semiconductor lasers. For the past several years, high power semiconductor laser chips utilizing double or triple quantum wells have been developed to achieve higher output power. However, the operation current of diode laser chips with double or triple quantum wells is much higher than that with single quantum well. Diode laser chips with double or triple quantum wells could only operate at a much lower duty cycle. In this paper, a compact quasi-continuous wave (QCW) high power semiconductor laser array based on dual-chip integration techniques has been developed. For this packaging structure, two diode laser bars were welded above and below a micro-channel heat sink, without significant increase in volume. By means of this integration method, the output power of the semiconductor laser could reach kilowatt-level at a lower operation current. The thermal behavior of the semiconductor laser array with different operation parameters was carried out using finite element method. The structure parameters of semiconductor laser array based on dual-chip integration were optimized and characterized. The output power is 1485 W operated at a current of 700 A and the maximum electro-optical efficiency is 75%, which is the record-high level for a high power semiconductor laser array.