Enhanced efficiency of AlGaInP disk laser by in-well pumping.

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Semiconductor Lasers

Background:

• Disk lasers offer high power and good beam quality.
• GaInP semiconductor materials are used for visible light emission.
• Efficient pumping is crucial for laser performance and thermal management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the performance of a 665-nm GaInP disk laser using in-well pumping versus barrier pumping.
• To investigate the impact of pumping strategy on laser efficiency and heat generation.
• To demonstrate the potential of in-well pumping for red AlGaInP disk lasers.

Main Methods:

• Experimental setup for continuous-wave operation of a 665-nm GaInP disk laser at 15°C.
• Comparison of in-well pumping at 640 nm and barrier pumping at 532 nm.
• Photoluminescence measurements and COMSOL simulations to assess heat load.

Main Results:

• In-well pumping at 640 nm resulted in a 3.5 times higher efficiency compared to barrier pumping at 532 nm.
• A slope efficiency of 60% with respect to absorbed power was achieved using in-well pumping.
• Continuous-wave operation was sustained up to a heat sink temperature of 55°C.
• In-well pumping led to a lower overall heat load in the laser.

Conclusions:

• Optical in-well pumping is a highly effective strategy for improving the efficiency of red AlGaInP disk lasers.
• Reduced quantum defect and heat generation are key benefits of in-well pumping.
• This technique shows significant potential for developing advanced visible semiconductor lasers.