New technology increase potency of beam weapons
array.
The TeraDrive technology can be applied to any array of laser elements, over a wide range of power and wavelength combinations. The company notes that its prototypes are based on laser diode bars and stacks operating near one micron. Arrays of fiber, solid-state, or gas lasers, however, operating at wavelengths from the UV to mid IR range could also be used.
Combining the advantages of WBC and direct-diode lasers
The company says that a direct-diode laser using TeraDrive technology has all the advantages of WBC, including: ultra-high spatial brightness, power scaling, high spectral brightness, wavelength stability, and wavelength selectability. It also preserves the advantages of direct-diode lasers, including high efficiency and high reliability.
Ultra-high spatial brightness. TeraDiode’s fiber-coupled prototypes have demonstrated output power of more than 1 kW with a BPP of 18 mm-mrad, equal to a brightness of 31 MW/cm2/sr. This is about ten times brighter than commercially available 1 kW direct-diode lasers. The company’s kilowatt class direct-diode lasers for metal processing, scheduled for launch in the second half of 2011, will deliver brightness of 1,000 MW/cm2/sr, which equals or exceeds that of comparable fiber lasers.
Power scaling. The maximum power available from a resonator using TeraDrive technology is limited only by thermal considerations. TeraDiode is developing lasers that range from several watts powered by a few single emitters, to several kilowatts powered by an array of diode bars. For directed energy weapons, the company has outlined a development pathway that leads to a nearly diffraction limited, free-space 100 kW system.
High spectral brightness. TeraDrive technology can be optimized to deliver a narrow bandwidth, which is essential for efficient pumping of fiber and solid-state lasers, as well as DPALs.
Wavelength stability. For efficient pumping, the pump laser’s center wavelength must be relatively insensitive to changes in temperature and power. The company says that the wavelength locking characteristic of the TeraDrive means that dλ/dT and dλ/dP are both one to two orders of magnitude lower than typical diode pumps.
Wavelength selectability. The TeraDrive technology works equally well with sources covering a wide range of wavelengths. For example, ultra-high brightness lasers can be constructed using production laser diodes operating at 808 nm, 880 nm, 915 nm, 940 nm, 976 nm, and 1064 nm. Longer or shorter wavelengths can be obtained by using fiber, quantum cascade, or gas lasers as inputs.
“At TeraDiode, we believe that direct-diode lasers using TeraDrive technology will, in time, replace fiber, disk and other lasers for the most demanding material processing applications,” the company says.
