High-power, high-duty-cycle operation of monolithic two-dimensional surface-emitting diode laser arrays in the junction-down configuration

High-power, high-duty cycle and continuous wave operation of large-area monolithic 2D surface-emitting GaAlAs laser diode arrays mounted junction-down on microchannel heat exchangers have been demonstrated. Devices mounted don 2-mm-thick Cu heat spreaders were operated to peak output power densities of > 100 W/cm2 at 35% duty cycles,a nd exhibited high power conversion efficiencies, and full width emission spectra of < 4nm. Arrays mounted on 1-mm-thick heat spreaders were operated under continuous wave operating condition to approximately equals 50 W/cm2 power density levels. Silicon microchannel heat exchangers with a measured thermal resistance per unit are of 0.0324 degree(s)C cm2/W were used to removed up to 550 W/cm2 of excess heat generated by the arrays.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.