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Beyond tradition: Why diode-pumped solid-state lasers can replace other laser technologies?
With the advancement of technology, diode-pumped solid-state laser (DPSSL) has gradually shown its superior characteristics in many applications and replaced traditional laser technology. This technology is based on using a diode laser to drive a solid-state gain medium, such as neodymium-doped aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) or neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YVO4). Compared to other laser technologies, DPSSL is more compact and efficient, making it increasingly dominant in scientific applications.
The advantage of DPSSL is its power density and energy efficiency, making it a reliable choice in fields such as laser marking, medical and material processing.
Technical principles and advantages
The wavelength of a diode laser can be adjusted through temperature to obtain the best absorption coefficient, thus providing the best energy efficiency. At high powers, DPSSL can achieve higher power densities than traditional technologies, thanks in part to the use of thermal lenses. As diode laser technology advances, the use of single crystals and their arrangement in strips or stacks has made the combination of these lasers more flexible.
Removing the dark areas between diodes through optical technology can increase brightness and extend the life of the device.
Application of DPSSL
The 532nm green laser pointer is one of the most common DPSSL applications. The way it works is to use an 808-nanometer infrared GaAlAs diode laser to pump a neodymium-doped YAG or YVO4 crystal to produce 1064-nanometer light, which is then frequency multiplied through a nonlinear optical process to ultimately produce 532-nanometer green light. The efficiency of this process is approximately 20% to 35%, which shows the significant energy conversion capability of DPSSL compared to traditional laser technology.
Under ideal conditions, the overall efficiency of DPSSL can reach 48%, which enables it to exhibit superior performance in high-power applications.
Comparison of diode lasers
Although DPSSL and diode lasers are common solid-state laser types, each has its own advantages and disadvantages. DPSSL usually has high beam quality and can achieve high power while maintaining good beam quality. However, diode lasers are lower cost and more energy efficient, making them suitable for certain application needs. In addition, DPSSL is more sensitive to temperature and can only operate optimally within a small range, otherwise it will be affected by stability issues.
With the development of cooling technology, the performance of zirconium neodymium pentaphosphate (Nd:YVO4) in laser applications continues to be strong, becoming the first choice for many industrial scenarios.
Compatibility and future prospects
With the advancement of wavelength-locked diode pump source technology, new laser efficiency, spectral linewidth and pump efficiency improvements have made DPSSL increasingly attractive for a variety of applications. The introduction of these new technologies allows DPSSL to operate with unprecedented high performance and stability, and opens up wider application prospects.
From medical technology to industrial processing, DPSSL is shining in all walks of life, so will this technology completely replace traditional laser technology in the near future?
