Red-emitting tapered diode lasers for display applications

Published in:
Proc. of SPIE, vol. 7720, no. 77201B (2010).
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Abstract:
High-brightness tapered diode lasers (TPLs) are an ideal high-luminance light source for display applications such as pocket projectors, laser TVs, laser shows, and projectors for virtual reality simulators, because TPLs have a high optical output power in the visible range with a nearly diffraction-limited beam. We present results of high-power TPLs emitting between 630 nm and 660 nm. The diode lasers have a nearly diffraction-limited beam quality (M²_1/e² < 3) and a maximum output power up to 1.55 W. A luminous flux of 84 lm and a luminance of 47 Tcd/m² was achieved with a TPL emitting 0.70 W near 640 nm. Lifetime tests show an operation > 5000 h at a power level of 200 mW.

Keywords:
high-power, high-brightness, high-luminance, tapered laser, diode laser, red-emitting, projection light source

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