Pulsed Diode Laser Minibars for Pumping Space-Borne Solid-State Lasers
K. Häusler, R. Staske, A. Maaßdorf, P. Ressel, C. Stölmacker, G. Tränkle, and P. Crump
Published in:
IEEE Photonics Technol. Lett., vol. 33, no. 17, pp. 963-966 (2021).
Abstract:
Laser diode benches (LDBs) with lasing wavelength of 808 nm were developed, manufactured and endurance-tested for utilization as pump lasers for the Nd:YAG oscillator in the climate satellite MERLIN. The LDBs combine customized TE-polarized GaAs-based 5-mm minibars with fast axis collimation lenses to produce a reliable, space qualified component at optical power of 63 W per minibar. Accelerated life tests of 20 LDBs are presented. Except for a small increase in threshold current, no wear out in operating current or sudden failures were observed, and reliable operation over the full mission time of >4 gigashots was confirmed. The electro-optical characteristics remain in the specified ranges after exposure to the total operational load of the mission.
Ferdinand-Braun-Institut gGmbH, Leibniz Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik (FBH), 12489 Berlin, Germany
Index Terms:
Laser diodes, reliability, space applications.
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