Semiconductor Lasers for Defense

A new class of applications are being pursued with QPC Lasers because of their high brightness, high efficiency and power performance.

Application: Defense
Because of their compact size and light weight and ruggedness, semiconductor lasers are ideal for military and aerospace applications. Used directly or as pumps for other lasers, semiconductor lasers are used in a wide variety of applications including both the transmission optical energy to a target and receiving a portion of it back in order to measure various physical properties of the target in a remote fashion.

Defense lasers that transmit energy to the target are common at both low and high power levels. On the low power end (<500mW), direct diode lasers are used for free-space communications for line of sight transmission. At slightly higher power, direct diode lasers are used to initiate ordinances. For even higher powers and long wavelengths, diode lasers can be used directly or to pump solid state lasers which disable incoming heat seeking missiles. At the highest power levels of 50-100kW, high energy solid state lasers for missile defense are being developed. These lasers use >100kW of diode pump light per laser and are expected to be deployed by land, sea, and air in the years to come.

Another class of defense laser is those which are used to extract information from a target. At the low power end, for example, range finding lasers enable the user measure distance and illuminators enable the user to view unprecedented levels of detail. At higher power, remote sensing and LIDAR lasers allow the user to detect bio-chemical agents, clear air turbulence and other atmospheric conditions.This new class of direct diode rangefinders and compact LIDAR systems is based on QPC's proprietary high efficiency material design around the Eyesafe wavelength of 1550nm and unique high power single mode laser designs exceeding 1W CW.

A new class of non-lethal laser weapons is also enabled today withby QPC Lasers. These lasers use high brightness green light to warn targets at a distance that is far enough to allow escalation of force and even suppress a potential threat while decreasing the risk for potential collateral damage. QPC's visible laser product line, based on integrated diode wavelength stabilization technology, allows integration of compact and efficient green lasers on various platforms from rifles to airborne and ground vehicles.

Wavelength Stabilized Fiber Coupled Laser Modules: BrightLock Ultra-50™

QPC Lasers offers BrightLock™ Ultra-50™ laser modules which are ideal for integration into high volume OEM applications such as fiber and solid-state laser pumping. Manufactured with the QPC's proprietary internal gratings semiconductor technology, these fiber coupled laser modules lead the industry in brightness, power, and reliability from 795, 808, 880, 976, 1532 and 1908 nm.

QPC introduces the BrightLase® Ultra-100™ Series with up to 110 watts output at 792, 808, 888 and 976 nm and up to 35 watts at 1470 nm. These modules feature industry leading brightness and are designed for direct application and pumping fiber and solid-state lasers.

QPC introduces the Ultra-G™ series specifically designed for medical, military and defense applications that require high power green light in a compact, passively cooled package.

Stacked Array: Brightlock by Laser Operations LLC / QPC Lasers

Laser Operations LLC introduces QPC Lasers Ultra-500™ with up to 425 Watts "cladding-free" output power. These modules feature industry leading brightness, optional on-chip BrightLock™ wavelength stabilization for higher spectral brightness, and are designed for direct diode industrial, medical and defense application as well as fiber and solid-state laser pumping.

QPC Lasers introduces single mode, single frequency lasers at 1550 nm with >500 mW CW output or >2 W peak Pulsed output into single mode fiber. These modules feature accurate center wavelength, narrow line width, and stabilized spectra and are designed for seeding fiber and solid-state lasers, conversion to the visible, and direct applications.

Laser Operations LLC introduces QPC Lasers Ultra-500 with up to 425 Watts "cladding-free" output power. These modules feature industry leading brightness, on-chip BrightLock® wavelength stabilization for higher spectral brightness, and are designed for direct diode industrial, medical and defense application as well as fiber and solid-state laser pumping. Standard wavelengths include 795, 976, 1532 and 1908 nm. Custom wavelengths are available upon request.