High power, 8.5 W CW, visible laser diodes

Abstract
Visible laser diodes have been fabricated from AlGaInP operating at approximately 680 nm to high output powers. Broad area lasers with 100 μm wide emitting apertures operate to greater than 1 W CW with a differential efficiency of 38%. The threshold current densities of the material have been measured to be as low as 350 A/cm2 for lasers with 30% mirror reflectivities. Monolithic bars 8 mm long with 50 μm emitting apertures periodically spaced on 500 μm centres have been fabricated which operate to 8.5 W CW.