Surface-emitting semiconductor lasers are particularly suitable for developing lasers with customized wavelengths. Until now, optically pumped systems have been used to achieve high power levels. However, these are very complex to assemble. Electrically pumped systems, on the other hand, can only be realized with small emitting areas and therefore low power in the fundamental mode. This limits their application, for example in the field of material processing.

The researchers in the “ED-VECSEL” project aim to realize elec­trically pumped systems emitting in the funda­mental mode with ultrashort pulses of high power and simple assembly. To achieve this, they will investigate the feasibility of a system consisting of an electrically pumped semi­conductor structure with a large emission surface and a matching resonator with, if possible, only a single additional optical component (resonator output coupler). As part of the project, the LZH is responsible for the investi­gation and integration of an optimized electrically pumped semi­conductor chip into an USP laser system. 

The project – Elec­trically pumped semi­conductor disk laser for ultrashort pulse generation (ED-VECSEL) – is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research as a scientific preproject to investi­gate research questions with regard to future industrial applications in photonics and quantum techno­logy and to build a bridge between basic research and industry-led colla­borative funding. (Source: LZH)