sdPhotonics Manufactures High-Powered Laser Diodes for the U.S. Air Force

sdPhotonics announced that it is on the verge of completing the second segment of a R&D contract to manufacture a specialized laser diode instrument for the U.S. Air Force.

The company’s President, Sabine Freisem stated that she expects the laser diode to be manufactured by March 2011.

Researchers from University of Central Florida have collaborated with the College of Optics and Photonics to demonstrate the laser diode technology. The laser technology has the capability to generate reliable laser diodes with maximum failure times of 10 M hours. It can also reduce the cost for laser diodes and decrease testing. The laser diodes can be manufactured using smaller parts and eradicate the requirement for non-semiconductor materials. They do not show any change in operation under stress conditions, which cause units to fail rapidly.

The researchers are currently working on other aspects of the laser technology such as its beam properties and efficiency. They believe that the laser diodes can be suitable for space applications.