SCOWL Devices: High Power, Diffraction-Limited Beam for WBC Applications

SCOWL Devices: Delivering High Power and Exceptional Beam Quality for WBC Applications

Slab-Coupled Optical Waveguide Laser2 (SCOWL) devices are emerging as ideal candidates for Watt-level Beam Combining (WBC) applications due to their exceptional optical properties. These properties stem from SCOWL's ability to generate watt-level powers from each element in a diffraction-limited beam with narrow divergence.

Characterized by a typical optical mode size of around 4 ﾵm in both dimensions, SCOWLs boast a full-width beam divergence of only about 0.3 rad. This remarkable feature allows for easy collimation of each element's emission using spherical microlenses, greatly simplifying the external cavity optics.

The large mode area of SCOWL devices contributes significantly to their robust performance. It minimizes mounting-induced 'smile,' a term referring to the deviation from flatness in the array's surface curvature. A large smile, relative to the mode size, can degrade beam quality in the non-beam-combining dimension. Thankfully, the large mode size of SCOWLs mitigates this risk.

Furthermore, the large mode size effectively reduces power density at the facets for a given output power. This characteristic enhances the device's resistance to catastrophic optical damage (COD) on the facet, ensuring reliable and long-lasting operation.

In conclusion, SCOWL devices present a compelling solution for WBC applications demanding high power, excellent beam quality, and reliable operation. Their unique combination of features paves the way for advancements in various fields requiring high-power laser sources.