What Is a Fiber-Coupled Laser Diode?
Lasers emit light in an intense, narrow, low-divergence beam. Light travels in a straight line, so in situations where laser light needs to be bent around corners or moved to a particular location, diode-based lasers can be coupled to a fiber-optic fiber.
History
Ali Javan developed the first gas laser in 1960. The first semiconductor laser diode was developed simultaneously in the USSR and at Bell Laboratories in the U.S. The development of fiber optics allowed fiber cables to be coupled to laser diodes to allow for control of where the laser light falls.
Types
Like uncoupled lasers, fiber-coupled laser diodes are available in a wide range of output power, with the laser light at specific wavelengths. In addition, fiber-coupled laser diodes are available in different fiber sizes for different applications. Applications can include data transmission, medical, and etching and cutting.
Benefits
The main benefit of coupling an optical fiber to a laser diode is the ability to control where the laser energy falls. In some cases, a laser may be too large to move conveniently. By sending the output of the laser through a fiber-optic cable, the output of the fixed laser becomes more useful.
Data Transmission
By coupling a fiber-optic cable to a laser diode, laser light can transmit data over vast nonlinear distances. The higher the power of the laser and the higher the optical purity of the fiber, the longer the distance over which data can be practically transmitted.
Medical Usage
Coupling a high-powered laser diode to an optical fiber allows surgeons to perform laser surgery. Unlike the laser, the optical fiber that carries the laser light is light, flexible and easy to position. Common laser surgeries include Lasik, surgeries for cancer and certain cosmetic surgeries. By coupling the laser to foot and hand controls, a surgeon can vary the width and intensity of the laser beam to achieve a number of intensities and effects.
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