WST
Wavelength Stabilization Technology ("WST") uses monolithic integration of Bragg gratings for high power multi-mode diodes. This technology has enabled improved performance of lasers using Nd and Yb doped gain media. The grating is holographically patterned and subsequently etched onto the GaAs chip at the wafer level with a negligible cost adder. Therefore compared to the use of volume bragg gratings for wavelength stabilization there are no penalties in cost or package form factor. Since the wavelength change with temperature is much lower than that of a Broad Area ("BAL") Fabry-Perot laser, the use of WST often enables the user to save system costs by eliminating thermo-electric coolers for active temperature control. In other cases air cooling has replaced water cooled solutions.
There are two areas where WST is receiving wide market acceptance:
- Fiber lasers - the well controlled and sharp spectrum of the WST allows for shorter gain fiber which reduces non-linear effects and reduces system costs
- Micro lasers and green lasers for security and projection applications where our customers are finding world record power conversion efficiency in very small form factor packages using our WST solution.
The benefits of WST are summarized in the table below
| WST | BAL | |
|---|---|---|
| dλ/dT | 0.07nm/°C | 0.3nm/°C |
| Best case volume production wavelength spec | Target ±1nm | Target ±3nm |
| Spectral Full Width Half Max (FWHM) | 0.3nm | 3nm |
Alfalight's WST technology is protected by patents 6,195,381 and 6,845,116 (under exclusive license from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation) and by Alfalight patent 7,586,970. Please click on the literature or product links for further details.
