Axcel Photonics Inc., developer of InGaAs-based active optical components, today introduced its 980-nm pump laser product line for erbium doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs). According to the company, these products utilize its proprietary facet design and coating process and can achieve kink free powers of greater than 700 mW.
As additional channels are added in WDM transmission systems, greater power is required of the optical amplifiers and, in turn, the pump lasers that power these systems. When operating at higher powers, the increase brings the laser closer to the point where Catastrophic Optical Damage (COD) at the laser facet can occur.
COD is the primary reliability concern in high power 980-nm lasers and has been a limiting factor to increasing the performance of these products, say company representatives, who claim their facet design has significantly increased the threshold at which COD occurs. Typical industry values of 12 MW/cm2 have been nearly doubled to 20 MW/cm2 , increasing both the level at which damage occurs to the front facet of the laser and the reliable output power of the device.
Currently three grades of devices are available: 150+ mW for uncooled, low cost, metro pump applications; 300+ mW for mid to low power pump modules; and 500+ mW for high power applications. The devices are shipped as individual chips or mounted on Axcel's standard sub-mounts. Custom sub-mount configurations are available.
For more information about Axel Photonics Inc. (Marlborough, MA), visit the company's Web site at www.axcelphotonics.com.