Laser diodes are semiconductor components that generate light waves with wavelengths that are usually very close to each other. What does this mean? Light beams usually have a broad spectrum of light waves. Laser diodes, on the other hand, have light waves that are close to a single wavelength or wavelengths very close to this wavelength. Because of this, they can be much brighter than other light sources and can be directed to a single point.
Types of Laser Diodes
Laser diodes can be broadly divided into four different types; Double heterostructure laser diode, Quantum well laser diode, Separate confinement heterostructure laser diode, Vertical cavity surface-emitting laser diode.
What is double heterostructure laser diode?
Double heterostructure is a very useful structure in optoelectronic components. Laser diodes have carriers operating simultaneously in their active regions. Thus, they trap photons better. In this way, they can obtain a high intensity light beam.
What is Quantum well laser diode?
Quantum well laser diodes generally operate in active regions of 100 Å thickness. Their light pulse duration is very low. This value is usually in the order of a few picoseconds.
What is Separate confinement heterostructure laser diode?
Separate confinement heterostructure laser diode can be said to be obtained by adding two more layers to the structure of quantum well laser diodes. Thus, the refractive index of light is lower and light can be confined more efficiently.
Applications of Laser Diode
Laser diodes are used for different purposes in many different sectors. These sectors include consumer electronics, industrial applications, security applications, lighting applications, medical research and medical devices, scientific studies, sensing Technologies, Materials Processing, telecommunication applications.
Most Common Industrial Applications for Laser Diodes
Laser diodes are mostly used in metal Processing, The Medical Industry, Telecommunications applications.
Advantages of Laser Diodes
The main advantages of laser diodes are their compact size. Laser diodes have very small dimensions compared to other light sources.
Laser diodes have higher energy efficiency than other light sources.
Laser diodes generally have a much longer lifetime than other light sources.