Semiconductor Lasers

Summary

Most semiconductor lasers are diode lasers that are pumped by an electrical current; these are also known as injection diode lasers. However, there are also optically pumped semiconductor lasers, either from a direct‐coupled single emitter or fibre‐coupled laser diode array, and quantum cascade lasers that utilize intra‐band rather than inter‐band transitions of the conventional semiconductor lasers for laser action. This chapter focuses on semiconductor diode lasers, which typically emit in visible to near‐infrared bands of electromagnetic spectrum. It also talks about optically pumped semiconductor lasers, quantum cascade lasers, lead salt lasers and antimonide lasers. The other topics covered in the chapter include: operational fundamentals, semiconductor materials used for making semiconductor lasers, different types of semiconductor diode lasers, characteristic parameters, handling precautions, and application areas.