High-power diode lasers — A look towards the future

Summary form only given. In 2014, the overall laser market is forecasted to exceed $9 billion dollars.
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We estimate that at least $1 billion can be attributed to high power laser diodes, either directly in sales, or as the value of pumps within other lasers.
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The term “high-power” means different things in different markets. Here we define it as a laser diode with a linear power density of greater than 50mW per micrometer of facet aperture width. Three large markets that such lasers serve are: telecommunications fiber-optic amplification, 3D sensing / gesture recognition infrared illumination, and industrial materials processing. The past, present, and outlook for lasers in these markets will be presented.