Broad area single emitter (BASE) modules with improved brightness

High power pump modules are used for industrial as well as telecom applications such as for fiber lasers and cladding pumped erbium doped fiber amplifiers (EDFA) [Lichtenstein, N., et al., 2004]. Key element of a pump module is a single emitter laser diode, which normally has an aperture of around 90 mum, in order to provide best coupling into an optical multi-mode fiber with a 105 mum core diameter. Increasing the brightness of the pump module lends additional flexibility in the design of fiber lasers and amplifiers and enables higher output power. In this communication we report on two approaches to increase the brightness of our latest generation of high power pump modules. Within the first approach the electro-optical performance of the single emitter laser diode is improved by optimizing Bookham´s mature chip technologies such as InGaAs/AlGaAs structures grown by MBE, the ridge-waveguide manufacturing process, the E2 facet passivation and the mounting technology. The combination of improved chip design and new coupling scheme leads to reliable broad area modules with outstanding brightness.