High-Power, High-Efficiency 1.907nm Diode Lasers, Phase I

nLight proposes to develop high-power, high-efficiency laser diodes emitting at 1907nm. Performance is expected to improve from the current state-of-the-art technology at 15C of 20% electrical-to-optical (E/O) conversion efficiency and 11.5W continuous-wave power (CW) to 25% E/O efficiency and 18W of CW power at the conclusion of Phase I. At the conclusion of Phase II, these values are expected to improve to 38% E/O efficiency and greater than 35W CW power. Quasi-CW power will be >>100W per laser bar. Such lasers meet the brightness and power requirements for the direct pumping of the quasi 4-level 5I7 to 5I8 transition in singly-doped Ho:YAG lasers. Compared to the diode-pumping of Thulium-sensitized Ho:YAG, direct diode pumping of Ho:YAG takes advantage of Holmium's much larger emission cross section, the absence of Ho:Tm up conversion, and Ho:YAG's large energy storage lifetime. Direct diode pumping of Ho:YAG also results in decreased system size, weight and complexity and an improvement in overall system efficiency when compared to pumping with a diode-pumped Th:YAG laser, all critical metrics for space and airborne platforms. This work could be extended to 18xxnm and 20xxnm quite readily with comparable power and efficiency performance.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.