Diode-Pumped Solid-State Lasers Continue Expansion into Industrial Applications

Curt Frederickson, Spectra-Physics

Technological development has created distinct market segments for flashlamp-pumped, laser diode end-pumped and laser diode side-pumped solid-state lasers. We foresee continued growth in all these product areas, as long as end users clearly understand which is the right tool for a particular job.
Diode-pumped solid-state lasers have already been a tremendous success story by any measure, and this trend is likely to continue as this technology supplants other laser types in an expanding range of industrial applications. The primary industrial market penetration has occurred until now in applications that demand high beam quality. However, new technology that emphasizes higher power rather than beam quality will also effect the long-term growth of this technology.