Pulsed Diode Laser Minibars for Pumping Space-Borne Solid-State Lasers

Laser diode benches (LDBs) with lasing wavelength of 808 nm were developed, manufactured and endurance-tested for utilization as pump lasers for the Nd:YAG oscillator in the climate satellite MERLIN. The LDBs combine customized TE-polarized GaAs-based 5-mm minibars with fast axis collimation lenses to produce a reliable, space qualified component at optical power of 63 W per minibar. Accelerated life tests of 20 LDBs are presented. Except for a small increase in threshold current, no wear out in operating current or sudden failures were observed, and reliable operation over the full mission time of >4 gigashots was confirmed. The electro-optical characteristics remain in the specified ranges after exposure to the total operational load of the mission.