1060 nm Laser Diodes

1060 nm Laser Diodes

Wavelengths of 1060 nanometers are crucial across scientific, industrial, and medical domains, enabling high-power laser systems, precision imaging, and advanced optical sensing. The versatility and stability of 1060 nm sources make them essential for applications demanding accuracy and adaptability.

Applications of 1060 nm Laser Diodes

At 1060 nm, ytterbium-doped fiber and solid-state lasers excel in high-power tasks such as micromachining, laser cutting, and engraving, benefiting from efficient energy conversion. In datacom, this wavelength serves as a reliable seeding source for broadband fiber amplifiers, spectroscopy, and precision sensing. Medical imaging relies heavily on 1060 nm in optical coherence tomography (OCT), especially for ophthalmology, where wavelength-swept and Fourier Domain Mode-Locked lasers deliver enhanced tissue penetration and resolution. 1060 nm lasers are vital in lidar systems and fiber Bragg grating (FBG) applications, functioning as stable seed sources and pump lockers to ensure signal integrity. In spectroscopy and sensing modules, this wavelength supports tunable on-chip lasers and frequency combs, facilitating high-resolution analysis. It is also employed in precise optical alignment tasks, where narrow-bandwidth light is essential for calibrating diffraction gratings, and in nanosecond pulse modulation, acting as a rapid optical switch.

Types of Light Sources: Laser diodes at 1060 nm provide narrow-linewidth, coherent output suitable for fiber laser seeding, spectroscopy, and optical alignment. Femtosecond and picosecond lasers produce ultrafast pulses required for time-sensitive measurements, while superluminescent diodes at 1060 nm offer broad-spectrum, low-coherence output, optimal for OCT and FBG testing where reduced speckle noise enhances clarity. Semiconductor optical amplifiers amplify seed laser power, support light amplification in swept laser sources, and function as preamplifiers, enhancing signal quality across scientific and industrial applications.

Technical Advantages: Compact, energy-efficient, and customizable, 1060 nm devices feature options such as polarization-maintaining fibers, tunable wavelengths, and external cavity setups. Precision temperature and current control provide stable, high-accuracy outputs, making 1060 nm sources ideal for OCT, spectroscopy, fiber sensing, and external cavity systems for optical sensing applications where consistent performance and fine-tuned control are paramount.