L. Arthur D'Asaro, Jean-Francois Seurin and James D. Wynn, Princeton Optronics Inc.At Princeton Optronics Inc., we intend to meet the goals of the SHEDS program using vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs). These devices differ from edge-emitting lasers in that their output beam is perpendicular to the top surface of the device instead of parallel to it. Unlike an edge emitter, a VCSEL’s maximum operating power is not limited by catastrophic optical damage of the exit aperture because its aperture is much larger and its PN junction does not intersect the surface in the region of high optical intensity. These and other advantages result in high...Read full articleRelated content from Photonics MediaArticlesOutshining LEDs: Diode Lasers Deliver Intensity to IlluminationThe development of light-emitting diode (LED) lighting has been a great success story of our times. 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