High-power diodes-lasers and their direct industrial applications

The paper summarizes activities of the two Fraunhofer-Institutes ILT and IPT concerning the development of high-power laser-diode stacks and their direct industrial applications. With microchannel coolers in copper technology and ultra-precision machined micro-optics a stack of 330-400 W total power with a maximum intensity of the focused beam of 2 10 high4 W/qcm has been built and tested in first applications. By further improvements of the lens-fabrication and -alignment technology as well as increase of the number of stacked diodes an output power in the kW-range and intensities up to about 10 high5 W/qcm shall be achieved in the near future. Applications of such laser sources in surface technology, in the processing of plastics, in Laser-Assisted Machining and in brazing are discussed.