Semiconductor Light Source with Dual-Sided Gain Medium Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-output light source devices face challenges in heat dissipation, leading to inefficient operation due to increased waste heat when excitation intensity is increased.
Innovation Solution
A light source device design featuring a resonator with a gain medium between two mirrors, where the gain medium is sandwiched between two heat dissipation members, allowing for efficient heat dissipation from both principal surfaces, thereby reducing heat bias and enhancing laser light intensity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the intensity of excitation light is increased to obtain high output, then the laser output power is improved, but waste heat increases and affects oscillation operation
Solution Approach 1:
The heat dissipation function is segmented into two separate heat dissipation members positioned on opposite sides of the gain medium. This allows heat to be dissipated from both the first principal surface and the second principal surface simultaneously, effectively managing the thermal load generated by high-intensity excitation light while maintaining high laser output power
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from single-sided heat dissipation to dual-sided heat dissipation by adding heat dissipation capability in the dimensional direction perpendicular to the excitation light incidence. The first heat dissipation member handles heat from the first principal surface while the second heat dissipation member handles heat from the second principal surface, creating a three-dimensional heat management architecture that effectively addresses thermal issues without compromising output power
2Loss of energy
If a single heat dissipation member is used in conventional OPSL, then the structure is simple, but heat dissipation efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The heat dissipation system is divided into two independent heat dissipation members, each responsible for dissipating heat from a specific principal surface of the gain medium. This segmentation allows for optimized heat removal pathways without creating excessive structural complexity, as each member can be independently designed and positioned
Solution Approach 2:
Both heat dissipation members serve the universal function of thermal management for the gain medium, but they operate independently to handle heat generation from different locations within the medium. This multi-functional approach achieves superior heat dissipation efficiency while maintaining relatively simple overall device architecture
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design achieves improved heat dissipation performance compared to conventional OPSLs, allowing for high-intensity laser light output while minimizing heat-related operational issues.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat dissipation member located on a first principal surface side of the gain medium; and a second heat dissipation member located on second principal surface side of the gain medium
Data Source
AI summary
Alight source device includes a resonator having first and second mirrors, a gain medium disposed between the first and second mirrors and including a first semiconductor portion, an active layer, and a second semiconductor portion arranged in this order in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the resonator, and having first and second principal surfaces respectively located on sides of the first and second semiconductor portions opposite to sides on which the active layer is provided, a first heat dissipation member located on a first principal surface side of the gain medium, and a second heat dissipation member located on a second principal surface side of the gain medium. The resonator and the gain medium are arranged such that the optical axis passes through the gain medium.