1. Fields of application
1.1 Fiber optic communications
Thanks to their compactness, low power consumption and the ability to modulate light by current, semiconductor lasers have rapidly established themselves in fiber-optic communications. There isn't just one type of laser, but rather a large number of structures whose properties have been adapted to best meet the specifications required by each application.
So, for the entire 1.3 and 1.5 µm traditional telecommunications sector, diode structures and properties have been optimized to transmit digital data over single-mode fiber under the best possible conditions. Like fibers, structures have been invented to guide light into the diode and facilitate optical coupling with the fiber. In addition, depending on the optical cavities used...
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Fields of application
Physical principles
Bibliography
Economic data
Markets
The world market for semiconductor lasers is regularly monitored by Strategies Unlimited, whose study results are regularly published in Laser Focus at the beginning of each year. Total sales for all applications combined rose from just under $2 billion in 1996 to $3.14 billion in 2006 (figure
Manufacturers (non-exhaustive list)
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Single-mode lasers for telecom applications (1.3-1.5 µm)
Avanex (Ex Alcatel Optronics) http://www.avanex.com/
JDS Uniphase http://www.jdsu.com/
Bookham (Ex Nortel)...
Distributors (non-exhaustive list)
Laser 2000 http://www.laser2000.fr/
Bfi Optilas http://www.bfioptilas.com/
Scientific equipment http://www.es-france.com/
...
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