Continuous-wave 1-W injection lasers emitting near 808 nm with a total efficiency up to 50%

A cw injection laser emitting near 808 nm was constructed and investigated. Reduction of the internal cavity losses and of the series resistance of the laser made it possible to increase the external differential quantum efficiency to 0.67 and to achieve a total (‘wallplug’) efficiency of 50% while keeping the heat sink at 10°C (the total efficiency was 45% at 45°C). Accelerated life tests carried out at elevated temperatures indicated that the operating life of the laser should be in excess of 10⁴ h at 25°C.