Status and results of the German national diode laser research project Modular Diode Laser Systems (MDS)

The German national research project "Modular Diode Laser Systems -- MDS" is aimed to the improvement of high power semiconductor laser elements, to investigation of mounting, cooling and beam forming technologies, the integration of these elements into high power diode laser systems and finally the investigation of novel applications with such systems. Consequently, the project shows a vertical organization of three groups: "Chip-Technology," "Laser- and Systems-Technology" and "Processes and Applications." The organization as well as newest results are the content of this contribution. Besides "conventional use" of the high power diode laser source, applications with a "modular" setup of the diode laser elements will be presented. The five year project with 22 partners from research and industry is now in its fourth year.