100-mW cw operation of 650- to 685-nm red lasers with window-mirror-structure

We have investigated dependence of the saturation output power on the wavelength and the cavity length of red laser diodes (LDs) with the wavelength range of 646 - 689 nm. In the 60 degree(s)C CW operation of 650 micrometers -long-cavity LDs, the saturation powers of the 659 nm-LD and the 687 nm-LD were 90 mW and 124 mW, respectively. As a result of extension of the cavity lengths from 650 micrometers to 900 micrometers , the saturation output powers of the 659-nm LD and the 687 nm-LD are increased to 121 mW and 165 mW, respectively. This improvement has led to the first realization of 1000-hour, 100 mW CW operation of the 659 nm-LDs. Also, the 900 micrometers - long 687 nm-LDs have shown the reliable 120 mW CW operation at 40 degree(s)C for 1800-hour, for the first time.