Tapered semiconductor amplifiers provide a way to increase the optical power of a seed laser while maintaining its spectral characteristics. The optical mode is expanded through a tapered gain region, enabling higher output power than can typically be obtained directly from a narrow-stripe semiconductor laser.
Tapered amplifiers are particularly useful in MOPA (Master Oscillator Power Amplifier) architectures. In Modulight’s products, a DBR laser can act as the narrow-linewidth master oscillator while a tapered amplifier provides the required power amplification.
This architecture combines precise spectral control with higher optical power and is well suited to applications such as spectroscopy, quantum technologies, sensing, and other scientific applications requiring both narrow linewidth and substantial optical power.
