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Laser Diode Cooling

Introduction

Cooling systems are necessary components in a wide variety of advanced devices.  These devices regulate the heat dissipation which is a common and detrimental produce of power input.  Today's cooling systems  take advantage of convection, conduction and/or radiation to move heat efficiently away from the heat generator.  Commercial systems available today fall into the following categories: 

• Liquid pumped systems

• Cryogenic spray systems

• Heat wicking (Heat Pipes)

• Heat sinks

• Thermoelectric coolers (TECs)

Laser diodes are made of semiconducting materials which produce very high heat loads.  Optical efficiencies of these diodes are very highly temperature dependent, so precise temperature control is necessary.  Conventional cooling systems for high-power diode arrays typically use liquid cooled approaches to maintain the diode temperature near room temperature.

This project explores the thermal properties of a cooling package designed specifically for laser diode cooling.  If successful, my research will deliver a package having the following advantages over today's commercially available systems:

1. Space efficiency - The system requires far less room.

2. Very few moving parts - With the exception of a fan, this system has no moving parts.  Existing systems often require pumps, fans, and other components which greatly reduce the working lifetime of the system.

3. Control - The system can be easily controlled and adjusted by a variable DC source.

4. Maintenance - Less moving parts means maintaining this system is quite easy.