SemiNex Corporation, based in Danvers, MA, 20 miles north of downtown Boston on US Route 1, designs and manufactures high power semiconductor laser diodes and optical amplifiers for demanding applications.
Using a proprietary AlInGaAs material system and curved waveguide architecture on an indium phosphide (InP) platform, SemiNex deliver high performance laser diode solutions from 1250 nm to 2400 nm using high quality InP and GaSb materials. Devices can be fibre‑coupled and optimised for seamless Si‑PIC integration, enabling efficient deployment within complex photonic platforms. SemiNex's capabilities are described in the product range over view below and include:
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Product Brief: SemiNex' product range |
High power, narrow linewidth Distributed Feedback (DFB) lasers diodes
SemiNex DFB lasers provide the ultimate in stability and high output power. The integration of a distributed grating on the semiconductor laser chip ensures continuous single-frequency operation as well as exceptional precision, stability and reliability.
Spanning both C-band and O-band wavelengths, SemiNex DFB laser diodes cater to a wide array of applications. These diodes are meticulously designed to enhance detection capabilities in LiDAR systems and extend transmission reach in optical communication networks and data centers.
Customisable options for DFB arrays, including multichannel and multi-wavelength configurations are available to meet the specific requirements of advanced projects.
Narrow Linewidth External Cavity Lasers (ECL)
SemiNex's next-generation ECL platform is designed to deliver exceptional optical performance for high-precision applications including Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry (OFDR); Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT); Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) LiDAR; high-resolution spectroscopy; optical metrology and interferometry.
Engineered for ultra-stable narrow-linewidth (3 to 15 kHz), high output power (> 200 mW), ultra-low Relative Intensity Noise (RIN) and excellent Side Mode Suppression Ratio (SMSR), this family of butterfly-packaged lasers enables state-of-the-art measurement and imaging systems.
To meet the demands of next-generation sensing and measurement systems, SemiNex offers a fully integrated Wavelength-Swept ECL Module combining the ECL laser with a low-noise driver, TEC controller, and integrated sweep control. This compact module achieves linear wavelength sweep with 99.99999% linearity across sweep ranges of 10 GHz (0.8 nm) and 600 GHz (4.8 nm) at 1550 nm and is also available for O-band operation upon request.
Fabry-Perot Multimode Laser Diodes including 1550nm Triple Junction
SemiNex's high power multimode Fabry-Perot laser diodes are available in standard wavelengths from 1310nm to 1940nm. SemiNex's high precision indium phosphide lasers use a material structure with proprietary non-conventional doping profiles and a unique application of quantum physics to provide superior performance in the areas of electrical and thermal efficiency combined with total optical power.
Electrical efficiency gains are achieved by reducing current leakage around the semiconductor quantum wells where electron energy is converted to photonic energy, in turn reducing heat buildup caused by lost electrons. SemiNex's structures also minimise thermal resistance - improving the dissipation of heat generated in the junction and thereby raising the maximum optical power at which the lasers can reliably operate. The combination of higher electrical and thermal efficiency allows SemiNex lasers to achieve power levels which exceed current industry performance by 2 to 6 times.
SemiNex's Triple Junction 1550nm laser diodes integrate 3 monolithic semiconductor laser junctions to produce over 100 Watts peak power under pulsed conditions. Excellent slope efficiency of 1 W/A combines with low operating voltage to achieve wall plug efficiency 2X higher at high driving current than a comparable diode in the market place.
The Triple Junction laser diodes are offered with standard cavity lengths of 1.5mm and 2.5mm with aperture widths of 50μm, 95μm, 180μm, and 350μm. Standard package options are Chip-on-Carrier, TO9, and TO56.
The Triple Junction technology bridges the gap between relatively low cost 905nm laser diodes which are not inherently eye-safe and 1550nm fiber lasers which are impractical for mass market deployment because of their size, cost, and complexity. Typical time-of-flight LiDAR systems using multi-junction 905nm lasers are limited to a range of 100 meters due to a low eye-safety acceptable emission limits (AEL) of International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) regulations. Neither of these past approaches meets industry goals of > 200 m range, eye-safe, or cost effective LiDAR to enable mass deployment. SemiNex's technology enables eye-safe, high power, long range (over 250m), lower cost LiDAR solutions delivering 80X more photons, 27X stronger detection, and 3X longer detection distance compared to a 905nm laser diode.
SemiNex have produced a white paper comparing the performance of their Triple Junction 1550nm laser diodes with 905nm alternatives which you can download HERE.
Semiconductor Optical Amplifier (SOA) and Reflective SOA (RSOA)
SemiNex offer a range standard single- and four-channel array Semiconductor Optical Amplifier and Reflective SOA designs operating from 1280nm to 1595nm in chip, bar, Chip-On-Carrier (COC) and 14-pin butterfly package designs.
High gain designs in the O-band (around 1310nm) and C-band (around 1550nm) and complemented by ultra-high power 1310nm devices achieving over 1 Watt output power.
Laser Engines
SemiNex’s patented Laser Engine is an integrated laser diode assembly designed for manufacturers of high volume medical and other low-cost hand-held applications. It is inexpensive to assemble and can be tailored to fit a customer’s needs. It has ultra-high volume capabilities, a high power output, large dynamic power range, and great efficiency. The laser engine is ideal for medical applications such as acne removal, skin wrinkle reduction, and skin ablation. This assembly can also be used in a range of professional laser applications, such as medical procedures and surgery, free-space communications, and range finding.
The laser engine is available at wavelengths of 1460nm, 1480nm, 1565nm, and 1575nm and currently features an excellent power conversion efficiency and up to 2 Watts of CW power.
By shrinking laser technology to a size small enough to fit in one’s hand and offering an off-the-shelf yet configurable device, the laser engine removes many of the technical challenges for companies looking to enter the consumer laser marketplace.
The laser engine system includes a high-efficiency diode laser, cooling fan, and focusing lens. It is designed to disperse as much heat as possible to allow for longer times in use. The package utilizes a radial heat sink shell for convection cooling, is 40 mm long with a diameter of 25 mm, and has a weight of 16 grams. It can be equipped with or without the cooling fan.
Experience You Can Rely On
With over 20 years’ experience, SemiNex's laser and optical amplifier solutions are trusted for their power, efficiency and reliability. Our portfolio includes Fabry–Perot, DFB and semiconductor optical amplifier technologies built on advanced InP, GaAs and GaSb material systems.
