Analyze the Principle, Characteristics and Advantagesof HCSEL Laser Source from Six Aspects

HCSEL is an acronym for Horizontal cavity surface-emitting laser, or horizontal cavity surface-emitting laser. HCSEL is a semiconductor laser light source developed based on compound semiconductor materials.

HCSEL is similar to the structure of EEL (edge-emitting laser), and the horizontally resonant laser cavity is subjected to diffraction optical methods to form surface light perpendicular to the direction of laser oscillation. The HCSEL emitting light source is divided into two directions: the fast axis and the slow axis. Typically, HCSEL devices operate at wavelengths of 920nm, 976nm to 1310nm, etc.

Schematic diagram of HCSEL laser structure

At present, the HCSEL series products that have been formed and commercialized are chips independently designed and developed by LEMON Photonics and are equipped with self-developed key equipment, which has the industry's first-mover advantage technical barriers. According to the application and customer needs, LEMON Photonics can customize the design and development of HCSEL module products and solutions.

The light output form and characteristics of diffractive HCSEL are:

HCSEL light source divergence angle is divided into fast axis and slow axis two directions, LEMON Photonics exclusive research and development of HCSEL slow axis full angle less than 0.5° approximate parallel light, fast axis divergence angle full angle 15°, so HCSEL is a natural line light source.

With a built-in DOE-coupled output on the chip, the HCSEL frequency is stable and feedback-proof. The power increase of a single chip can be achieved simply by increasing the chip size and light output aperture. LEMON Photonics' HCSEL single-chip size can be customized in less than 1mm ~ 10mm, and form an array arrangement at the wafer level.

LEMON PhotonICS HCSEL laser luminescent form

HCSEL compared to VCSEL and EEL   

Different from LED (light-emitting diode) light source, HCSEL has the characteristics of horizontal resonance and vertical light surface of the cavity, which combines the advantages of VCSEL in wafer-level overall tape-out and easy packaging and EEL long cavity and high power.

Compared with VCSEL: HSCEL has better beam quality, better polarization and higher signal-to-noise ratio than VCSEL.

Narrow spectral linewidth: The spectral linewidth is narrow and the wavelength is stable, which is convenient for 3D sensing and LiDAR applications to effectively filter out noise.

Excellent beam quality: Excellent beam quality reduces the difficulty of optical shaping.

Excellent polarization: Excellent polarization facilitates sensing detection and optical beam combination.

Compared with EEL: HSCEL has higher power than EEL, large output caliber, and simple manufacturing process.

High single-tube power: Ultra-high single-tube power reduces the number of chips used and reduces costs.

Large output caliber: Large output caliber gives ultra-high chip reliability.

Simple manufacturing process: The simple chip manufacturing process is theoretically guaranteed to cost less than EEL.

HCSEL light source features

Important advantages of HCSEL  

Its simple chip manufacturing process is theoretically guaranteed to be more controllable than EEL and VCSEL. LEMON Photonics HCSEL can not only achieve high power and high reliability, but also achieve low cost, and is the most cost-effective laser light source.

1. Ultra-high single-tube power: Peak power of hundreds of watts can be achieved.

2.Large output caliber: Gives ultra-high chip reliability.

3.Narrow spectral linewidth: Wavelength stability facilitates effective noise filtering for 3D sensing and LiDAR applications.

4.Excellent beam quality: Reduces the difficulty of optical shaping and increases the sharpness of the light field.

5.Excellent polarization: facilitates sensing detection and optical beaming.

6.A high-quality linear light field can be achieved in a compact package size.

LEMON Photonics HCSEL laser source and module diagram