What are Laser Diodes? - Electronics

What are Laser Diodes?

- Laser Diodes are compact transistor-like packages with two or more electrical leads. -Inside the package is a small semiconductor chip, containing the laser cavity.

- The chip contains a stack of layers with different doping and compositions that provide optical and electrical confinement.

- Lasing occurs when stimulated emission causes the amplification of photons confined to the lasing mode. Photons bounce back and forth between the front and back mirror.

- Hence, a diverging beam emerges from the laser diode package.

-They have applications in the telecommunications industry and in testing instrumentation.