With the development of modern technology, high-power laser diodes (HPLDs) are being used more frequently. As a key branch of laser diodes (LDs), HPLDs are devices based on the light-emitting principle of semiconductor PN junctions, capable of outputting high-power laser beams. Their core advantages lie in high electro-optical conversion efficiency, compact structure, and strong reliability, making them widely used in industrial processing, medical applications, communications, national defense, and other fields. This article analyzes the opportunities and challenges of HPLDs from various perspectives.

With the growth of manufacturing industries, the demand for high-power laser processing equipment is increasing. HPLDs are used in cutting, welding, heat treatment, and powder cladding of metal materials. Compared with traditional processing methods, laser processing offers advantages such as high precision, fast speed, and small heat-affected zones, improving production efficiency and product quality. For example, kilowatt-level blue laser diodes show broad prospects in industrial applications like cutting and welding high-reflectivity materials (e.g., copper) and foil bonding.

In medical surgery, HPLDs are used for tissue cutting, hemostasis, welding, and tumor treatment. They enable precise energy delivery, reducing damage to surrounding tissues and enhancing surgical safety and effectiveness. New high-power laser technologies hold promise for developing innovative cancer treatments, significantly advancing modern medicine. Additionally, HPLDs can emit highly concentrated light beams, improving medical imaging capabilities.

HPLDs serve as critical tools in various scientific fields. In biomedicine, high-power pulsed laser diodes (473 nm blue light) can activate light-sensitive protein-expressing neurons via fiber coupling, enabling neural activity regulation with millisecond-level temporal resolution to study neural network functions. In lidar applications, high-power pulsed laser diodes (1550 nm) mounted on satellites map topographies by measuring laser echo time and intensity.

High power output in HPLDs generates substantial heat, which negatively impacts chip performance and lifespan if not managed effectively. To ensure normal operation, these lasers require advanced heat dissipation systems or optimized thermal designs, such as microchannel cooling or diamond heat sinks.

The core of an HPLD is an electrically pumped optical waveguide, whose size and structure directly affect beam quality. A narrow waveguide supports only a single transverse mode, resulting in diffraction-limited but lower power output. A wider waveguide allows multiple modes, increasing power but degrading beam quality due to irregular beam composites that are difficult to focus or collimate precisely.

HPLDs have become one of the core devices in modern laser technology due to their efficiency, compactness, and flexibility. However, challenges such as beam quality and heat management remain. With continuous advancements in technology and laser innovation, HPLDs are poised to become a critical driver in the global laser industry, leveraging their irreplaceable advantages and broad prospects in industrial processing, medical applications, scientific research, and other fields.