The laser diode beside the implementation into material processing for cutting and engraving is also particularly used in optical communication, integrated optics, measuring and sensors technology. In addition, the laser diode is increasingly being used in the technical area, e.g., in CD players, in laser copiers and laser printers as well as in medicine. A laser diode is relatively cheap and easy to use.

One of the major goals of industrial research is the production of laser diodes that emit in the blue region of the spectrum, as the smaller wavelength allows a four times greater storage density to be achieved on a CD.

Industry and services

The laser diode has many applications and they are still growing. They are used in recycling for recognition of colors when sorting garbage. Other exemplary applications:

• in underwater scanning of various colors,

• laser pointer,

• laser light shows,

• projection of powders for elements shape reading,

• irradiation of biological, physical and chemical samples,

• welding of plastics,

• metal welding.

They also are used for fast transmission of information in optical fibers, all optical fiber technology related to the internet and etc. Laser diode modules work well in artistic values, the lighting of rooms with RGB laser beams, for holograms.

Semiconductor laser heads based on a laser diode are used in CNC machines (e.g. laser wood engravers) and 3D printers.  They cut and engrave materials such as wood, plastics, leather, rubber.

Read more about applications of CNC laser heads.

Medicine

Medicine has a lot of different applications in almost all areas. Depending on the treatment objective, the physical properties of the laser are selected such way that the desired biological effect on the tissue is achieved. In particular, the wavelength, the intensity, the pulse duration, and the pulse rate influence the interaction with the tissue. Typical physical properties of the laser such as coherence and polarization, however, usually play no or very minor role in laser treatment.

People who are not familiar with the subject often think that individual types of lasers always can be used interchangeably. Meanwhile, for medical and cosmetic applications usually better suited are solid-state lasers (like Nd: YaG) or gas lasers. Some important applications of lasers are:

• ophthalmology: refractive surgery (treatment of ametropia), removal of the posterior,
• photodynamic therapy,
• trepanation of the cornea for keratoplasty,
• in dermatology/cosmetics: removal of abnormal skin lesions such as pigmentation, visible blood vessels, tattoos, hair, scars, tumors (e.g. warts),
• lithotripsy (for gallstones, kidney stones, ureteral stones, bladder stones),
• stomatology: caries removal,
• laser acupuncture (e.g. smoking therapy), laser treatment of joint pain (low-level laser therapy),
• angioplasty: evaporation of sedimentation on the vessel walls, lipolaser for plastic surgery therapy under the red laser which is expanding the red blood cells.

The laser diode module is primarily used for treatments that do not require breaking the skin’s continuity: in depilation and reduction of cellulite and in removing blood vessels. It is also used in minor dental surgery.