NICHIA NUBM44 / NUBM47 laser diode with an aluminum collimator

Description

Endurance offers high-quality and manually tested diodes for our customers.

All diodes are being carefully tested every time before the shipment.

A new Endurance laser test comparing a NUBM44/47 vs non branded Chinese laser diode >>>

Tested by DTR.

Endurance laser lab test

All diodes are carefully tested before the shipment on our testing stand

 Setting up voltage and current while checking the optical power.

Voltage (V) / current (A) / optical power (W) data for NUBM44 / NUBM47 NICHIA laser diodes

NUBM44/NUBM47 Nichia diode can be run at 100 kHz frequency

Wavelength spectrum test

All you need to know about  NUBM44/47 Nichia laser diodes

A NUBM44 is a 445nm laser diode that emits 6-7 watts of optical power on the average in a CW mode. At the moment it is the highest power laser diode in a 9 mm TO-5 mount. A NUBM44 is specified with a typical center wavelength of 445 nm (dark blue). This is a multi-mode laser diode, it has a pretty narrow waveguide, which allows it to have nearly the lowest etendue (far-field divergence for a given beam diameter) of any high-power semiconductor laser. The narrow emitter width enables to better collimate and focus it than other high-power laser diodes. This is a big advantage of this unit.

This laser has a chemical formula of GaN. The laser operates at temperatures up to 60-65C without significant power or lifetime loss. But the colder the laser – the better. But if the temperature exceeds 70-80C the diode can dramatically lose its power before final degradation. The temperature shift to colder parameters will decrease the laser wavelength.

General datasheet about NUBM44

• Gallium Nitride (GaN) blue laser diode
• 6-7-watt blue laser,
• 445 nm wavelength;
• easy to focus and collimate with G2, G7, G8 lens;
• a compact TO-5 (9mm) mount;
• a wide range of operating temperatures (0C to 65C);
• a longer lifetime at higher operating temperatures due to GaN.

The NUBM44 laser diode is temperature indifferent compared to other high-power semiconductor laser diodes. It is known to operate in a temperature range of 0C – 65C. The NUBM44 lifetime is 10 000 – 20 000 hours at 25C.

If the blue laser’s temperature goes up to 65C, the diode (laser) lifetime decreases very slightly, thanks to the recently developed Gallium Nitride laser technology. The Gallium Arsenide laser technology used for red and NIR laser diodes is unable to ensure the same.

Thus, this blue laser diode is a reliable choice for various environments and applications. Additionally, this GaN laser has a special TO-5 (9mm) mount, which helps reduce its thermal resistance. The 9mm TO-5 mount is hermetically sealed, which protects the semiconductor laser chip from dust and other contamination. In contrast, high-power red and NIR laser diodes typically require a C-mount package, which has an exposed facet, making them subject to issues with reliability if not operated in a clean-room environment.

The NUBM44 laser diode is relatively indifferent to higher operating temperatures, however, we do recommend using a suitable heatsink with a NUBM44 and other high-power laser diodes. Specifically, a low-thermal-resistance (ideally less than 1.5C/W) mount should be used due to a large amount of heat generated (approximately 12W) when this laser is operating full power.

A laser diode mount with low thermal resistance will reduce the amount of localized heating produced by the laser element and minimize the path to thermal ground. Such a TO mount will also reduce the amount of thermal drift, which affects both the power and wavelength. Thermal resistance can be minimized by pressing the TO header against a flat heat spreader surface machined from materials such as Aluminum, Copper or Brass; as well as by soldering it; applying a thin layer of thermal paste can also be helpful.

In order to collimate this laser diode well and collect as much light as possible, we recommend using a collimation lens with a high numerical aperture (e.g., NA greater than 0.50). This is because the far field divergence on the fast axis is typically 44 degrees. Without a fast (high-NA) lens, some of the power will be lost. Using a longer focal length lens will improve the blue laser diode’s ability to be collimated. To further reduce the slow axis divergence, it is possible to expand the beam on the slow axis using two cylindrical lenses, which Opt Lasers also provides on its website. However, in certain applications having a short working distance, it is sufficient to use only a single collimation lens.

There are numerous and varied applications for the NUBM44 diode due to its unique lasing wavelength of 445nm. Applications include engraving, phosphor pumping, fluorescence microscopy, imaging, optogenetics, RBG light sources, art and architecture, illumination, and Thulium-doped fiber pumping, as well as many being currently developed. For example, by using this laser diode to pump phosphor, some of the lowest etendue white (broadband) light sources can be created.

Note that the NUBM44 laser diode is very similar to NUBM47. However, our testing suggests that NUBM44 has a lower threshold current and higher efficiency than NUBM47 as well as a similar lifetime and operating power of 6-7 watt. The ability of both laser diodes to be collimated and focused is also similar. For these, and other reasons which are proprietary, we believe the NUBM44 is currently the better option.

NUBM44 datasheet

Wavelength: 445+- 2 nm

Output Power: 6000-7000 mW

Transerve model: Multi-model

Operation Model: CW / Impulse

Warm up Time: <1 sec

Opeartion Tempearture: 0-65(°C)

Input Voltage: <5.5VDC

Input Current: >2A

Mount: TO-5 (9mm)

6 watt optical power can be reached @ 4.7A x 4.70 V = 22.09 W Input Power (by APS)
or @ 3.5 A x 4.53 V = 15.86 W Input Power (by DTR)

7 watt optical power can be reached @ 5.8A x 5.9V = 26.62W Input Power (by APS)
or @ 4.7 A x 4.77 V = 22.42 W Input Power (by DTR)