CW Lasers

What are CW Lasers?

CW Lasers (continuous-wave lasers) emit a continuous stream of laser light, unlike pulsed lasers, which store energy and emit the stored, concentrated energy in periodic bursts or pulses.

Learn More About CW Lasers

CW Laser Diode Modules have built-in corrective optics; typically, single-mode modules deliver a circular, collimated output beam. The divergence angle depends on the collimating optics used. CW DPSS Laser Modules are highly directional with very low divergence. Only waves propagating along the optical axis can be sustained in the cavity, where the laser comes from, which causes the lower divergence. DPSS Laser Modules also have high monochromaticity, brightness, and coherence; all the emitted photons have the same energy, frequency, or wavelength. Hence, the light waves of a laser typically have a single wavelength or color and are highly coherent. Because of this coherence, a large amount of power can be concentrated in a small area.

Some CW wavelengths are achieved using Laser Diodes, and others are achieved using a CW Diode-Pumped Solid-State (DPSS) Laser. For example, CW Yellow Wavelengths are only available from our CW DPSS (or HeNe) products. Pulsed yellow wavelengths are available from our Q-TUNE pulsed tunable optical parametric oscillator or our Q-SHIFT shifted fundamental wavelength DPSS lasers. For some further reading on yellow wavelengths, see our blog on this topic: “How do DPSS Lasers Fill the ‘Yellow Gap’?“

Our CW Laser Products

RPMC Lasers offers a wide selection of Continuous-Wave (CW) Lasers and Diode Modules: Laser Diode (LD) Modules, DPSS Lasers, HeNe Gas Lasers, Fiber Lasers, Multi-Wavelength Combiners, and Custom Lasers. CW Lasers and Modules are available in the UV, Violet, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, NIR, SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR wavelength regimes. Available output powers range from 0.5mW up to 100W. These single-mode and multimode CW offerings are available with either free-space or fiber-coupled output. Furthermore, narrow linewidth or broadband output options are also available along with standard output. Finally, our laser package options range from simple laser diodes to modules to full turn-key systems.

Deeper Dive into CW Lasers

CW Applications

Our CW Lasers provide utility in the Life Science, Medical, and Industrial markets. Therefore, we support many applications, including our focused, CW applications. For example: Flow Cytometry, DNA Sequencing, Confocal & Fluorescence Microscopy, Optogenetics, Aesthetics, Dental, Photodynamic Therapy, Raman Spectroscopy, Interferometry, Machine Vision, Holography, Laser Pumping and Seeding, and many others.

CW Laser Versions

CW Modules typically have either a Plug-and-Play (benchtop / turn-key) version or an OEM version.

• Plug and Play versions typically include a fully CDRH compliant control box that includes the power supply and the safety features required for CDRH compliance.
• OEM versions typically include the laser without the power supply, heatsink, or the control box with CDRH required safety features.  OEM modules are intended to be installed or integrated into larger systems including the power supply, thermal management, and CDRH safety features.

CW Laser Modes 

The mode is primarily used to define the type of laser diodes used in the laser diode modules. Single-mode versus multimode laser module:

• Single-Mode Modules include the single-mode laser diode modules, both stabilized and un-stabilized, single-mode fiber lasers, and the DPSS Laser Modules. Single mode modules offer the best beam characteristics.
• Multimode Modules utilize a multimode laser diode which offers higher output power, but the beam (typically elliptical) characteristics are not as good. Multimode Green DPSS Lasers are also available.

Single-Mode Beam Profile

How To Select A CW Laser:

Welcome to RPMC’s ‘How To Select A Continuous Wavelength (CW) Laser’ page. At RPMC, we have a large selection of CW Lasers and Modules, and we are here to help you select the best one for your application.

CW Lasers and Modules are defined as: CW Output Have thermal management included Have an electrical interface for power and control included

This makes our CW Lasers and Modules some of the easiest lasers to define and use. Important things to note when selecting a laser are; what wavelength/color is needed, how much power is required, do you need single-mode vs multimode, is there a special need for narrow linewidth, or broadband, and what are your beam delivery requirements – free-space, or fiber-coupled output/delivery.

After reading this page, you should have a better understanding on how to select the best CW Laser for your specific needs. Let’s get started!

If you would like some assistance:

Contact Us here.

Laser Types:

There are many types of CW Lasers and Modules to choose from including Laser Diode Modules, DPSS Lasers, Gas Lasers, Fiber Lasers, and Wavelength Combiners. These “types” define the medium used to create the laser. In many cases, when selecting a CW Laser, the type of laser is primarily used to get the various wavelengths of interest. For example, there are no yellow laser diodes. Therefore, if you need a 561nm laser, the options are either DPSS Laser, or Gas Laser. If you want more information about the various types of lasers, click on the links below to read more about each type.

Wavelength:

One of the main specifications in defining a CW Laser for your application is the wavelength, or color needed. We offer Laser Modules from the Ultraviolet, through the visible spectrums, and into the IR spectrum. The wavelength is usually defined by the application.

Ultraviolet or UV Lasers:

UV CW Lasers offer extremely high photon energy that cannot be accomplished by visible and infrared lasers. We offer UV Lasers at 349nm – DPSS Lasers and 375nm – Laser Diodes.

Violet Lasers:

Violet or Purple CW Lasers: primarily 405nm Laser Diode Modules.

Blue Lasers:

Blue CW Lasers are available in either Laser Diode Modules or Gas Lasers.

Green Lasers:

Green CW Lasers are one of the most common wavelengths on the market, because lasers in the green spectrum are widely available from Laser Diodes, frequency-doubled DPSS Lasers, and Gas Lasers.

Yellow Lasers:

Yellow CW Lasers are one of the most difficult visible lasers to get, since there are no diode lasers available, but there are Yellow DPSS Lasers and Yellow Gas Lasers available.

Red Lasers:

Red CW Lasers are one of the most popular colors in the visible wavelength spectrum, because Laser Diodes are so widely available, but so are Red DPSS Lasers and Red Gas Lasers.

IR Lasers:

IR CW Lasers include Near Infrared (NIR), Short Wavelength Infrared (SWIR), Mid-Wavelength Infrared (MWIR), and Long-Wavelength Infrared (LWIR) Lasers. IR Lasers are perhaps the most diverse category of Solid-State Lasers; with IR Laser Diodes, Diode-Pumped Solid-State (DPSS) Lasers, Flashlamp Pumped Solid-State Lasers, and Fiber Lasers, all emitting in the NIR Laser spectrum. SWIR Lasers, MWIR Lasers, and LWIR Lasers are ideal for many applications in the Defense/Military markets and play an important role in telecom applications. To see all of the various IR Laser products we offer, check out these links:

•   NIR Lasers   •   SWIR Lasers   •   MWIR Lasers   •   LWIR Lasers   •

Output Power:

The output power from the laser of module is potentially one of the most important specifications when defining the laser. You need enough power for the application, but over specifying the output power can needlessly increase costs of the laser. Although, CW Lasers can usually be operated lower than the rated power without a change in performance.

Other Parameters:

Other parameters that need to be defined when selecting a CW Laser include:

Mode Type:

Single-Mode Lasers typically have higher beam quality and lower output power, and they are useful for applications like Raman Spectroscopy, Confocal Microscopy, and Interferometry. Multimode Lasers typically have higher output power and lower beam quality, and they are useful for applications like Fiber Laser Pumping, Laser Cladding, and Machine Vision.

Beam Output:

Beam output options include Free-Space (including Line Modules) and various Fiber-Coupled output options, including SM Fiber, MM Fiber, and PM Fiber. Essentially, the choice between Free-Space and Fiber-Coupled beam delivery comes down to what your beam delivery requirements are (how you plan to deliver the beam from the laser to the target/workpiece).

Linewidth Requirements:

Narrow Linewidth Lasers have a tightly controlled, narrow optical spectrum, allowing for a very precise, stabilized wavelength output, and they are useful for applications like Spectroscopy, Holography, and Interferometry. Broadband Lasers emit a very broad optical spectrum (10s or 100s of nanometers wide), and they are useful for various Telecom, Optical Coherence Tomography, and other applications.

How Can We Help?

RPMC Lasers is your CW Laser Supplier. Our technical staff has over 100 years of combined knowledge, a vast understanding of the laser industry, and hands-on technical experience, enabling them to find the best laser for their clients, whether a standard or custom configuration. 

With over 25 years experience matching the right laser source to your application, and our wide range of industry-leading CW laser options, the team at RPMC is prepared and eager to help you find the right solution!

If you have any questions, or if you would like some assistance please Contact Us here. Furthermore, you can email us at [email protected] to talk to a knowledgeable Product Manager.

Alternatively, use the filters on this page to assist in narrowing down the selection of CW lasers and laser diode modules for sale. Finally, head to our Knowledge Center with our Lasers 101 page and Blogs, Whitepapers, and FAQ pages for further, in-depth reading.

Check out our Online Store: This page contains In-Stock products and an ever-changing assortment of various types of new lasers at marked-down/discount prices.