2. Applications

The applications requiring the use of lasers are countless and continue to grow, replacing older technologies or offering new, innovative solutions. Among the wide variety of laser technologies available, laser diodes offer numerous advantages that explain their widespread adoption. The purpose of this section is not to provide an exhaustive list of applications involving the use of laser diodes, but to highlight the fields in which laser diodes are predominantly used as the laser technology of choice.

From a technical standpoint, laser diodes are distinguished first and foremost by their remarkable compactness, which facilitates their integration into portable or embedded systems. Their energy efficiency is another major advantage, with an electrical-to-optical power conversion efficiency of around 40 to 50%, which is higher than that of most other laser technologies....