AMPED: Area-Multiplied Photonic-crystal Enhanced Devices

Summary

The Area-Multiplied Photonic-crystal Enhanced Devices (AMPED) program aims to establish a new class of high-power semiconductor lasers. Current single-mode lasers face a fundamental tradeoff: Increasing power degrades beam quality, as unwanted modes emerge when devices are scaled. With existing approaches reaching diminishing returns, a new architecture is needed.

AMPED will pursue that shift by combining novel photonic structures with advanced materials and device designs to increase laser power while maintaining beam quality. The program aims to lay the groundwork for compact, efficient, and manufacturable laser technologies that can be widely deployed for Department of War applications.