Coherent unveiled new single- and dual-chip 980 nm uncooled micro-pump lasers delivering up to 700 mW per fiber output in a compact 3-pin module package, targeting next-generation coherent transmission systems and ultra-high-density optical amplifier designs. The devices support emerging scale-across network architectures used in AI infrastructure, cloud connectivity, and high-capacity transport networks where power efficiency and physical density are critical.
The new micro-pump lasers operate with less than 3 W of power consumption per fiber while maintaining stable performance across temperatures ranging from −20°C to 85°C (−4°F to 185°F). By eliminating the need for active cooling, the devices allow equipment vendors to design more compact amplifier systems while reducing power consumption and thermal management complexity. Coherent said the lasers are designed to support multi-rail optical amplifiers used in dense coherent transport and data center interconnect (DCI) applications.
The company said the devices extend its long-running portfolio of uncooled pump lasers, which began with its first products in 2004 and expanded with the introduction of its micro-pump platform in 2017. Samples of the new devices are available now, with volume production expected in Q2 2026. Coherent will demonstrate the technology at OFC 2026 in Los Angeles.
• New single- and dual-chip 980 nm uncooled micro-pump lasers
• Up to 700 mW optical output power per fiber
• Less than 3 W electrical power consumption per fiber
• Operating temperature range: −20°C to 85°C (−4°F to 185°F)
• Compact 3-pin module package designed for space-constrained systems
• Targets coherent transport, DCI, and AI-driven optical networks
• Supports high-density multi-rail optical amplifier architectures
• Sampling available now; volume production expected in Q2 2026
“Coherent has led the uncooled pump laser market for more than two decades, beginning with our first uncooled pump lasers in 2004 and our ultra-compact micro-pump platform in 2017,” said Madhu Krishnaswamy, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Telecom Transport Business Unit at Coherent. “Our latest high-power uncooled micro-pump lasers extend that legacy of innovation and enable customers to achieve density and performance levels that were previously unattainable in compact amplifier designs for the demanding DCI application.”
🌐 Analysis
The announcement reflects growing pressure on optical transport systems to deliver higher capacity with improved energy efficiency as AI infrastructure expands. High-density coherent optics and multi-rail amplifier architectures are becoming essential in scale-across networks that interconnect large GPU clusters and distributed AI data centers. Uncooled pump lasers reduce both system complexity and power overhead, which becomes increasingly important as network operators deploy more amplifiers across long-haul and metro optical paths.
Coherent has steadily expanded its telecom component portfolio alongside other photonics suppliers such as Lumentum, II-VI/Coherent, and Broadcom that support high-capacity coherent optics and optical transport systems. With AI workloads driving rapid growth in inter-data-center connectivity and backbone transport capacity, improvements in amplifier efficiency and density are becoming key enablers for next-generation optical infrastructure.
