Oclaro is to push the cost and performance of high-power laser diodes to new levels in a bid to secure a position as the leading merchant supplier of pump devices for the fast-growing fiber laser sector. The high-end active component maker is aiming to drive the merchant price of high-power single emitters to below $10 per watt, from the current level of between $12 and $15. According to Michael Atchley, senior manager for product marketing at the firm, that can be done largely through a combination of new chip designs for brighter and more efficient operation, and by reducing the size of emitter packages by 20%.