English

The world's first tunable wavelength blue semiconductor laser

1739
2024-11-23 11:06:56
See translation

Recently, researchers from Osaka University in Japan have developed the world's first compact, wavelength tunable blue semiconductor laser in a new study. This breakthrough paves the way for far ultraviolet light technology and brings enormous potential for applications such as virus inactivation and bacterial disinfection. The research results have been published in the journal Applied Physics Letters.

 



Figure 1 (a) Schematic diagram of a tunable single-mode laser with periodic slotted structure; (b) Cross sectional side view of slotted channel. Source: Taisei Kusui, Takumi Wada, Naritoshi Matsushita et al., "Continuous wave operation of InGaN tunable single mode laser with periodically slotted structure", Applied Physics Express (2024)

Researchers from Osaka University in Japan have previously demonstrated that a transverse quasi phase matching device made of aluminum nitride and a vertical microcavity wavelength conversion device containing SrB4O7 nonlinear optical crystals can generate far ultraviolet second harmonic (SHG) at wavelengths below 230 nm.

Usually, these advanced devices require large and expensive ultra short pulse lasers as excitation sources. However, achieving practical far ultraviolet light sources requires a blue semiconductor laser with a wavelength of approximately 460 nm.

Blue nitride semiconductor lasers were originally designed for blue light technology and have now expanded to the processing of metal materials such as copper and gold, with the potential to be applied in the next generation of laser display technology. However, the oscillation wavelengths of these blue light lasers are usually multiple.

Efficient wavelength conversion devices have a very narrow wavelength receiving bandwidth, making single wavelength lasers an ideal excitation source. In addition, precise wavelength control and adjustability are also essential. Although several single wavelength blue light lasers with coarse periodic structures have been reported, none of them can achieve tunable wavelength control.

Our tunable wavelength nitride semiconductor laser oscillates in the 405 nm wavelength band, but its structure can also be easily adjusted to 460 nm, "explained Kusui Taisei, the lead author of the research team." Combined with our new wavelength conversion device, this laser can create a compact and practical far ultraviolet light source suitable for continuous use in indoor environments, effectively sterilizing and disinfecting.

With its compact design and longer lifespan, this technology can be seamlessly integrated into household appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners, providing healthier and safer living conditions for the home environment and bringing extensive benefits to public health.

Source: Yangtze River Delta Laser Alliance

Related Recommendations
  • Multinational research team achieves breakthrough in diamond Raman laser oscillator

    Recently, the team led by Professor Lv Zhiwei and Professor Bai Zhenxu from Hebei University of Technology, in collaboration with Professor Richard Mildren from Macquarie University in Australia and Professor Takashige Omatsu from Chiba University in Japan, successfully achieved direct output of Raman vortex optical rotation with large wavelength extension in a diamond Raman laser oscillator. This...

    02-27
    See translation
  • Xi'an Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics: New progress in large field two-photon scattering microscopy imaging technology

    Adaptive optics is a technique that improves imaging quality by correcting wavefront distortion. Interference focus sensing (IFS), as a new method proposed in the field of adaptive optics in recent years, has been proven to have significant effects in correcting complex aberrations in deep tissue imaging. This technology is based on measuring a single location within the sample to determine the ca...

    04-15
    See translation
  • Amazemet uses Siemens Xcelerator software for scaling metal 3D printing

    Polish metal 3D printing company Amazemet uses the Xcelerator software combination from industrial manufacturing company Siemens.The spin off company of Warsaw University of Technology is using Siemens workflow management software to develop its metal powder atomizer and 3D printing post-processing equipment.Amazemet was founded in 2016, and its ultrasonic atomization device is capable of producin...

    2024-04-18
    See translation
  • Laser induced 2D material modification: from atomic scale to electronic scale

    Background IntroductionTwo dimensional materials have attracted widespread attention due to their atomic level thickness and unique properties, such as high binding energy, tunable bandgap, and new electronic degrees of freedom (valley electronics). They have many application prospects in fields such as microelectronics, nanophotonics, and nanoenergy. Various two-dimensional materials have their o...

    2024-02-23
    See translation
  • Eurotech launches BestNet fiber rack mounting housing

    Fiber optic solution provider Eurotech announced the launch of a series of fiber optic rack mounting enclosures. The BestNet 19 inch top opening fiber optic interconnect unit is a fiber optic patch panel and cabinet, ideal for wiring, terminating, and managing fiber optic terminations, suitable for interconnect, cross connect, or splice applications in LAN environments. Modular fiber optic interco...

    2024-05-16
    See translation