BluGlass achieves gallium nitride laser world record result

ASX-listed compound semiconductor developer and maker BluGlass has announced what it says is a world record for power produced by a single-mode gallium nitride (GaN) laser.

In a statement on Tuesday, the company said the result of 1250 milliwatts was a more than 67 per cent improvement on its previously reported 750 milliwatt single-mode performance, and was the “highest known published result available, both commercially and in academia” for such a laser. Its previous result was demonstrated in January at the Photonics West event.

According to BluGlass, the record result was achieved “by combining a blue (450nm) single-mode laser master oscillator with an integrated power amplifier in a single monolithic chip (SM-MOPA).”

It added that the breakthrough would offer “crucial benefits” in applications requiring precise and stable performance – such as defence, aviation, quantum sensing, and underwater LiDAR – and combines the benefits of a single-mode laser with small form factor advantages, delivering “a high-brightness, high-power laser.” 

“Most high-powered visible lasers sacrifice beam quality and precision to achieve more power in larger form factors. Our advanced integration capabilities will enable industry to pioneer innovations by increasing power without sacrificing precision and beam stability,” said BluGlass CEO Jim Haden.

“Single-mode GaN lasers are highly sought after for their high-precision and high-fidelity, despite being challenging to manufacture at high powers. The advantage of the monolithic chip design is significant, in that we can manufacture high-fidelity power and performance at the wafer level, drastically improving size, weight and cost for defence applications, and eliminating several downstream packaging steps. Our expertise in  manufacturing these intricate lasers is one of BluGlass’ key competitive advantages.”  

BluGlass specialises in GaN compound semiconductors made using its proprietary remote plasma chemical vapor deposition (RPCVD) technology. It has a headquarters in Silverwater, NSW, with US facilities in Nashua, New Hampshire and Fremont, California.

The statement also mentioned a “more than quadrupled” power output of BluGlass’s distributed feedback (DFB) family of devices  from the 100 milliwatt range to 450 milliwatt since January.

Picture: credit BluGlass

Further reading

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BluGlass secures $2.9 million sub-contract through US microelectronics hub