Coherent Unveils All Solid-State Blue Laser

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 16 -- Coherent Inc. has unveiled the world's first commercial solid-state 460nm blue laser. Sharing an identical product platform as Coherent's prior sapphire products, the new sapphire 460-10 is the company's third in a series of products incorporating its new optically pumped semiconductor laser (OPSL) technology. In conventional Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) emission is driven by electrical current. OPSL technology uses optical (photon) energy to drive laser emission. Optical pumping allows higher power than that achieved with electrical pumping.
Bernard Couillaud, Coherent's president and CEO commented, "Significant market opportunities have been created whereby prior to this technology only limited solutions were available. The OPSL platform totally changes the equation. In addition to a very small and efficient package, the Sapphire technology enables our customers to choose whatever pre-determined wavelengths they need for their particular application. The choice of wavelength is achieved by varying the growth of the OPSL's semiconductor material (which is changed inside a common platform). This engineering breakthrough is the direct result of the joint efforts and cooperation among our employees in Finland, Germany and the United States."