Next50
Semiconductor lasers are used for reading and writing DVDs and CDs and are incorporated in a wide range of devices. With conventional semiconductor lasers, the emitted beam can only be oval in shape, and it has not been possible to alter this shape.
After developing a completely new semiconductor laser, ROHM has focused on a photonic crystal that can freely control light permeation with its nano structure. Through joint research with Kyoto University, ROHM has successfully developed the world’s first semiconductor laser that can be made to freely emit various beam shapes. This achievement was published in Nature, the prestigious British scientific journal.
One unique feature of this photonic crystal laser is the flat light it emits. This feature achieves the high-capacity laser output that used to be impossible with conventional semiconductor lasers and expands the scope of application.
Since the beam shape of a photonic crystal laser can be freely controlled, it is expected to be applied to an increasing variety of optical systems. A unique example is the application of “optical tweezers” through which a donut-shaped beam can actually catch and control fine particles optically. These “optical tweezers” are very likely to be applied to research and experiments in bioscience and many other fields.
Taking advantage of the photonic laser’s high-capacity light emission opens the door to the processing of various materials. In the future, it will be possible to make holes in resins. Further increases in output may make it possible to process metals as well.
Laser radar is expected to be used in systems that support safer driving. The use of a high-output photonic crystal laser enables objects to be detected at a distance of several kilometers. This innovation is also expected to be applied to key life-saving devices.
