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Finally, a True Green Laser

Posted by timothy on from the greenwashing-is-everywhere dept.

dusty writes "Remember those green lasers from Star Wars? Turns out that faking green lasers has been easy for years, but making true green laser diodes has been the stuff of science fiction. Until recently, that is. Now researchers from Japan have created the world's first true green laser diode. Until now, only red and blue laser diodes were available, and now with the addition of green, new TVs and projectors that are more efficient can be produced. And if you were wondering how green lasers pointers are already produced, it is a hack that involved doubling the frequency of an infrared laser. The new true green laser diodes have much higher efficiency than the current 6%, leading many to expect big time laser display breakthroughs in the near future. Ars Technica has a well-written article on this breakthrough."

16 of 274 comments (clear)

  1. sweet! by gEvil+(beta) · · Score: 5, Funny

    I can't wait to get my new RGB Laser TV(TM)! Finally all those myths about how you'll go blind from staring at the TV will be reality!

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    This guy's the limit!
    1. Re:sweet! by Jurily · · Score: 5, Funny

      I can't wait to get my new RGB Laser TV(TM)! Finally all those myths about how you'll go blind from staring at the TV will be reality!

      Warning: don't watch TV with remaining eye.

  2. This means green jobs by Teresita · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm sure Al Gore is thrilled with this news of green laser technology.

  3. Re:Robustness, too! by kusanagi374 · · Score: 5, Funny

    A laser diode is much more robust than a laser diode

     

    *head explodes*

  4. Re:Robustness, too! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    A laser diode is much more robust than a laser diode and the frequency-doubling package of nonlinear crystals.

    How waterproof are they? I've a few military applications regarding applying said diodes to a member of the selachimorpha order. Attached between it's snout and first dorsal fin would be the ideal configuration.

  5. What Headline/Summary Nonsense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Firstly, I really don't see how the solid state lasers using frequency doubling are "fake" lasers.

    Even so, outside the realm of small laser pointers, there are such a thing as gas lasers and they can produce a true green emission.

    The possible breakthrough is the production of more efficient semiconductor lasers that emit in the green range, not the production of the first "True Green Laser".

    Yeah, this is Slashdot...Whatever

    1. Re:What Headline/Summary Nonsense by wigaloo · · Score: 5, Informative

      Let me add to what you have said: Green beams can be obtained from solid-state infrared lasers (e.g., Nd:YAG) by using KTP or KDP crystals, which combine two photons into one (!) with twice the energy/frequency. The resulting beam is collimated and coherent - i.e., the same as the original and any other laser beam. The technique was first demonstrated in 1961, predating this new discovery by almost half a century. Green laser diodes are most definitely interesting and useful, but to suggest that the green lasers from before were "fake" is incorrect. The new part here is having green as the fundamental frequency from a solid-state laser.

  6. Re:Robustness, too! by Mr.+Underbridge · · Score: 5, Informative

    *head explodes*

    "A laser diode is much more robust than (a laser diode and the frequency-doubling package of nonlinear crystals).

  7. Re:Robustness, too! by Allicorn · · Score: 5, Funny

    (laser diode).robustness > ( (laser diode)+(frequency-doubling package of nonlinear crystals) ).robustness

    Better?

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    OMG!!! Ponies!!!
  8. True green laser? by actionbastard · · Score: 5, Informative

    Title should read "True green laser diode". 'Green' laser output has been achievable for for more than three decades with Argon ion, Krypton ion, and Copper vapor lasers. This just makes it more 'convenient' to achieve green output.

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    Sig this!
  9. Re:Robustness, too! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    expected ;

  10. Re:Lasers? Star Wars? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hate to break it to you. They were props.

  11. Re:Robustness, too! by dmbasso · · Score: 5, Funny

    it was Python, you insensitive clod!

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    `echo $[0x853204FA81]|tr 0-9 ionbsdeaml`@gmail.com
  12. Re:Robustness, too! by noundi · · Score: 5, Funny

    Do it yourself, it's open source.

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    I am the lawn!
  13. Re:Robustness, too! by gparent · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's not illiteracy, it's attention deficit. Why read the whole sentence when you can just read

    *head explodes*

  14. Re:Robustness, too! by Joe+Snipe · · Score: 5, Funny

    *head

    *head explodes*

    *head explodes*
    *head explodes*
    *head explodes*

    ok seriously, you guys? Can we?

    You make my head explode every time you talk to me.
    And when your commenting, its like a lobotomy.
    You think that I am dumb, wont you just explain to me?
    I need a dictionary or car analogy.

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    Sometimes, life itself is sarcasm...