Publication | Open Access
The potential of III‐nitride laser diodes for solid‐state lighting
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2014
Year
EngineeringLaser ApplicationsLaser MaterialHigh-power LasersSemiconductor LasersLight-emitting DiodesPhotonicsElectrical EngineeringLaser DiodesIii‐nitride Laser DiodesNew Lighting TechnologyLaser CompositionBlue LdLaser ClassificationWhite OledSolid-state LightingBlue LedsApplied PhysicsOptoelectronics
Blue laser diodes achieve higher efficiencies than blue LEDs at high input power densities. The study explores the potential of III‑nitride laser diodes for solid‑state lighting. Laser diodes avoid efficiency loss at high currents because stimulated emission eliminates the processes that degrade LED efficiency. Efficiency projections indicate blue LDs could match blue LED efficiency and lumen output at higher input powers, suggesting that blue‑LD‑pumped phosphor white sources may become competitive SSL options. © 2014 WILEY‑VCH Verlag GmbH & Co.
Abstract The potential of III‐nitride based laser diodes (LDs) for solid‐state lighting (SSL) is discussed. State‐of‐the‐art blue LDs have higher efficiencies at high input power densities when compared to blue light‐emitting diodes (LEDs). This is because the processes that cause the drop in efficiency at high currents for LEDs are not present in the LD operated under stimulated emission. Projections of efficiency improvement show blue LDs have the potential to be nearly as efficient as blue LEDs and provide similar lumen output at much higher input powers. This result provides the possibility that white sources created from blue LD pumped phosphors could someday become a competitive and viable SSL source. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)