Wednesday, January 09, 2008

[The Chosun Ilbo, January 9 2008] Korea Develops Next-Generation Laser Light

A next-generation source of laser light has been developed in Korea. A team led by Prof. Kwon O-dae of the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) said Tuesday it has developed the world’s first blue laser light source, which uses a semiconductor like light-emitting diodes (LED) but consumes less electricity and emits light faster.

The LED semiconductor diode already performs 10 times better than incandescent light and lasts semi-permanently, being widely tipped as a next-generation light source. The blue laser light differs from LED in that it releases what is called “coherent light.”

“We attached donut-shaped tiny mirrors on the surface of the semiconductor, which means the laser light is emitted in a spiral way, spreading three-dimensionally,” Prof. Kwon said. “It not only emits light hundreds to thousands of times faster than LED when electric currents are applied but also consumes much less power.”

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