OSRAM wins Beckurts Prize for direct green emitting laser

Scientists from OSRAM Opto Semiconductors have received the Karl Heinz Beckurts Prize for their pioneering research in direct green semiconductor lasers. The new laser was commended for its unlimited depth of sharpness and extremely high resolution, which was said to go beyond that of LED solutions.

Representing the entire research team, Désirée Queren, Stephan Lutgen and Adrian Avramescu accepted the award for their 'outstanding scientific and technical achievements'. According to Osram, the laser diodes enable production of low cost, compact and efficient pico projectors, which can be incorporated in mobile devices such as smartphones and digital cameras. The low spectral bandwidth of the semiconductor laser is said to enable a lifelike display of colours as well as 'razor sharp' contrasts. Based on the findings for the blue laser in the InGaN material system, the team managed to break through the barrier to green from a wavelength of 500nm. In 2009 they took over the technological leadership in direct green laser diodes of >515nm with optical outputs of more than 50mW.