Successfully Developed World-Class 2.0 kW Laser Diode Bar

Leveraging our proprietary high-output power laser diode (LD) technologies along with newly adopted manufacturing processes, we have successfully achieved world-class quasi-continuous wave^*1 output of 2.0 kW from a 1 cm-wide LD bar at room temperature.

This achievement is expected to expand applications of high-power lasers, including industrial laser processing equipment and pump sources for solid-state lasers, as well as enable future deployment in advanced fields requiring high-energy light sources.

This work was conducted under a project commissioned by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) as part of its “NEDO Feasibility Study Program / Frontier Incubation Program.” The results are scheduled to be presented at the 30th International Semiconductor Laser Conference 2026, held in Tampere, Finland, starting June 14, 2026, in the session “Workshop Session 1: Advances in Semiconductor Laser Industry.”

^*1 Quasi-continuous wave (QCW): A mode of operation in which light is emitted in relatively long pulse width such as >100 µs at high repetition rates, exhibiting characteristics intermediate between continuous-wave and ns pulsed operation.

Overview
An LD bar is a light-emitting device formed by arranging multiple LD emitters in an array. Together with stacked configurations known as LD bar stacks, these devices are widely used in industrial applications such as laser processing. In particular, since a large number of LD bars are required for pumping high-power and high-energy solid-state lasers, there is a strong demand for higher output power from individual LD bars.

High-output power LDs are expected not only to enable more compact and energy-efficient laser systems for conventional material processing, but also to contribute to advancements in manufacturing processes for products in advanced fields requiring high-energy light sources, as well as to expand applications in areas such as space and advanced scientific research.

We have been working to increase the output power of LD bars by optimizing crystal structures, device designs, crystal growth techniques, and assembly technologies. In addition, through commissioned research under the FY2025 NEDO Feasibility Study Program / Frontier Incubation Program, we have advanced facet treatment technologies to suppress degradation at the LD facets. As a result, we achieved a peak output of 2.0 kW under quasi-continuous wave (QCW) operation at room temperature from a 1 cm-wide single-junction^*2 LD bar.

To the best of our knowledge, this exceeds the previous record of 1.9 kW at room temperature reported by a German research institute in 2022, representing a world-record level achievement. Going forward, we will build on this result and accelerate R&D of multi-junction^*3 LD bars to achieve even higher output power.

^*2 Single-junction: A structure with a single semiconductor PN junction that serves as the active region for light emission.

^*3 Multi-junction: A structure in which multiple semiconductor PN junctions are stacked, enabling higher optical output.

Measurement Conditions

• LD bar width: 1 cm
• Structure: Single-junction
• Wavelength: Approximately 940 nm
• Operation mode: Quasi-continuous wave (QCW)
• Pulse: 200 μs / 10 Hz
• Temperature: Cooling water temperature 18 °C (room temperature)

NEDO Feasibility Study Program / Frontier Incubation Program
Under the Frontier Incubation Program, research areas that are considered highly important for future industrial development but are difficult for private companies to pursue independently due to their high risks are defined as “frontier areas.”

Within this framework, the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) has commissioned our company to conduct research and development on extreme materials (power lasers) under the NEDO Feasibility Study Program / Frontier Incubation Program. This achievement was obtained as part of this project.

Through this research, we aim to achieve extreme power scaling of laser diodes (LDs) and contribute to the creation of new industries based on power lasers by 2040. In parallel, we will explore new applications throughout the process and pursue early commercialization.