Some LightNOW readers are likely familiar with the existing white light laser approach of a blue laser diode (LD) pumping a phosphor to make safe, high intensity, white light. The challenges with blue LD + phosphor are: low CRI for phosphors that can withstand the intensity and heat, only high CCTs for these phosphors, and much higher cost per kilo-lumen than LEDs.

There are other approaches to white laser light being researched, however. One promising technology is white random lasers (White-RL). Rather than using mirrored surfaces inside a diode to create gain, White-RLs use multiple light scattering in disordered materials to achieve gain and white light emissions. White-RLs achieve laser emission that is spatially incoherent (safe light).

Overall, White-RL promise the combined advantages of:

• Simple, low-cost ink jet printing fabrication process using organic laser dyes
• High spectral radiance
• Angle-free emission, safe, incoherent, speckle-free, white light
• Printable onto curved surfaces.

Expected applications for White-RLs are high brightness illumination, imaging, full-color displays, LiFi, and medical biosensing. For academic papers on White-RL, click here and here. I have not yet found any companies manufacturing White-RL yet, but academic research on them appears to be increasing. Do you have information to share on the commercialization of White-RL? Please comment below.

Image: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-21228-w

David Shiller

David Shiller is the Publisher of LightNOW, and President of Lighting Solution Development, a North American consulting firm providing business development services to advanced lighting manufacturers. The ALA awarded David the Pillar of the Industry Award. David has co-chaired ALA’s Engineering Committee since 2010. David established MaxLite’s OEM component sales into a multi-million dollar division. He invented GU24 lamps while leading ENERGY STAR lighting programs for the US EPA. David has been published in leading lighting publications, including LD+A, enLIGHTenment Magazine, LEDs Magazine, and more.

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