Quantum-well lasers boost Australian photonics industry

17 Jun 2002

A new company has been launched, following the success of quantum-well laser research at the Australian National University. The company, Acton Laser, has already received substantial Australian and international orders for its first product, a 50 µm stripe width, 980nm laser geared towards the telecom market.

The company, run by Chennupati Jagadish and Jim Williams from the Department of Electronic Materials Engineering, has a range of photonics expertise, including the ability to make 1.8W tunable-wavelength semiconductor lasers, detectors, modulators and vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers.

"We have chosen 980nm lasers as a technology demonstrator in view of the large demand for pump lasers for erbium doped fiber amplifiers. Currently 980nm lasers have a market value of USD 300 million and demand for these lasers is growing at a rate of 50% per annum or higher," said Jagadish. The company says that its lasers have the potential to make telecommunications faster and more efficient. Product pricing has not yet been decided but the company says that it will be very competitive.

Acton Laser has already attracted commercial investments of more than USD 50 million from Australian and overseas investors. The company is the country's first semiconductor production laboratory of its kind and will focus on manufacturing within Australia, providing both jobs and export dollars. The company believes that this will open up new markets for Australian high-tech business.