BluGlass demonstrates ‘record’ single-mode GaN laser

12 Mar 2025

1250 mW of single-spatial mode power from a chip is highest output from one emitter, says Sydney firm.

A 67% improvement from the previously reported 750 mW SM performance.

BluGlass, a Sydney, Australia-based developer of visible wavelength lasers for the quantum, defence, and biotech markets, has demonstrated what it calls “world-record performance” of its single-mode gallium nitride (GaN) lasers, achieving 1250 mW of power from a single laser chip, while maintaining single-spatial mode.

The company stated, “This is the highest known published result available, both commercially and in academia, based on literature searches conducted by the University California, Santa Barbara and BluGlass.”

This performance was enabled by combining a blue (450 nm) single-mode laser master oscillator with an integrated power amplifier in a single monolithic chip (SM-MOPA). The performance enhances BluGlass’s previously-reported 750 mW single-mode performance by more than 67%, as published at Photonics West in January 2025.

Multiple potential applications

BluGlass’s high-power single-mode MOPA combines the benefits of a single-mode laser, and small form factor advantages for high-precision applications in defense and aviation, quantum sensing and navigation, space and satellite communications, and underwater lidar.

CEO Jim Haden said, “Most high-powered visible lasers sacrifice beam quality and precision to achieve more power in larger form factors. Our advanced integration capabilities will enable industry to pioneer innovations by increasing power without sacrificing precision and beam stability. We achieved these world-leading results by combining our blue single-mode laser with a power amplifier that boosts the laser’s power with minimal beam distortion or increase in noise.

“Single-mode GaN lasers are highly sought after for their high-precision and high-fidelity, despite being challenging to manufacture at high powers. The advantage of the monolithic chip design is significant, in that we can manufacture high-fidelity power and performance at the wafer level, drastically improving size, weight and cost for defence applications, and eliminating several downstream packaging steps,” he said.

BluGlass’s announcement added that it has now more than quadrupled the power output of its distributed feedback (DFB) family of devices from the 100 mW range to 450 mW, since its Photonics West paper, published in January. The 450mW DFB performance while maintaining near single-frequency output and high side-mode suppression for enhanced signal-to-noise ratio, was achieved by combining a blue (450nm) single-mode DFB laser with an integrated master oscillator power amplifier, in a single monolithic chip (DFB-MOPA).

The company’s GaN DFBs are being designed for wafer-scale fabrication to reduce downstream optical complexity and cost, at the same time as addressing critical challenges in quantum technologies and computing while enabling greater production volume and smaller device sizes.

Haden added, “Our strategic focus on scaling power at high fidelity for the precision market that led to this world-record single mode visible power and the quadrupling of power in our narrow linewidth lasers is a direct response to market demand. Our ability to satisfy unmet market needs is why BluGlass continues to be selected as partner of choice by industry leaders, including the US Department of Defense’s Microelectronics Commons.”