Will direct green diodes kill DPSS green pointers?

Direction-injection green diodes are still expensive ($300+ a pop) but that isn't going to last. Eventually they will be perfected and will likely replace DPSS green lasers for projection purposes.

But will they replace DPSS pointers to the point that DPSS pointers are hard to obtain, sort of like orange and yellow HeNe's disappearing? I hope they don't, because (assuming green diodes stay near 520nm) the colors are distinctive, and it would be a shame to lose the 532nm color as well as the DPSS beam profile. Maybe diodes will be developed to emit 532nm, but they won't be the same as DPSS.

What do you all think?

I don't think the DPSS 532nm green will ever die out. It cost almost nothing to make them.
The 520nm diodes just started to pop up. It will take years to catch up and even then I don't think they will be cheaper than a $4 532nm green.

Look at the prices of the current laser diodes. They are still way up compare to the complete green pen.

There's always going to be a market for the bettter beam specs the DPSS greenies have, and for the cost it takes to build the DPSS pointers the diodes would need to be about $.50 each for an evenly priced replacement. I think they'll stay around for quite some time.
As far as I know about the orange HeNes, not many were produced as they're impractical and there's still a place selling them for about $1k

When 445nm came out 473nm was still produced. Also in this case the 5$ ebay pens still use 532nm, and those would be expensive to use a 50$ diode in, so no I don't think 532nm will go away.

Marco Polo said:

Direction-injection green diodes are still expensive ($300+ a pop) but that isn't going to last. Eventually they will be perfected and will likely replace DPSS green lasers for projection purposes.

But will they replace DPSS pointers to the point that DPSS pointers are hard to obtain, sort of like orange and yellow HeNe's disappearing? I hope they don't, because (assuming green diodes stay near 520nm) the colors are distinctive, and it would be a shame to lose the 532nm color as well as the DPSS beam profile. Maybe diodes will be developed to emit 532nm, but they won't be the same as DPSS.

What do you all think?

Click to expand...

This is close to 532nm
http://laserpointerforums.com/f45/green-laser-diode-emits-536-nm-79993.html

The price of the diode will eventually fall to it's materials cost as mass production takes over and R&D costs are recuperated. Diode+lens will inevitably become cheaper than diode+Nd:YVO4+KTP+lens+lens.

How many years from now are we talking? I'm sure there will still be DPSS greens around in 10 years or so, but in 100 years, no.

Grix said:

How many years from now are we talking? I'm sure there will still be DPSS greens around in 10 years or so, but in 100 years, no.

Click to expand...

I agree and predict in 100y we will have "dial a wavelength" pointers!

I think not.. DPSS process gives a better beam.

laserdog said:

I think not.. DPSS process gives a better beam.

Click to expand...

The beam from the multimode green diodes can easily be corrected.
The single mode green diodes arguably have a better beam because it may be fat, but the divergence is tiny

For handheld applications it will be easier to get higher powers with a better beam using DPSS.

pschlosser said:

I agree and predict in 100y we will have "dial a wavelength" pointers!

Click to expand...

Dial a wavelength... now that sounds like something I want :san:
Just as a proof-of-concept (or just a theoretically), how do you think this would work? temperature shifts or other ways, or just PWMing RGB diodes?
If it were the PWM way, it would defeat the point of wavelength, since for example "yellow" would not be an actual wavelength, but just a mix.
I'm still betting on a real way to achieve any real visible wavelength.
btw, anyone got any idea if/how the 593.5nm DPSS yellow will become a direct diode, or a similar wavelength (sorta like direct green diodes now)?

I have this debate all the time in LED forums where flashlight geeks are living under the delusion that Cree and Philips have entire divisions devoted towards making better flashlights. I get the same feeling in this thread that laser diode technology is driven by the pointer industry, or somebody thinks it does.

The wholesale availability of pointer capable diodes that don't cost a fortune has always been the net result of spin-off of OTHER laser applications. Most notably 650nm diodes from disk burners and 445nm diodes from video projectors. Had it not been for those two industries competiting for razor thin profit margins and constant consumer upgrades 650nm and 445nm diodes would only be talked about in research labs. They sure as heck woulnd't be available for under $50 on Ebay for laser pointer enthusiasts.

532nm still seems to be problem child for the simple fact that obtaining DPSS greens in the same performance and consistency as 445 and 650 / 638nm costs astronomically more than either. Seriously....show me a source of DPSS greens that have the same legitimate out-put as 445 and 650/638 with the same production consistency for the same price range and I'll show you an honest politician.

Yes, 532nm is prettier than 520. If the 520nm however has an application in the electronics industry like 650nm and 445nm then it will quickly be available for pretty cheap. The fact pointer enthusiasts may prefer 532 doesn't drive anything.