Do you think the Laser Community will be seeing new wavelength's soon?

[NightExplorer96]

Hey all,

As I looked back over the last 10 years it seems that many new wavelengths have been introduced. But one question which interests me and sparks my curiosity is, will we start to see more exotic wavelength's soon? If so, how long will it be? How much will the cost?

So far the wavelengths that available are pretty diverse and someone is sure to find the color they love(if they have the $$$ of course ), but how cool would it be to have a handheld 570nm? Or even a handheld 600nm?

So now I ask you, the experts of the lasering world. How long should we all wait?

 

[Zeebit]

Exotic wavelength diodes already exist but since there is no demand for these the prices will not go down.

 

[ARG]

We will start to see more 473nm and 488nm diodes I think.

 

[NightExplorer96]

We will start to see more 473nm and 488nm diodes I think.

I don't think they will go down in price as Zeebit mentioned

Weren't 473nm mostly used in projections before another wavelength replaced them? I can't remember it exactly but I am positive a cheaper, more efficient process was used.

 

[ZRaffleticket]

604nm or 607nm solid state is gonna be the closest ~600nm wavelength we'll see at least somebody get their hands on.

Dunno if we'd see those in diode form. For 488nm, diodes would need a pretty narrow wavelength tolerance... For 473, practicality is an issue. Maybe 488nm DPSS might go down.

I... don't see OPSL going handheld yet. So 565-585nm range won't be touched...

 

[CheeseHasLeafs]

I saw somewhere that Nichia had announced a 475nm diode. But I can't remember where that was and I have no idea if it was reputable.

 

[NightExplorer96]

I saw somewhere that Nichia had announced a 475nm diode. But I can't remember where that was and I have no idea if it was reputable.

Wow...475nm. I *personally* don't think it would have much success since the color is almost identical to 473nm, and more than likely would probably take a nice chunk of $$$ out of somebody's wallet, while a 473nm diode will be available for much less.
But then again, it would be amazing to own

473nm
475nm

 

[KapHn8d]

The wavelengths are out there if your wallet is fat enough. : /

I'd be happy if we saw a general decrease in price across the board for the stuff that is fairly accessible now. I mean, lasers should be scattered around your house like Chiclets imho.

 

[NightExplorer96]

The wavelengths are out there if your wallet is fat enough. : /

I'd be happy if we saw a general decrease in price across the board for the stuff that is fairly accessible now. I mean, lasers should be scattered around your house like Chiclets imho.

Only time will tell

Let's hope for the best!!

 

[ARG]

I don't think they will go down in price as Zeebit mentioned

Well we saw some 473nm's recently for $350, that's quite a drop from their $5k value

 

[NightExplorer96]

Well we saw some 473nm's recently for $350, that's quite a drop from their $5k value

I was trying to say we most likely won't see such dramatic price drops :evil:

 

[CheeseHasLeafs]

Wow...475nm. I *personally* don't think it would have much success since the color is almost identical to 473nm, and more than likely would probably take a nice chunk of $$$ out of somebody's wallet, while a 473nm diode will be available for much less.
But then again, it would be amazing to own

473nm
475nm

Do you really think so? A direct diode version has a few good advantages. Less temperature sensitive, more efficient, smaller, cheaper. More than a few, in fact.

EDIT: 473nm lasers are DPSS ( I apologize if you already knew this, you having a 473nm and all). I really doubt that a '473nm diode' would be available for 'much less'. Perhaps when the 475nm is just introduced, but prices will go down quickly if there is demand (which there possibly will be, in projectors). Not to mention, the LBO crystal in 473nm lasers is really quite finicky and I'd say that the simple fact that a direct diode would be that much more stable will be a significant factor in the adoption of a possible 475nm diode.

Speculation, of course, like I said, I'm not even sure if the 475nm diode was really announced or is in development.

Another edit!: Spec sheet I found for it. It's a multimode at 1W. Wavelength isn't 475nm exactly, it's actually 468nm-478nm (you could say 473nm give or take 5nm but there's no typ. stated)
https://www.nichia.co.jp/specification/products/ld/NDA7175E-E.pdf

 

[Blackwolf]

I was reading something on PL about color mixing. they said that If you shift the wavelength of the green source toward blue you can no longer create rich yellows browns and oranges. I believe that the full laser RGB projectors are going to come out and they'll sell for several years. then because it is just another way for the diode companies to make money... from the same people! they are going to make yellow diodes and stick them in there and market these new RGBY projectors. people who already have the RGB projectors will most likely be skeptical until they see a side by side of the warm colors. I think this is why they used the 520nm diode even though there is a 530nm diode already that would have given them a good color mix. it is planned obsolescence in action. so it wont be for years but I am going to go ahead and call it now there is going to be either a high powered yellow diode or a high power 530 diodes going into projectors.

 

[Marco Polo]

so it wont be for years but I am going to go ahead and call it now there is going to be either a high powered yellow diode or a high power 530 diodes going into projectors.

And 520nm will head the way of the dinosaurs. Get them while they still exist.

The "yellow diode" question comes to my mind now and then, and I've read a little about it. There is already a TV set that uses RYGB. It has yellow pixels in addition to the usual red, green, and blue. Supposedly this allows the TV set to deliver richer colors. (ETA: the TV set in question is the Sharp Aquos Quattron.)

However, from what I've read, the color gamut isn't actually improved that much, and the input signal is still the same signal that is going to your RGB sets. The yellow pixel output must be calculated and determined solely within the TV set. I would guess that this calculation depends on the values of the R and G signals at any given time, since R and G are mixed to produce yellow and orange. Add in some B for browns. Given the UTTER SHODDINESS of my cable box and its painful slowness, I have to wonder how "stable" the TV set is; do the yellow pixels "lag" due to the CPU being a piece of crap?

True four-color would require a revamp of the standards governing cable/etc. transmission formats and whatnot. I think it will be a pain in the ass to the point that we won't be seeing four-color very soon. But maybe I'm wrong about that.

Projectors may well be another story, and I guess I can be OK with the companies ripping off their customers if it means that I can get/build a 570-ish nanometer handheld without having to sell my kidneys and/or soul. 200mW single mode in a C6 would be really cool. A 2-watt 570nm would be like holding a piece of the sun in your hand.

(520nm is planned obsolescence? Don't you love how businessmen sit around and figure out every which way to dick their customers? RIPOFF RIPOFF RIPOFF, gouging more cash, that's all it is, IMHO.)

 

[ZRaffleticket]

Wait wait... why is 520nm planned obsolescence? 520nm is more ideal for color mixing than 530nm...

Dunno about TV's, but laser lighting might eventually call for RGBY lighting for "warmer" colors than that ugly RGB(255,255,255) white color.

 

[crazyspaz]

I doubt direct yellow diodes will be produced. As far as I know, the only use for yellow (577) is for some sort of eye therapy. Not saying I don't want a direct yellow diode, just saying it probably won't happen. Now, I can see direct 457 diodes being worked on, because they are more "true blue", if you will, then the current 445's. You all have to keep in mind, if there is no commercial need, then it won't happen. What us hobbyists want doesn't mean dick to big manufacturers like Nichia, Osram, or Soraa.