"...Nichia Corp. announced its plans to launch volume production of its violet semiconductor laser diode in April 2002. Nichia, a Tokushima-based firm, plans to produce 100,000 units of its violet laser with an oscillation wavelength of around 405 nanometers each month. Also, it will supply the GaN-based semiconductor lazer diode to large-lot users for 5,000 yen (121.78 yen = US$1) or less per unit in fiscal 2003, a company spokesman said.

The violet laser can be used as a light source for next-generation digital video disks and other large-capacity optical disk devices. As Nichia announced the specific volume production plan, development of the next-generation DVDs is likely to be accelerated. The optical output power for continuous oscillation is 30mW or more, a level that can be realized with rewritable as well as replay-only optical disk devices.

The company will start volume production of the NLHV3000 series, a high-power laser (samples are now being shipped). The series includes NLHV3000E, which oscillates on a single transverse mode (a special characteristic of light from a semiconductor laser), and NLHV3000M, which oscillates on the multiple transverse mode. Generally, as a light source of optical disk devices, a semiconductor laser that oscillates on the single transverse mode is used because condensing is easier. Semiconductor lasers that oscillate on the multi transverse mode are typically used for printers and medical devices..."