The potential of III-nitride laser diodes for solid-state lighting

The potential of III-nitride based laser diodes (LDs) for solid-state lighting (SSL) is discussed. State-of-the-art blue LDs have higher efficiencies at high input power densities when compared to blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs). This is because the processes that cause the drop in efficiency at high currents for LEDs are not present in the LD operated under stimulated emission. Projections of efficiency improvement show blue LDs have the potential to be nearly as efficient as blue LEDs and provide similar lumen output at much higher input powers. This result provides the possibility that white sources created from blue LD pumped phosphors could someday become a competitive and viable SSL source. [GRAPHICS] (C) 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim