Boffins working for Osram Opto Semiconductors have announced that they have managed to build a “true green” laser.

The direct emitting indium-gallium-nitride (InGaN) laser already achieves an optical output of 50mW and can manage true green with a wavelength of 515nm. This makes it more compact, has a better temperature stability, is easier to control and have a higher modulation capability at several hundred megahertz.

Osram claims that the technology could replace the need frequency-doubled lasers which get the same frequency by running in tandem. The are used in mobile mini-projectors and the technology could be used to create a sharp, true-colour, high-contrast image on mobile phones and cameras.

It is the mobile projector idea which has attracted the interest of the German government which has put some money into the research. More here.