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This section provides an overview for semiconductor lasers as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 10 semiconductor laser manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked semiconductor laser companies as of December, 2024: 1.IPG Photonics Corporation, 2.Sacher Lasertechnik GmbH, 3.RPMC Lasers, Inc..
Table of Contents
A semiconductor laser uses a semiconductor as the medium for laser oscillation. Laser light is emitted when an electric current is applied. It is also commonly referred to as a laser diode.
As laser oscillators, they are currently used in many devices.
The reasons for their use in various fields are that they are compact as lasers, can oscillate at low voltages and currents, have high conversion efficiency to light, and are easy to produce lasers of different wavelengths.
Semiconductor lasers have a wide range of applications, however, the fields in which they can be used depend on the wavelength and output power of the laser light.
For example, the wavelength of light is closely related to the intensity of energy.
For example, a laser with a long wavelength and low energy is used in sensors such as automobile collision prevention, optical measuring instruments, and laser communications.
On the other hand, lasers with shorter wavelengths and higher energy are used for writing on Blu-ray and DVDs, printers, and laser processing.
Semiconductor lasers are able to emit light efficiently because they can generate it by passing an electric current through them. This differs from incandescent light bulbs, which convert electric current into thermal energy.
Simply put, the inside of semiconductor lasers consists of layers called the P-type region, the light-emitting layer (active layer), and the N-type region between the electrodes.
When an electric current flows from the electrodes, holes (holes) from the P-type region and electrons from the N-type region flow into the light-emitting layer.
The holes and electrons combine in the light-emitting layer and emit light. However, at this stage, the light does not have the characteristics of laser light.
The emitted light stimulates other electrons, and the stimulated electrons combine with holes to emit light. This is called induced emission.
The light is reflected by mirrors in the generator layer, which further stimulates induced emission, and the light is amplified to become a strong laser beam that is emitted externally.
In recent years, semiconductor lasers have become more and more sophisticated. The luminous efficiency of semiconductor lasers has been remarkably improved.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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IPG Photonics Corp. is a manufacturer of industrial fiber lasers, amplifiers and laser systems established in 1990 and headquartered in Massachusetts, USA. The company’s product lineup includes direct diode laser systems, ultrafast fiber lasers along with their respective, and continuous wave (CW) pulsed fiber lasers. It also offers contract manufacturing capabilities, including laser cutting, laser welding, and laser marking services, tailored to meet the specific requirements of client projects. The company is ISO 9001 certified and operates internationally, with subsidiaries in Japan, Russia,and South Korea.
RPMC Lasers, Inc. is an OEM laser supplier founded in 1996 and based in Missouri, USA. The company offers various laser technology products for the photonics industry. These products include fiber or solid-state optical laser amplifiers, wide wavelength laser diodes, and pulsed lasers. It also offers related accessories such as thin disc mount modules and heatsinks, as well as product customization for customers with unique project specifications. The company's products support client manufacturers in the medical, defense and research sectors.
Excelitas Technologies Corp., headquartered in Waltham, USA, is a manufacturer of photonic solutions. The company provides photonic solutions for the illumination, optical and imaging needs of the OEM and end-user customers. The products like cameras, sensors and light sources serve an array of applications across many sectors. These range of applications include clinical diagnostics, autonomous vehicles and X-ray security screening. The company also offers bespoke photonic solutions such as discrete components, sub-assemblies, or complete turnkey solutions tailored to the customers' specific requirements.
Sheaumann Laser, Inc. is a privately-owned manufacturer and distributor of laser diodes established in 2005 by Jim Hsieh and based in St. Billerica, Massachusetts. The company manufactures single-mode and multimode continuous wave (CW) Diode lasers ranging from 780 to 1070 and with an output power of up to 30W used in medical, industrial, defense, space, and environmental applications. They also manufacture various laser packages, including butterfly, high heat load, TO-Cans, and 2-pin modules. Sheaumann also has in-house capabilities, including wafer growth, processing, and packaging, allowing the company to provide customized solutions for demanding projects of various sizes.
Alpes Lasers, founded in 1998 and headquartered in the Canton of Neuchâtel, Switzerland, is a manufacturer of semiconductor lasers. The company produces a wide range of laser sources, including quantum cascade lasers, interband cascade lasers, and laser diodes. These lasers cover a broad range of the electromagnetic spectrum and are used in various applications such as scientific research, medical imaging, and communication systems. Alpes Lasers also offers packaging solutions for their laser products, which are integral to their manufacturing process to ensure protection, electrical connections, thermal management, and integration of laser devices.
Sacher Lasertechnik GmbH, founded in 1992 and headquartered in Marburg, Germany, is a manufacturer and supplier of high power tunable external cavity diode lasers. The company’s product portfolio includes tapered amplifier systems, pulsed diode lasers, and vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers. These products are applied in various sectors, including scientific research, as the lasers are widely used in laboratories and research institutions, industrial manufacturing, and metrology and instrumentation. The company has a global distribution network in various countries, including the United States, Japan, and Australia.
TOPTICA Photonics Inc. is a manufacturer and supplier of lasers and laser-based systems used in scientific and industrial applications. Founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Rochester, New York, with additional locations in Germany, China, Japan, and Korea. Their product portfolio includes diode lasers, ultrafast fiber lasers, frequency combs, and terahertz systems. These products are used in a wide range of applications, such as quantum technology, spectroscopy, microscopy, semiconductor metrology, and material processing. One of their notable products is the FemtoFiber ultra 920, an ultrafast fiber laser with a wavelength of 920 nm, used in spectroscopy and microscopy applications.
Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., established in 1953 and headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a manufacturer of sensors and emitters for both visible and invisible light. It stocks products like LEDs, lamps, and photodiodes used in several industries, including consumer electronics, dental imaging, and environmental monitoring. The sensor and light source components are also available as modules and units that can be incorporated into systems the company develops, like optical measurement systems or imaging systems. The ISO 9001-certified company stocks over 15,000 devices, units, and systems that ship to over 100 destinations worldwide, and it has ten research and production bases.
TOPTICA EAGLEYARD is a global provider of high-power laser diodes based on GaAs(Gallium Arsenide). TE’s product portfolio features diodes with wavelengths from 630nm to 1120 nm catering to a range of high-end applications including gas detection, atomic clock, dental, illumination, spectroscopy, inter & intra satellite communication, dental, and LIDAR. TOPTICA EAGLEYARD serves various industries including industry, life science, space, defense, and research. TE operates independently under its own brand and sales organization while being part of the TOPTICA Photonics Group.
Frankfurt Laser Company, founded in 1994 and located in Friedrichsdorf, Germany, is a supplier of FP, DFB, and DBR laser diodes. The company offers a range of products that include laser diodes, superluminescent diodes, laser illuminators, laser modules, and optics. They are used for laser-based applications, optical imaging, lighting, and optical system integration. The products offered by Frankfurt Laser Company cater to a range of industries and applications, including telecommunications, medical, industrial, entertainment, and optical sensing.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IPG Photonics Corporation |
21.0%
|
| 2 | Sacher Lasertechnik GmbH |
14.9%
|
| 3 | RPMC Lasers, Inc. |
13.8%
|
| 4 | Excelitas Technologies Corp. |
11.3%
|
| 5 | Alpes Lasers |
10.3%
|
| 6 | Sheaumann Laser, Inc. |
8.7%
|
| 7 | TOPTICA Photonics AG |
7.2%
|
| 8 | Frankfurt Laser Company |
5.1%
|
| 9 | Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. |
5.1%
|
| 10 | TOPTICA eagleyard |
2.6%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the semiconductor laser page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
United States of America
|
4 | 44.4% |
|
Germany
|
3 | 33.3% |
|
Switzerland
|
1 | 11.1% |
|
Japan
|
1 | 11.1% |
