News: Optoelectronics
13 April 2026
Asahi Kasei and Kyoto University achieve laser oscillation in 2μm-band infrared PCSEL
In collaboration with the Kyoto University Institute for Advanced Study, Tokyo-based Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corp (AKM, a member of the Asahi Kasei Group’s Material sector) has achieved laser oscillation in a 2μm-band infrared photonic crystal surface-emitting laser (PCSEL). This should enable the miniaturization of next-generation sensing systems while maintaining PCSEL’s high directionality and narrow spectral bandwidth, the firm adds.
The research results were presented at the 73rd Japan Society of Applied Physics Spring Meeting 2006 (15–18 March).
Picture: Structure of the photonic crystal surface-emitting laser.
First developed in the early 2000s, PCSEL technology was invented by a research team at Kyoto University led by professor Susumu Noda. Compared to conventional lasers, it offers higher functionality in a compact device. In recent years, demand has increased for higher-brightness, narrow-linewidth light sources for applications such as biomolecule sensing and breath gas analysis, driving the need for small, mass-producible infrared lasers. Together, AKM and Kyoto University sought to optimize the light source structure, culminating in a laser oscillation in the 2μm band using a PCSEL.
This achievement in PCSEL technology is well suited to high-sensitivity greenhouse gas detection, as the 2μm wavelength band includes absorption lines associated with gases such as CO2 and CH4. By combining this property with the high directionality and narrow linewidth of PCSELs, applications are expected in fields requiring high-precision measurement of trace gases.
Picture: Laser emission characteristics of the 2μm-band infrared PCSEL: (a) emission spectrum, (b) beam pattern.
“These advancements demonstrate the strong potential of PCSEL for applications requiring high power and precise optical control,” says Yoshinobu Fujimoto, general manager of R&D at AKM’s Business Development Center. “By combining AKM’s technological background with the expertise of professor Susumu Noda and his team at Kyoto University, we are unlocking new performance capabilities that could benefit a wide range of applications.”
AKM plans to accelerate R&D of 2μm-band PCSEL technology with a focus on manufacturability and advanced photonic crystal designs.
