News: Optoelectronics
22 May 2026
BluGlass achieves record 1.9W peak output for single-mode GaN laser
BluGlass Ltd of Silverwater, Australia has demonstrated-record gallium nitride (GaN) laser single-mode performance – achieving 1.9W of peak output power from a single-spatial-mode 450nm-wavelength blue GaN laser in a single monolithic chip. This is a 52% improvement over its previous record of 1.25W of single-spatial-mode power.
The record achievement combined a high-performance 450nm single-mode GaN laser with the firm’s proprietary gain-chip technology; incorporating a single-mode MOPA (master oscillator and tapered power amplifier) to scale high power while maintaining high precision. BluGlass says that its unique GaN gain chips and novel two-section MOPA architectures provide independent electrical control of the laser and amplifier, enabling optimization of gain and beam quality. Testing confirmed 1.9W of continuous amplified peak power, maintaining stable single-spatial-mode emission with a well-defined beam profile and preservation of beam quality at high power.
BluGlass says that the result represents a significant advance in its development of single-mode visible lasers, further strengthening its next-generation photonics solutions for defense, aerospace, quantum, and advanced industrial applications.
“Our latest performance milestone highlights the strong technical progress our team continues to make advancing high-power, single-mode GaN lasers to support next-generation quantum and defence applications,” says CEO & executive director Jim Haden. “Advancements in design and fabrication over the past year have delivered a significant step-up in output power to address the most exacting requirements of our tier-1 and government customers,” he adds.
“These capability advances support BluGlass’ growing commercial momentum and the ongoing conversion of our US$100m development pipeline as we turn technical innovation into customer-focused performance outcomes,” Haden continues. “GaN lasers are critical to both established and emerging photonics applications, and our world-leading gain chips create a long-term opportunity for BluGlass to capture market share as next-generation technologies are developed. Our continued investment in optimizing MOPA architecture and epitaxial designs will broaden our wavelength offering and further improve power output, efficiency and reliability, supporting delivery across contracted development programs. BluGlass is also progressing opportunities in emerging applications, including surface-emitting architectures, with early-stage engagements and proposals focused on AI data centers and next-generation sensing platforms.”
BluGlass demos leading-edge precision in visible GaN lasers at ICNS-15
BluGlass boosts single-mode GaN laser chip output by 67% to record 1250mW
