With a pulsed optical output of 210mW, the GH04P21A2G is the industry's most powerful blue-violet laser diode currently available, claims manufacturer Sharp Microelectronics. The device will enable high-speed 6x recording on next-generation dual-layer Blu-Ray discs and HD-DVDs. Specifically designed for optical-storage applications, the device makes full use of crystal-growth technology developed for infrared, red, and blue-violet low-power laser diodes. It comes in a standard CAN package with a 5.6mm diameter and has a service life of 10,000 hours. Other characteristics include a DC optical power of up to 105mW, a peak wavelength of 406nm at 105mW (continuous wave), and a beam divergence of 9.0° horizontal and 19.0° vertical. The laser diode operates from 0 to +70°C.
