Japanese team achieves 2 μm-band PCSEL laser oscillation
Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM) and Kyoto University Institute for Advanced Study have successfully achieved laser oscillation in a 2 μm-band infrared photonic crystal surface-emitting laser (PCSEL). This milestone, they say, will enable the miniaturisation of next-generation sensing systems while maintaining PCSEL’s high directionality and narrow spectral bandwidth.
The research results were presented at the Spring Meeting of the Japan Society of Applied Physics in March 2026.
PCSEL technology, first developed in the early 2000s, was invented by a research team at Kyoto University led by 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 optimise the light source structure, culminating in a laser oscillation in the 2 μm band using a PCSEL.
This achievement in PCSEL technology is well-suited to high-sensitivity greenhouse gas detection, as the 2 μm 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 PCSEL, applications are expected in fields requiring high-precision measurement of trace gases.
“These advancements demonstrate the strong potential of PCSEL for applications requiring high power and precise optical control,” said Yoshinobu Fujimoto, General Manager of R&D at AKM’s Business Development Center. “By combining AKM’s technological background with the expertise of Susumu Noda and his team at Kyoto University, we are unlocking new performance capabilities that could benefit a wide range of applications.”
AKM has stated that it plans to accelerate research and development of 2 μm-band PCSEL technology with a focus on manufacturability and advanced photonic crystal designs.
