Visible lasers from red to blue

Visible semiconductor lasers have a wide variety of applications which include optical recording and reprographics in information processing, and potentially an application for flow cytometry in biotechnology if blue/green lasers become available. World-wide progress in visible semiconductor lasers over the period since the last IEEE International Semiconductor Laser Conference is reviewed, with emphasis on the achievement of low-threshold and high-power operation of red-emitting InGaAIP lasers and the emergence of blue/green emitting ZnSe-based lasers. Future prospect of short-wavelength lasers based on other materials including wide-bandgap II-Vls, GaN and related alloys, I-II-VI/sub 2/ families and AIP/GaP short-period superlattices is also presented.