Philips researches gallium arsenide use for lasers

The field of applications for lasers continues to expand. A distinct synergy exists between laser research and the appearance of modern communications, filing, and entertainment systems in which tailored lasers play the central role. For glass-fiber communications, the long-wavelength laser is indispensable. The optoelectronic filing system with optical storage disks requires a somewhat shorter-wave laser with relatively high power which can burn the information into the disk in the form of troughs; required with this is also a laser with lower power which reads out the information.