Violet Laser Diode Development Supports DVD

Japanís Nichia Chemical Industries (Tokushima, Japan) has announced that Shuji Nakamura has invented a new 400-nanometer violet laser diode that could enable new high-density DVD formats. The company says that samples of the diode are now shipping. The diode is claimed to have an operating life of 10,000 hours. Industry observers acknowledge that Nichiaís achievement is significant in the race to develop short-wavelength lasers to enable new high-density DVD formats. The end result is to produce optical discs with a capacity of at least 10 GB and preferably more than 15 GB per side to make consumer-grade DVD recorders feasible and at pricing that is ""affordable.""