June 06 2025 -- The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT, President: TOKUDA Hideyuki Ph.D.), in collaboration with Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (Sony), has developed the world's first practical surface-emitting laser that employs quantum dot(QD) as the optical gain medium for use in optical fiber communication systems.

This achievement was made possible by NICT's high-precision crystal growth technology and Sony's advanced semiconductor processing technology. The surface-emitting laser developed in this study incorporates nanoscale semiconductor structures called quantum dots as light-emitting materials. This innovation not only facilitates the miniaturization and reduced power consumption of light sources in optical fiber communications systems but also offers potential cost reductions through mass production and enhanced output via integration.

The results of this research were published in Optics Express, a leading international journal in optical technology, published by the OPTICA Publishing Group in the United States, in Vol. 33, Issue 6, on Monday, March 24, 2025.