Laser is another major invention of mankind since the 20th century, after atomic energy, electronic computers, and semiconductors. Semiconductor laser science and technology takes semiconductor laser devices as the core, covering the study of the law, generation method, device technology, control means and application technology of stimulated radiation amplification of light, and the required knowledge integrates geometric optics, physical optics, semiconductor electronics, thermodynamics and other disciplines.
After more than 50 years of development, semiconductor laser, as a world-class research direction, has developed by leaps and bounds along with international scientific and technological progress, and has also benefited from breakthroughs in various related technologies, materials and processes. The progress of semiconductor laser has received great attention and attention in the international scope, not only in the field of basic science and continuous research and deepening, the level of science and technology continues to improve, but also in the field of application continues to expand and innovate, the application of technology and equipment emerge in an endless stream, the application level has also been greatly improved, in the national economic development of all countries in the world, especially in the fields of information, industry, medical and national defense has been an important application.
At present, the development of semiconductor lasers in the world is in a new stage of rapid development, and China's laser science and technology has basically maintained a trend of synchronous development with the world. From the perspective of comprehensive social development, industrial economic upgrading, national defense and security application and economic structure transformation, from the perspective of national competitive development, more clear needs are put forward for the comprehensive innovation of semiconductor laser technology and the transformation and development of industrial applications. In this paper, the development history and current situation of semiconductor lasers are reviewed, and the achievements of Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics in recent years in high-power semiconductor lasers, especially in high-power semiconductor laser laser light sources, vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers and new laser chips.