One thing that characterizes technology is constant evolution, and lighting fixtures are no exception. New technologies constantly emerge, offering performance superior to the products they replace, eventually displacing them from the market.
At the moment, LED lighting represents the state of the art in the lighting industry. However, according to Dr. Shuji Nakamura, laser diodes are the future of lighting and will eventually displace LED. It is important to note that Dr. Nakamura is a Nobel Prize winner and the inventor of blue LED, the technology that made the current LED revolution possible! He has already co-founded a company called SoraaLaser, dedicated to laser lighting.
Laser technology is still experimental, but it offers great potential and impressive performance characteristics:
- In theory, laser lamps can achieve an efficacy in the range of 200 lumens/watt, which is twice the average efficiency of most commercial LED fixtures (100 lm/W). This means that, once the technology is commercial, a retrofit from LED to laser lighting could offer savings of around 50%, not to mention the impressive savings that will result when replacing less efficient technologies such as HID and fluorescent lighting.
- A very high color rendering index is achievable with LED, in the range of 0.95 or above. While there are LED fixtures capable of offering this CRI, they do so at the expense of efficacy. Many high-CRI LED lamps go below 70 lm/W, which is comparable to the efficiency of fluorescent lighting.
- According to Dr. Nakamura, laser diodes allow the current density to be increased by 10 to 20 times compared to that of LEDs. This results in a very compact lamp that allows a high degree of optimization in terms of optical design.
- The high current density tolerated by laser diodes would also lead to a reduction in costs, simply because much less material is needed.
Replacing LED technology with the new laser lighting technology that is still being developed is expected to bring several benefits, including:
- Energy Savings: Laser lighting has the potential to offer savings of around 50% compared to LED technology, making it a more energy-efficient lighting solution
- Higher Efficiency: Laser diodes are more energy-saving than LED diodes, producing up to 1,000 times more light for only 2/3 of the energy input
- Smaller Size: Laser diodes are considerably smaller than LED counterparts, offering more flexibility in design and application.
- Longevity: Laser lighting, as seen in BMW's 'i8' hybrid supercar, can provide vehicle lighting that outlasts the lifespan of the vehicle itself, indicating a longer lifespan for laser lighting applications.
- Versatility: Laser lighting can be used in various applications beyond automotive use, such as in cinemas, televisions, smartphones, and outdoor advertising panels
- Innovative Applications: Laser diodes can be utilized in novel ways, such as through fiber optic cabling and other waveguides, enabling new approaches to delivering lighting in buildings and automotive applications
- Regulatory Advancements: While there are regulatory challenges to overcome before widespread adoption, advancements in regulations may pave the way for the introduction of laser lighting into various markets, such as automotive headlamps.
Transitioning from LED to laser lighting technology is expected to bring significant improvements in energy efficiency, size, longevity, versatility, and innovative applications across various industries.
Laser lighting could be particularly attractive for architects and interior designers since its high color rendering index will ensure the colors of objects and surfaces are represented faithfully.
However, this transition is likely to take several years as LED technology continues to evolve and improve its potential.
