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Quantum Dot Laser Wins Green IT Award

QD Laser, Inc.,Fujitsu Limited,The University of Tokyo

Tokyo, October 05, 2010

QD Laser, Inc., Fujitsu Limited, and the University of Tokyo today announced that, as part of the Green IT Awards 2010 granted by Japan's Green IT Promotion Council, they have been awarded the Ministry of Trade, Economy and Industry Minister Award in the category of "Savings in IT-related Energy Consumption" for their quantum dot semiconductor laser technology. The award recognizes quantum dot laser technology as making a significant contribution to the energy efficiency of IT equipment.

About the Green IT Award

The Green IT Award was established to honor contributions to the development, expansion, and application of IT equipment, services, and solutions that reduce society's energy consumption, with the aim of increasing the prevalence of green IT and bringing about a society that both preserves the environment and achieves economic growth.

Product Recognized

Quantum dot (QD) lasers are state-of-the-art semiconductor lasers which are formed using quantum dots(1) on the surface of a semiconductor substrate and which fully leverage the so-called quantum effect(2).

QD lasers feature revolutionary advantages over other types of semiconductor lasers, including lower power consumption, superior temperature stability, and higher temperature tolerance. The lasers will make it possible to conserve energy as energy usage increases with the expansion of the Internet and improvements in the capabilities of ICT equipment.

The technology was proposed in 1982 by Professor Yasuhiko Arakawa, Director of the Institute for Nano Quantum Information Electronics, The University of Tokyo(3), and was subsequently developed through an industrial-academic collaboration between Fujitsu and the University of Tokyo. QD Laser, Inc. was established to commercialize the technology and the company has begun the world's first mass production of QD lasers for use in optical communications.

The Green IT Award recognized the advanced capabilities of this device technology, as well as its wide range of potential medium- to long-term applications. At the same time, it also praised the creative thinking that led researchers to bring about innovation by leveraging the principles underlying the device, as well as the achievements resulting from this innovation and the 15-year-long industrial-academic collaboration.


  • [1] Quantum dot

    A grain-like structure measuring between a few nanometers to several tens of nanometers in size.

  • [2] Quantum effect

    Atoms that are confined to a narrow region (on the scale of a few nanometers to several tens of nanometers, 1 nanometer = 1.0 × 10-9 meters) can only assume discrete energy levels. The quantum dot laser technology leverages this property to prevent the flow of excess electrical current, allowing only the minimal necessary current, thereby making it possible to decrease the laser's energy loss and enhance its temperature stability.

  • [3] Y. Arakawa et al.

    Multidimensional quantum well laser and temperature dependence of its threshold current. Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol.40, p.939-941(1982)

About Fujitsu

Fujitsu is a leading provider of ICT-based business solutions for the global marketplace. With approximately 170,000 employees supporting customers in 70 countries, Fujitsu combines a worldwide corps of systems and services experts with highly reliable computing and communications products and advanced microelectronics to deliver added value to customers. Headquartered in Tokyo, Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.6 trillion yen (US$50 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010. For more information, please see: www.fujitsu.com.

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All other company or product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Information provided in this press release is accurate at time of publication and is subject to change without advance notice.

This press release has been revised as of December 17, 2018.

Date: 05 October, 2010
City: Tokyo
Company: QD Laser, Inc., Fujitsu Limited, The University of Tokyo, , ,