Panasonic Corporation today announced that it has developed a blue-violet semiconductor laser operating at output power of 4.5 W, which is 1.5 times higher than that of the conventional one even at 60ºC, the maximum operating temperature for lasers in general.　 It can also oscillate with the high energy conversion efficiency, which is 1.2 times higher than that of conventional lasers. This has been made possible by Panasonic’s unique double heat flow packaging technology that improves the heat dissipation. This newly-developed laser will help laser application systems, such as vehicle and industrial lighting as well as laser machining equipment, to be made smaller and consume less power.