This paper describes the overview of the special issue for review of laser technology especially related on Nobel prize achievement. The topics of this issue focused on chirped pulse amplification method, development of blue light-emitting diode, optical frequency comb technique, gravitational wave detection, fibers for optical communication, development of semiconductor heterostructures, and optical tweezers.

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We report on the chirped pulse amplification (CPA) method for which Gérard Mourou and Donna Strickland received the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics. Their method amplifies the energies of ultrashort optical pulses with picosecond and femtosecond pulse widths. Because of their high peak intensities, it is impossible to amplify the energies of the optical pulses with the conventional amplification methods without distorting the ultrashort waveforms. First, we describe the characteristics of the optical pulses and their chirping phenomena and then present the concept of the CPA method, which consists of pulse stretching, energy amplification and pulse compression. The standard pulse stretcher and compressor, consisting of a pair of diffractive gratings, is also shown. The end of the paper presents some novel applications of the amplified, ultrashort optical pulses.

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This article reviews the history of material development for blue light emission. In the research and development competition, ZnSe/ZnS materials had the upper hand until the middle, but GaN material finally has come out on top and won. By clarifying the reasons why GaN has been able to win out, I will discuss the way of thinking and policy that will be important in advancing research and development.

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Optical frequency combs (OFCs) were recognized by the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2005. Despite an increasing number of researchers engaged in related studies, the practical utilization of OFCs as light sources in optical metrology remains limited. In this article, we overview the research conducted thus far on them to elucidate their essence, characteristics, and potential applications. We hope that this article fuels interest in OFCs in the fields of optics and photonics and encourages the exploration of new application avenues.

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The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) project in the United States successfully detected a gravitational wave generated during the coalescence of a binary black hole on September 17, 2015. This achievement was realized approximately 100 years after Einstein’s prediction of the existence of gravitational waves. In recognition of this accomplishment, the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to three U.S. physicists who made significant contributions to LIGO. In this paper, we will describe this achievement and the subsequent progress.

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This article reviews the early days of optical fiber communication research in the world and the 1966 historical paper by Charles Kao, the 2009 recipient of Nobel Prize. Kao predicted the transmission loss in fibers could be reduced as low as 20 dB/km, a figure acceptable for intercity and intracity communication. His prediction was realized by scientists in Corning Glass Works in 1970. This paper also reviews early works for Optical fiber Transmission with emphasis on the relation with Kao.

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The Nobel Prize in Physics 2000 was awarded for “fundamental research in information and communication technology.” This review discusses the history of the development of semiconductor lasers, focusing on the outstanding contributions of Zhores Alferov and Herbert Krömer, who achieved continuous-wave operation at room temperature in semiconductor double heterostructure lasers. The subsequent evolution of the double heterostructure lasers, including quantum well lasers, quantum dot lasers, and quantum cascade lasers, is also briefly discussed.

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Arthur Ashkin was awarded the Nobel prize in physics 2018 for the optical tweezers and their applications to biological systems. His innovative works have contributed to many fields, such as optical physics, biophysics, cell biology and polymer chemistry. Many researchers have investigated the molecular mechanisms and mechanical properties of DNA molecules, especially of molecular mechanisms in biological systems. In this article I describe the prehistory of optical tweezers, their invention and applications on biological systems, and describe some up-to-date technologies related to them.

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