Re:BMW's Laser Headlights
by lutorm on Friday January 10, 2014 @10:02PM
(#7041306)
My understanding has always been that lasers have a very low efficiency. I don't understand how it can possibly be more efficient to use a laser than an LED. But maybe my thinking dates back to the days of gas discharge lasers and solid state lasers are just that more efficient?
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Re:BMW's Laser Headlights
by dredmorbius on Saturday January 11, 2014 @08:13AM
(#7042510)
Some solid-state lasers have pretty high efficiencies, as much as 74% in this case: http://phys.org/news/2011-05-scientists-high-efficiency-cera...
I think I've seen references to 50-60% efficiency for production lasers, though I could be mistaken on that. Given the very low efficiency of lighting systems in general (incandescent bulbs waste 95%+ of input energy, even CFLs and LEDs are in 20-40% range AFAIR), that's very high.