In May Sharp will begin production of the high-power blue-violet laser diode GH04P21A2G. With a pulsed optical output of 210 mW it will enable high-speed 6X recording on next-generation dual-layer blu-ray Discs (BD) and HD-DVDs. As demand for flat panel HDTVs is expanding rapidly and consumers are becoming more familiar with the image brilliance of high-definition content, the desire to be able to record high-quality pictures from HD sources and store them on removable disc media is rapidly increasing. This year, the market for recorders and PCs capable of recording on next-generation DVDs is expected to take off in earnest, and demand for blue laser diodes, the key device in this type of equipment, is projected to increase in tandem. The GH04P21A2G designed for optical storage applications makes full use of crystal growth technology developed for infrared, red, and blue-violet low-power laser diodes. Besides the newly developed laser chip with a proprietary facet structure and a high power output of 210 mW (pulse drive) for high-speed recording, the device also features a service life of 10,000 hours, a length of time that leads the industry. The GH04P21A2G has a standard CAN package with 5.6 mm diameter. As a companion model for other general light-source applications, the GH04P21A2GE will be available in the near future.