Scientists have spent years creating ever-smaller lasers. Berkeley Lab's latest invention, however, is something special -- and could lead to a significant change in medicine.
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By Jon Fingas, Engadget
Scientists have spent years creating ever-smaller lasers.
Berkeley Lab's latest invention, however, is something special -- and
could lead to a significant change in medicine. An international team at
the school has developed
"microlasers" that are smaller than a red blood cell. The researchers
discovered that 5 micron-wide polymer beads mixed with exotic
nanoparticles (sodium yttrium fluoride infused with thulium) could
reliably emit bright light on specific wavelengths when exposed to
infrared light. The concoction makes light bounce around the inner
surface of the bead, creating collisions that can repeatedly amplify the
light -- it's similar to the "whispering gallery" effect that lets you
hear a quiet sound across a giant space with the right acoustics.
Even in their rough state, the bead lasers can work for at least five
hours of continuous use, even if you immerse them in blood or other
less-than-pristine environments. They don't wear out quickly, either.
The team found that beads pulled "off the shelf" months or years later
still function as lasers. And if you need to redirect the lasers, you
can use the same infrared light you'd use to excite them.
Refinement
is necessary before this is useful. Researchers are still looking at
how they can tweak the nanoparticle elements and the makeup of the beads
themselves to both optimize performance and determine the laser light
they get. The implications could be far-reaching, though. Berkeley
noted that you could use this to control neuron activity,
which might help with brain diseases. It might also be helpful for
sensors that detect chemical and environmental changes, or a new wave of
optical chips. Any of these developments are likely years away, but
there's a lot of potential in these minuscule pieces of plastic.
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