The Spaser -New Nano Laser Smallest Ever

Scientists have just unveiled the spaser, a device smaller than a human hair which emits laser light in all directions.  No, it's not Q-branch preparing James to escape from extremely specific otherwise-inescapable conditions, it's real science.  This is a brand new system which could revolutionize nanoplasmonics.  A field of research so brand-spanking new that most people don't even know it exists.

A LASER (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) works by setting up a cavity where photons to bounce back and forth.  This cavity contains an amplification medium, so every time the photons pass through they cause more photons to be emitted, and eventually they're directed out of the laser (either as a leakage or by dumping the entire cavity contents for high intensity).  A spaser works by a brand new design: surface oscillations called "plasmons", the motion of electrons on a surface, are used instead.  These oscillations can emit photons - so instead of amplifying the light, you amplify the surface waves that emit light to get an omnidirectional outpouring.

Norfolk State University has built tiny gold nanoparticles capable of exactly that (gold is often used in nano-applications because of the material properties, not just to make it sound cooler).  Tiny spheres can set up surface waves in the electrons, and are pumped by external light sources to amplify these oscillations until laser-like light is released in all directions.  At least they believe it's laser-like - the theory predicts that the light will be emitted coherently, and while they've definitely seen it emitted the coherence will be subject to future tests.

The applications are at the very cutting edge of modern science - it's not that we don't know what to do with them, but that most people never imagined they'd have such a tool to work with.  Biochemical assays and security systems have already been suggested, and with improvements they may even work in nanocircuitry.  Only time, and awesome research, will tell.

Luke McKinney

Recommended Post:

Image of the Day: Laser Strikes at Supermassive Black Hole at Core of the Milky Way Galaxy

World's Smallest Laser Unveiled

Comments

[Narendra Nath]

If coherence of light is established, it will be a remarkable innovation in micro-laser fabrication.A lot of applications can be envisaged not just the mentioned ones.

[Daemon]

Nanoplasmonics? It's so new it doesn't even have a wiki page! What a shame for all the sheep who use the reprobate encyclopediae.