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Lasers

All articles tagged with #lasers

Artificial stars rise over Chile as VLT lasers power adaptive optics
astronomy7 days ago

Artificial stars rise over Chile as VLT lasers power adaptive optics

Space.com highlights a European Southern Observatory photo showing the Milky Way over Chile’s Paranal Observatory while four Unit Telescopes of the Very Large Telescope fire lasers high in the atmosphere to create artificial guide stars. These glow-displays let adaptive optics systems correct for Earth’s atmospheric blur in real time, sharpening observations. The UTs Antu, Kueyen, Yepun and Melipal work together (Melipal’s laser use dates to 2016; the other three were added in December 2025 to support VLTI and GRAVITY+), showcasing the VLT’s capability to peer deeper into the universe as lasers illuminate the sky above Chile.

via Space|
#adaptive-optics#astronomy#lasers
Scientists Unveil Lasers Capable of Casting Shadows
science-and-technology1 year ago

Scientists Unveil Lasers Capable of Casting Shadows

Scientists have demonstrated that lasers can cast shadows, a phenomenon previously thought impossible, by using a green laser to block a blue laser in a ruby crystal. This discovery, published in Optica, challenges traditional notions of shadows and could impact technologies using lasers, like fiber optics. The experiment raises questions about whether the shadow is cast by the laser itself or the ruby crystal, expanding possibilities for laser control.

via Gizmodo|
#lasers#optics#science-and-technology
Scientists Unveil Lasers That Cast Their Own Shadows
science-and-technology1 year ago

Scientists Unveil Lasers That Cast Their Own Shadows

New research demonstrates that a laser beam can cast a shadow under specific conditions using a ruby crystal and certain laser wavelengths. This occurs when a green laser alters the crystal's properties, increasing its absorption of a blue laser beam and creating a shadow effect. This phenomenon could have potential applications in using one laser to control another.

via Hackaday|
#lasers#lightcontrol#nonlinearoptics
Scientists Uncover Light's Ability to Cast Shadows in Laser Experiment
science1 year ago

Scientists Uncover Light's Ability to Cast Shadows in Laser Experiment

Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory have discovered that a narrow green laser beam can cast a shadow when passed through a larger blue laser beam inside a ruby crystal, challenging conventional understanding of light interactions. This phenomenon, attributed to optical nonlinear absorption, could lead to new applications in optical switching and light transmission control. The research, published in Optica, opens up possibilities for further exploration of light-matter interactions using different wavelengths and materials.

via Futurism|
#lasers#light-matter-interaction#nonlinear-optics
Lasers Found to Block Light, Creating Shadows
science1 year ago

Lasers Found to Block Light, Creating Shadows

Scientists have discovered that lasers can create shadows by using nonlinear materials, such as ruby, to block light. When two laser beams intersect in a specific way, the primary beam is obstructed by the secondary, casting a shadow. This finding challenges traditional notions of shadows and light interactions, and could have applications in optical switching and light transmission technologies. The research is set to be published in Optica.

via ScienceAlert|
#lasers#light#nonlinear-materials
"Laser Technology Demystified: Understanding the Science Behind Lasers"
science-and-technology1 year ago

"Laser Technology Demystified: Understanding the Science Behind Lasers"

Lasers, which stand for "light amplification by sustained emission of radiation," work by making energetic particles vibrate in sync, emitting light waves with aligned peaks and troughs. First proposed by Albert Einstein in 1917, lasers have since become integral to modern technology, from eye surgery to internet connections. With potential applications in exoplanet imaging and data center miniaturization, the future of laser technology looks promising and limitless.

via Livescience.com|
#applications#innovation#lasers
"Rare 'Gravitational Lasers' Could Exist Throughout the Universe, New Study Suggests"
science2 years ago

"Rare 'Gravitational Lasers' Could Exist Throughout the Universe, New Study Suggests"

New research suggests that under certain conditions, gravitational waves unleashed by black holes could combine with the effects of stimulated emission of radiation to form rare and exotic "gravitational lasers," providing a potential new way to detect dark matter. These gravitational lasers, if they exist, would be a new kind of gravitational wave signal and could serve as evidence for the existence of dark matter in the form of axions. While they would be very rare and mostly point away from Earth, next-generation gravitational wave observatories might be able to detect them, offering a glimpse into the fascinating and mysterious nature of our universe.

via Livescience.com|
#astrophysics#black-holes#dark-matter
"Chemistry Meets Technology: The Molecular Flip-Flop Controlled by Lasers"
science-and-technology2 years ago

"Chemistry Meets Technology: The Molecular Flip-Flop Controlled by Lasers"

Markus Bindhammer has created a unique flip-flop using photochromic molecular switch, lasers, and chemicals, demonstrating the reversible color-changing property of photochromism. The setup involves two laser modules, an Arduino, and a glass cuvette filled with a photochromic chemical mixed with clear epoxy resin. The spot changes color when exposed to UV light and can be reverted back with a red laser or heat. This innovative use of chemistry and optics showcases the potential for creating optical logic components.

via Hackaday|
#chemistry#lasers#logic-circuits