All articles tagged with #lasers
Researchers created optical tornadoes—swirling light trapped in torons inside liquid crystals—using a synthetic magnetic field and an optical microcavity to stabilize the pattern in the ground state and achieve coherent, laser-like emission, pointing to scalable compact lasers, improved optical communications, and advances in quantum devices, though further work is needed on stability and real-world integration.
Iran’s sustained drone attacks are testing U.S. air defenses in the Middle East and prompting the Pentagon to broaden layered counter-drone defenses, combining short-range interceptors, electronic warfare, and emerging high-energy lasers. The UAE reported multiple missiles and drones launched by Iran, underscoring the cost advantage of cheaper drones over missiles and the need for scalable defenses. Systems like Merops are being deployed, and lessons from Ukraine are shaping U.S. planning as officials push to expand defensive depth across CENTCOM to protect bases and ships from mass drone waves.
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.
Scientists have successfully transmitted 800 watts of electricity wirelessly over 5.3 miles using laser technology, demonstrating a scalable and efficient method that could revolutionize power delivery to remote or inaccessible areas, with potential applications in defense, emergency response, and off-grid systems.
A new NASA-led study using laser measurements confirms that Earth's sea levels have risen about 3.5 inches since 1993, with the rate accelerating due to melting land ice, highlighting the urgent need for climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.
Turkey growers in Minnesota are using infrared laser projectors to deter waterfowl and prevent the spread of bird flu, with early reports suggesting they are effective in protecting flocks and reducing the risk of outbreaks.
Scientists at Lawrence Livermore achieved a historic fusion ignition using 192 lasers, and a new startup, Inertia, aims to commercialize this technology by developing more powerful lasers and scalable production methods to create affordable, clean, limitless energy within the next decade.
China's recent military parade showcased advanced AI-powered unmanned vehicles, laser weapons, and hypersonic missiles, highlighting the country's focus on integrating emerging technologies like AI, optics, and information systems into modern warfare to enhance its strategic capabilities and deterrence.
Researchers have discovered that peacock feathers contain nanostructures that function as biological lasers, emitting specific wavelengths of light, which may play a role in their dazzling displays and could inspire advances in laser technology.
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.
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.
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.
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.
New laser technology is being developed to help border security distinguish between illegal elephant ivory and legal mammoth tusks, addressing a significant challenge in enforcing the ban on modern ivory trade.
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.