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Lasers

All articles tagged with #lasers

Quantum Mechanics: From Paradox to Tech Powerhouse
technology1 month ago

Quantum Mechanics: From Paradox to Tech Powerhouse

Quantum mechanics has evolved from a puzzling theory to the backbone of modern technology, powering lasers, chips, quantum computing, and secure communications. Texas A&M physicist Marlan Scully surveys the journey—from Schrödinger’s cat to coherence and entanglement enabling new sensors and cryptography, to quantum heat engines that can exceed classical limits. The reach extends into biology and cosmology, while open questions about unifying gravity with quantum theory promise a continued scientific adventure.

via SciTechDaily|
#entanglement#lasers#quantum-coherence
Ground-State Light Tornadoes Set Stage for Compact Lasers and Quantum Tech
science1 month ago

Ground-State Light Tornadoes Set Stage for Compact Lasers and Quantum Tech

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.

via Interesting Engineering|
#ground-state#lasers#liquid-crystals
Iranian Drone Swarms Push U.S. Defenses Toward Layered Counter‑Drone Shield
defense2 months ago

Iranian Drone Swarms Push U.S. Defenses Toward Layered Counter‑Drone Shield

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.

via Fox News|
#counter-uas#defense#drones
Artificial stars rise over Chile as VLT lasers power adaptive optics
astronomy3 months 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