NIST scientists create 'any wavelength' lasers

#1

Post by rbanffy » Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 8:54 PM UTC

NIST scientists create 'any wavelength' lasers
nist.gov

Re: NIST scientists create 'any wavelength' lasers

#2

Post by mapt » Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 10:05 PM UTC

Is there a single person here interested in photonic computing that wants to explain to the class if there's any "there" there?

Re: NIST scientists create 'any wavelength' lasers

#3

Post by brcmthrowaway » Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 10:10 PM UTC

mapt wrote: post #2

Is there a single person here interested in photonic computing that wants to explain to the class if there's any "there" there?

There's a lot of people here with esoteric knowledge of lasers, because they're generally incredible devices (along with masers). Someone should be able to comment.

I wish we had a large laser manufacturing ability in the West. I would say 95% of lasers of all kinds are manufactured in China.

Re: NIST scientists create 'any wavelength' lasers

#4

Post by aftbit » Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 10:11 PM UTC

Cool, can I get a "proper" yellow diode laser from this? What's the efficiency look like?

Re: NIST scientists create 'any wavelength' lasers

#5

Post by jiveturkey » Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 10:14 PM UTC

But can it produce magenta?

Re: NIST scientists create 'any wavelength' lasers

#6

Post by staplung » Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 10:14 PM UTC

What if I like magenta? Or brown?

Re: NIST scientists create 'any wavelength' lasers

#7

Post by db48x » Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 10:15 PM UTC

mapt wrote: post #2

Is there a single person here interested in photonic computing that wants to explain to the class if there's any "there" there?

It’s like any other fundamental research: you don’t know how much it’s worth until people start using it to solve real problems. This is something that is literally impossible to guess ahead of time. The most abstract mathematical techniques could turn into a trillion–dollar industry (number theory begat RSA encryption which now underpins _everything_ we do).

But I will say that precise control of laser wavelength is critical to today’s communication technologies. I doubt their new techniques will be useless.

Re: NIST scientists create 'any wavelength' lasers

#8

Post by zamadatix » Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 10:20 PM UTC

staplung wrote: post #6

What if I like magenta? Or brown?

Pedantry for pedantry, you're in luck as the title says they created 'any wavelength lasers' not 'any wavelength laser' so you can make any such combos you like rather than the fixed set now (if true) :p.

Re: NIST scientists create 'any wavelength' lasers

#9

Post by dullcrisp » Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 10:21 PM UTC

staplung wrote: post #6

What if I like magenta? Or brown?

Can I interest you in indigo or violet? Or a nice orange?

Re: NIST scientists create 'any wavelength' lasers

#10

Post by analog8374 » Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 10:22 PM UTC

can they do microwave?

if you do the exact right color you can make certain things melt very precisely.