Dropping Science: New Tech For A New Year : Turn Anything Into a Laser

By Kate Gammon , published on December 30, 2008 at 2:30 PM
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Who wants to turn their telephone or toaster into a laser beam-emitting weapon? While warfare with waffle makers may still be far out, engineers at Princeton have created a way to make common electronic materials emit laser beams. The group used a device called quantum-cascade laser, in which an electric current flowing through a specially designed material produces a laser beam. The scientists found that their laser also generated a second beam with very unusual properties, including the need for less electrical power than the conventional beam. They say their discovery will help lasers function more efficiently and at higher temperatures, which can help scientists with environmental monitoring and medical diagnostics. Unlike other lasers, quantum-cascade lasers work in the mid- and far-infrared range, and can be used to detect even minute traces of water vapor, ammonia, nitrogen oxides, and other gases that absorb infrared light. The new discovery should help make smaller, more-efficient, and more-sensitive devices to test for trace gases.

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Comments
DGriffin 12/31/2008 8:59 AM
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What an idiotic idea!!! What if an other person in the car wants to use their cell phone???? What if there is an emergency!?!?!?!

zodiacfml 12/31/2008 10:40 AM
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i agree, no one will buy that car. hehe

Anonymous 12/31/2008 2:28 PM
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You can't be serious? If you can't tell a recorded disc from an original one with your bare eyes you need to check your glasses.

Anonymous 12/31/2008 2:39 PM
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Electronic gyros are nothing new, they've been around in r/c helis for several years. And they're not very expensive. Cheapest goes for 20 bucks.

Anonymous 12/31/2008 4:08 PM
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Umm.. the difference between a pressed(original) cd and a copy(burned) is that a pressed cd's data (0 and 1) are represented by physical pits and peaks whereas a burned cd's information is represented by burned (reflective and not reflective) marks on a flat plain. Make a system to differentiate peaks (which are reflective, but does not reflect into the target sensor) from non-reflective burn marks. Then you can tell which is a copy, and which is an original.

Balshoy 01/03/2009 1:15 AM
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Great another way to entice road rage... turn the mobile off while blocked in traffic.

Anonymous 01/06/2009 8:41 AM
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Robotic Clams...? Yes, finally! what we've all been waiting for!

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