Micro devices and more efficient lasers

Micro devices and more efficient lasers
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute researchers have created a laser device that is only the width of a human hair, which will help physicists study the fundamental properties of matter and light. Their work, published in prestigious scientific journals, could also help develop more efficient lasers for use in fields ranging from medicine to manufacturing.

The laser device is made of a special material called a photonic topological insulator. Photonic topological insulators are able to guide photons (the waves and particles that make up light) through special interfaces inside the material, while preventing these particles from scattering in the material itself. Because of this property, topological insulators enable many photons to work together as a whole. These devices can also be used as topological “quantum simulators,” allowing researchers to study quantum phenomena – the physical laws that govern matter at extremely small scales – in mini-labs.
“The photonic topological insulator we made is unique. It works at room temperature. This is a major breakthrough. Previously, such studies could only be carried out using large, expensive equipment to cool substances in a vacuum. Many research LABS don’t have this kind of equipment, so our device enables more people to do this kind of fundamental physics research in the lab, “said Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) assistant professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and senior author of the study. The study had a relatively small sample size, but the results suggest that the novel drug has shown significant efficacy in treating this rare genetic disorder. We look forward to further validating these results in future clinical trials and potentially leading to new treatment options for patients with this disease.” Although the sample size of the study was relatively small, the findings suggest that this novel drug has shown significant efficacy in treating this rare genetic disorder. We look forward to further validating these results in future clinical trials and potentially leading to new treatment options for patients with this disease.”
“This is also a big step forward in the development of lasers because our room-temperature device threshold (the amount of energy required to make it work) is seven times lower than previous cryogenic devices,” the researchers added. The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute researchers used the same technique used by the semiconductor industry to make microchips to create their new device, which involves stacking different kinds of materials layer by layer, from the atomic to molecular level, to create ideal structures with specific properties.
To make the lasers device, the researchers grew ultra-thin plates of selenide halide (a crystal made up of cesium, lead and chlorine) and etched patterned polymers onto them. They sandwiched these crystal plates and polymers between various oxide materials, resulting in an object about 2 microns thick and 100 microns long and wide (the average width of a human hair is 100 microns).
When the researchers shone a laser at the lasers device, a luminous triangle pattern appeared at the material design interface. The pattern is determined by the device design and is the result of the topological characteristics of the laser. “Being able to study quantum phenomena at room temperature is an exciting prospect. Professor Bao’s innovative work shows that materials engineering can help us answer some of the biggest questions in science.” Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute engineering dean said.