A new type of mirror (square in center) is a fraction of the thickness of conventional mirrors used in semiconductor lasers.
Credit: Connie J. Chang-Hasnain
New publications, experiments and breakthroughs in information technology--and what they mean.
Cheaper Lasers
A new type of mirror could make lasers smaller and more efficient
Source: "A Surface-Emitting Laser Incorporating a High-Index-Contrast Subwavelength Grating"
Connie J. Chang-Hasnain et al.
Nature Photonics 1, no. 2 (February 2007): 119-122
Results: Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have overhauled one of the main elements of a laser: the mirror. The new mirror is thinner than its predecessors and can be made in fewer steps, simplifying the laser fabrication process and lowering costs. It is also more reflective than previous mirrors, so it could lead to more energy-efficient lasers.
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