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Collimating Semiconductor Lasers Without Lenses

Posted by kdawson on from the should-make-somebody-rich dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Researchers at Harvard University and Hamamatsu Photonics have found a way to collimate lasers without lenses. In the new 'plasmonic collimator' technique, grooves are etched directly into the semiconductor laser's internal mirror. This results in surface plasmons giving rise to constructive interference, eliminating the need for the bulky optical lenses that usually focus the light from semiconductor lasers. The technique has promise for steering laser beams without moving parts and for working with polarized light."

3 of 136 comments (clear)

  1. It may be very cool by BadAnalogyGuy · · Score: 4, Funny

    But can you hammer a 6 inch spike through a board with your penis?

  2. Back In My Day by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    We didn't have solid state lasers, you had to bring your own tank of CO2 and a Xenon flash lamp to get the thing pumping. You had to adjust your mirrors with a micrometer. muttering to myself... "damn smartass kids" as I wander across the room to get my Geritol.

  3. Re:Hologram by badboy_tw2002 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Dear PPH,

    I am a scientist on the team mentioned in the article and I just wanted to say that you, sir, have rocked my world! I just went down to the mall after reading your comment, and bought one of these "laser pointing" devices. And holy shit, you were totally right! There is absolutley nothing unique or different with the research I've spent 7 years of my life on. This cheap $10 plastic toy is exactly the same thing as an laser built into an IC without a lense or moving parts. EXACTLY the same. I mean, they're both totally like lasers right? Mind. Fucking. Blown. Anyways, the guy that sold me the device is keeping quiet in exchange for top billing on the article in Science, and a piece of the sweet sweet Nobel prize money.

    Anyways, next up for me is taking the $10 plastic toy (because, after all, my research is completely useless as you've pointed out) and integrating it into a quantum computer. Refocusing the laser at quantum scales at the speed required to run a quantum computer can easily be achieved by swapping plastic tips on the end of the pointer (a process we've dubbed "rejiggering the doohickey" in science speak).

    Thanks, and God Bless for pointing out the errors of my way. Guess I need to spend less time in the lab and more time in the mall!

    Sincerely yours,

    Prof. T. Barnum Humperdink III