A team of researchers from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and the Max Born Institute published a study demonstrating the use of Nitrogen and Argon to create laser light. The study builds on decades of research into the field of creating open-air lasers, which could one day help to improve sensors, robotics, and much more. Here’s what you need to know.
Laser Tech
For decades, the primary way lasers operated was by shooting a beam of light through an optical cavity at a pair of mirrors. These mirrors are constructed and angled in a manner that enables the light to be bounced back and forth between the devices. This bouncing action amplifies the intensity of that light, creating the focused beam you see.
Open-Air Lasers
Since the beginning of laser research, there have been engineers seeking to create laser light without the use of amplification cavities and mirrors. Within this research, there is a subsection of engineers who seek to create open-air lasers. These devices utilize interactions between particles excited by intense light to form laser light. Until recently, this scientific concept was not possible. However, it appears that the tides have changed following the publication of this recent study.
Nitrogen Argon Open-Air Laser Study
The study delves into using Nitrogen and Argon mixtures to induce cavity-free lasing in atmospheric air. The study, published in Physical Review Letters, introduces the concept and a working model that accomplished photon-mediated energy transference between N2 and Ar, resulting in a superfluorescence response.
- Source – Phys.org
The team’s research looks at many different concepts, as ambient air has different components that could make a superfluorescent response. To verify that Argon and Nitrogen were the active components in the response, the team needed to monitor the coupling of the two in an oxygen-stable environment. The tests revealed some interesting results, including bidirectional lasing effects, which opened the door for a variety of new scientific experiments to begin.
Open-Air Lasers – Testing
The testing started with engineers using a 261 nm pump laser to excite the gases. The goal was to gain a deeper understanding of why the mixture of argon undergoes a reduction in ionization rate. This test led to the engineers focusing on the 3-photon resonant absorption of 261 nm photons in Ar. Here they discovered a direct correlation with the bidirectional lasing effect.
This bidirectional cascading lasing effect was tested using a variety of parameters to ensure the details of the conversion were recorded. The test revealed that mixing nitrogen with argon created the desired response, whereas other mixtures didn’t produce any bidirectional laser light pulse. Zooming in revealed that 3-photon absorption of 261 nm photons by Ar atoms specifically creates emission of cascaded superfluorescence. This revelation was a major discovery as it was previously unknown that a photon-mediated mechanism that transfers energy from N2 to Ar was a possibility.
The next steps began with frequency testing. Researchers shifted through different frequencies until they noticed that nitrogen molecules exhibit nonlinear-3-photon absorption in an electronically excited state when exposed for 261 nm to Argon resonating at a slightly different frequency. This data was then gathered to be used to create new formulas to model future experiments.
Results
The study shows some promising results that could upend the laser community. For one, the team successfully produced bidirectional cascaded lasting effects in atmospheric air. Specifically, the engineers were able to create two colored, bidirectional lasings via an open-air cavity-free setup.
The research also sheds light on some unexpected discoveries. For one, the team noticed that the amount of oxygen used during the mixture affected the interaction between the argon and nitrogen molecules. Their research shows that a 1% O2 mixture is ideal for cavity-free, bidirectional, and laser-like emission.
Open-Air Laser Benefits
This technology brings several benefits to the market. For one, it enables the creation of lasers with less mechanical parts. Open-air lasers will require less technical and manufacturing to produce. These lower costs will result in more use-case applications.
Stability
The use of mirrors in today’s lasers is one of their greatest weaknesses. These tiny devices need to be calibrated perfectly and aligned to create the beam of light you expect. Any small deviation from the unit’s original calibration can result in the device becoming useless. As the use of lasers continues to expand into large commercial and military applications, there is a strong demand for lasers with less moving components. Nitrogen Argon lasers are a smart solution.
Light Weight
Using lightweight Argon and Nitrogen will help reduce the overall weight of lasers moving forward. Lasers Are already in use on many microscopic devices. However, they are limited in the scale of operation based on the manufacturer’s capabilities to shrink down the core components. An Argon-based system would require much less space and weigh less. As such, they could help power next-gen space travel, nanotech, and much more.
Potential use Applications
There are many applications for this new style of laser light. From monitoring and scanning via LiDAR systems to targeting cancer cells, the world is ready for more accurate and accessible lasers. Here are some potential use cases for these Argon-powered devices.
Remote Sensing Technologies
The primary use case for backward open-air lasing technology is to improve remote sensing. These devices could make it possible to detect the faintest light particles as they interact with the nitrogen and argon mixture. Consequently, they could help make more sensitive solar panels, safety equipment, and more.
Healthcare
Lasers continue to find use in the medical field from surgical tools to providing brain scans, these devices are changing the way humanity cures diseases and ailments. The use of smaller and less complicated lasing devices powered by Argon Nitrogen mixtures could open the door for nanobot treatments and other medical care options that today would seem like sci-fi.
Military Use
The military has been experimenting with lasers more over the last decade. They see these devices as a low-cost alternative to firing expensive guided missiles at targets. Their concerns have only increased as the use of small and inexpensive drones has left the majority of large militaries scrambling to find cost-comparable air defense alternatives versus expensive missile systems.
This research could be used to create more effective and powerful lasers that require less energy to use. In the future, these devices could help protect soldiers and civilians from drone and guided missile attacks. They could also alert of incoming danger, giving people more time to seek shelter with their loved ones.
Researchers
The Nitrogen Argon Open-Air Laser study was conducted by a team of Researchers at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and Max Born Institute. The lead author of the paper is Zan Nie. He had help from teams led by Chan Joshi and Misha Ivanov, who also co-authored the paper.
Two Companies that Can Benefit from Open-Air Lasers Research
Many companies rely on lasers to provide their services to the market. Lasers are used nearly everywhere, from opening automatic doors to scanning groceries. It’s easy to forget how much the world relies on this technology. Here are a few companies that have prominent positioning in the market and could integrate this tech in the future to improve their bottom lines.
1. Heico Corporation 
Heico Corporation is a Florida-based aerospace tech manufacturing firm that has the potential to integrate this technological discovery with great effect. The company has offerings in a variety of sectors including the medical, telecommunications, aerospace, defense, space, and electronics industries. As such, this is a well-recognized operation that has proven to be a resilient “hold” for traders.
Heico Corporation operates a massive manufacturing facility in Florida that encompasses the design, manufacturing, repair, distribution, and sales of its various products across industries. The firm has continually expanded after it acquired the Aerial Delivery and Descent Devices divisions of Capewell Aerial Systems. This maneuver enshrined Heico Corporation as a major player in the aerospace markets.
Many traders believe that Heico Corporation will fly high, including Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett’s investment fund. Notably, HEI has a market cap of around $14B which is expected to increase as demand for their products rises.
2. Laser Photonics Corporation 
Laser Photonics Corporation is headquartered out of Florida and is recognized as an innovative powerhouse in laser technology. The company offers a selection of laser-based products to the market that include laser cleaning systems, defense platforms, safety monitoring components, and professional-grade laser cutting tools. Laser Photonics is often listed on the Fortune 500 top tech firms and has been in operation for +30 years. The company has made some strategic partnerships along the way, including partnering with Fastenal Company to provide laser products to the market.
The newest open-air laser mechanism could benefit Laser Photonics Corp in the coming months. The company could see more effective manufacturing procedures by eliminating the time-consuming process of calibrating laser cavities for devices. The firm’s commitment to success and constant innovation makes LASE a wise addition to any portfolio.
Open-Air Lasers are Just the Beginning
This study reveals a new mechanism for converting energy via Argon and Nitrogen while opening the door for other game-changing technologies, such as quantum beating. As such, many believe this team deserves a lot more recognition for their work. For now, this innovative group of engineers is ready to expand their testing to discover even more details about the radiative coupling process powering these interactions.
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