Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, otherwise known as the laser, fundamentally changed human society upon its introduction in the early 1960s. The uses for lasers seem almost endless, and have rearranged how we communicate, perform surgeries, and even pay for groceries. In other words, we very much live in the laser era.
However, this ubiquitous technology isn’t without its shortcomings. Because lasers are essentially just the optical amplifications of light, they’re still subject to failing in adverse conditions—whether that be fog, extreme temperatures, or even just long distances.
Now, scientists at Washington University in St. Louis and Texas A&M University are turning to quantum mechanics to solve these laser-based shortcomings. The research will be conducted thanks to a two-year, $1 million grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and will be led by Washington University associate professor Jung-Tsung Shen, who hopes to develop a prototype device called a quantum photonic-dimer laser.
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