“Cool” Lasers

Scientists at the University of Washington recently discovered how to “point cool” very small target areas using an infrared laser, a technique which could have far-ranging implications for a variety of applications including medicine, computing and manufacturing.

Using materials commonly found in commercial lasers, a single crystal suspended in water was illuminated with infrared light, causing the crystal to glow in such a way that the glow itself had more energy than the light it absorbed. This actually carried heat away from the crystal and the water surrounding it, lowering the temperature by 36 degrees Fahrenheit. The team also demonstrated a process for manufacturing the crystals in a fast, inexpensive and scalable manner, paving the way for laser refrigeration.

Such a laser could be used to reduce temperatures within specific components of computer chips, or to cool down neurons and individual cells without damaging them. And the cooling technology itself could be used to prevent higher powered lasers (such as those used in communications or defense applications) from overheating.