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Scientists develop new rainbow laser

05/05/2008

New low cost light sources have been developed by scientists that could be used for applications including medical treatment and light-emitting clothing.

Researchers at the University of St Andrews say the lasers can be tuned to every colour of the rainbow and are powered by a simple light-emitting diode (LED) rather than another laser.

This method means the new lasers can be created at a fraction of the cost of existing technologies.

The rainbow lasers use plastic-like semiconducting materials, which have been used to make a light-emitting sticking plaster for the treatment of skin cancer.

Scientists behind the lasers say they could revolutionise medical diagnosis and treatment.

It could also be used for displays, Christmas lights, or light-up trainers.

"The new lasers are incredibly cheap and disposable and so could be used in single-use medical diagnostics, or in extreme environments such as sensing for explosives," said Dr Graham Turnbull.

"Conventional visible lasers can cost anything between a few hundred pounds to tens of thousands, but our new laser can be created for less than £5.

"These LED-lasers offer a better, smaller and brighter alternative to conventional light sources. They are the next generation of low cost lasers."

The new lasers are outlined in the journal Applied Physics Letters.