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Close-Up of Waveguide
Caption:
Pictured is the waveguide researchers used to generate coherent EUV (extreme-ultraviolet wavelengths) light. The center of the fiber is hollow, and gas flows into the fiber via tubes (the tubes were removed for the picture). The laser is focused through the hollow fiber, where it interacts with the gas to generate coherent EUV light. The modulations in the fiber are not visible in this picture. [See related images: Research Associates with Laser System, Waveguide, Schematic of the Waveguide, Femtosecond Laser Amplifier System.]
More about this Image
A National Science Foundation (NSF) supported research team from the University of Colorado’s Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics (JILA), have created an extreme-ultraviolet, laser-like beam capable of producing tightly-focused light in a region of the electromagnetic spectrum not previously accessible to scientists. The process combines concepts from electromagnetic radiation research and fiber optics.
The extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) wavelengths, which are between 1 and 100 times shorter than visible light waves, will allow researchers to “see” tiny features and carve miniature patterns with applications in such fields as microscopy, lithography, and nanotechnology.
The achievement is based on a new structure called a “waveguide,” a hollow glass tube with internal humps that coax light waves into traveling along at the same speed and help the waves reinforce each other.
These findings were reported in the January 2 issue of the journal Nature. The research was principally supported by NSF, with additional funds from the Department of Energy. For further information about the research, see NSF Press Release 03-01.
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| Credit: |
Image courtesy of the University of Colorado and NSF. |
| Year of Image: |
2002 |
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Categories:
PHYSICS / General
Formats Available:
Restrictions:
No additional restrictions--beyond NSF's general restrictions--have been placed on this image. For a list of general restrictions that apply to this and all images in the NSF Image Library, see the section "Conditions".
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