More effective lasers

A group of professors from the departments of Chemistry, Soil Science, Physics and Applied Mathematics of the University of Navarra is working together in the preparation and characterization of a type of material termed “photonic crystals”, which has optical properties with many uses. Thanks to these crystals, in the future more powerful and effective lasers will be able to be constructed. Indeed, the Nobel prize winner of 2005 has made specific mention of recent progress in laser technology, which demonstrates the growing interest in this scientific field.

These crystals are required to have a periodicity of an optical magnitude. This feature means that these materials have a structure of energy bands for photons similar to that which metals possess for electrons. These crystals provide ideal characteristics for the development of instruments with important applications in such diverse areas as communications, optical electronics and medicine.

Current tendencies point towards miniaturization, for creating instruments which are both faster and smaller. This will permit enormous advances in nanotechnology.

A challenge beginning in 1997

At the end of the decade of the 90’s, the race began to manufacture photonic crystals. Even then, many applications were visualized for these crystals, such as using them to redirect light without significant loss of energy, something which still has not been completely achieved.

The research being performed at the University of Navarra has been developed as a multidisciplinary effort, involving professors from various departments, and with the collaboration of the TECNUN School of Engineering of San Sebastián. In addition, this research project receives funding from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science.

Media Contact

Irati Kortabitarte alfa

All latest news from the category: Physics and Astronomy

This area deals with the fundamental laws and building blocks of nature and how they interact, the properties and the behavior of matter, and research into space and time and their structures.

innovations-report provides in-depth reports and articles on subjects such as astrophysics, laser technologies, nuclear, quantum, particle and solid-state physics, nanotechnologies, planetary research and findings (Mars, Venus) and developments related to the Hubble Telescope.

Back to home

Comments (0)

Write a comment

Newest articles

Lighting up the future

New multidisciplinary research from the University of St Andrews could lead to more efficient televisions, computer screens and lighting. Researchers at the Organic Semiconductor Centre in the School of Physics and…

Researchers crack sugarcane’s complex genetic code

Sweet success: Scientists created a highly accurate reference genome for one of the most important modern crops and found a rare example of how genes confer disease resistance in plants….

Evolution of the most powerful ocean current on Earth

The Antarctic Circumpolar Current plays an important part in global overturning circulation, the exchange of heat and CO2 between the ocean and atmosphere, and the stability of Antarctica’s ice sheets….

Partners & Sponsors