The world’s smallest laser

Yohan Hénaut
Ateneo de Manila University
Exchange Student 2010-2011
 Introduction to the innovation
The microlaser is actually shorter than the
wavelength of the light it emits, a feat made
possible by the use of an electrical resonant
circuit as opposed to the conventional optical
one

Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation

In 1917, Albert Einstein established the

theoretic foundations for the LASER

When lasers were invented in 1960, they were called "a solution looking
for a problem". Since then, they have become ubiquitous, finding utility in
thousands of highly varied applications in every section of modern society
How does it work?
 Classical machinery of laser :
The three principle components
of a laser are the active
environnement, pumping
mecanism and optical resonator.
 Stimulated emission principle is
very important in the use of a
laser.
 The optical resonator is the most
important part of the laser.

The optical resonator is an arrangement of

mirrors that forms a standing wave cavity
resonator for light waves.
How does it works?
As a result, the size of the resonator is
“Instead of being available during
the optical resonator we used an
electric resonant circuit which
built from inductors and capacitors
two “explains Walther. The energy
beam generated by a successful
closed in this circuit and the
resonance effect due to ongoing
electrical circuit of
electromagnetic oscillations.
ETH Zurich
Christoph Walther
Institute of Quantum Electronics
no longer limited by the wavelength of
light, but can in principle be arbitrarily
reduced. This perspective makes lasers
for the micro chip manufacturer
especially interesting - as an optical
alternative to transistors.  If
researchers manage to converge the
size of  micro-lasers with transistors
then one day electro-optical chips
could be built with a very high density
on electronic and optical
components," said Christoph Walther.
This could accelerate the exchange of
data between microprocessors
significantly.