Five years ago, two scientists sparked considerable scientific interest by proposing the concept of phonon lasers, which replace the oscillations of light waves with the vibrations of tiny solid particles. This year, researchers have unveiled the brightest phonon laser to date, marking a significant milestone in this field of study. Led by Hui Jing of Hunan Normal University in China and his colleagues, this new laser is being hailed as the most powerful “sound laser” ever created.
Phonon lasers, described as mechanical analogs of optical lasers, offer unique capabilities. They represent a substantial advancement in the field, particularly in enhancing and controlling micro-object phonon lasers. The applications of these lasers are diverse, ranging from ultrasound sensing to atmospheric monitoring and even biomedical diagnosis.
The technology behind this breakthrough involves a reflective chamber, a small bead, and an electrode working together to produce a laser-like beam of sound particles. Remarkably, this new laser beam is ten times more powerful and focused than previous phonon lasers, making it a significant leap forward in the field.
The key to the success of this new phonon laser lies in its design. The small bead, approximately the size of a bacterium, serves as the core component of the device. By using two light rays to levitate the bead and surrounding it with a reflective chamber, researchers were able to create small vibrations that generate phonons, the particles responsible for sound.
One of the distinguishing features of this new phonon laser is its long service life. Because the electrodes are placed under the beads, the laser can operate for more than an hour, which is unlikely to happen again in the past. This extended operating time opens up new possibilities for using phonon lasers in many areas.
Although the potential of phonon lasers is promising, scientists have realized that additional research and engineering is required to achieve their results. Despite the challenges, advances in this field demonstrate the potential of phonon lasers to revolutionize many industries and contribute to advances in science.