BioTech Encyclopedia

Lasers (optical tweezers, laser cooling, ultrafast pulses, LASIK, 3D printing): uses in research

Also: ruby laser, optical tweezers, chirped pulse amplification, LASIK, laser powder bed fusion

Lasers make intense, pure-colour light. They hold cells, chill atoms, reshape corneas and 3D-print metal.

Key measured values

Values as stated in the cited paper's abstract.

PropertyValueSource
Optical molasses temperature~240 µKChu 1985

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Timeline

  1. 1960 The first laser
  2. 1985 Laser cooling of atomsChirped pulse amplification
  3. 1986 Optical tweezers
  4. 1987 Trapping viruses and bacteria with light
  5. 1990 LASIK
  6. 2018 Laser 3D printing of metals

Readiness: lab lab studies · prototype demonstrated objects · commercial products or buildings in real use · review summaries of other studies.
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Start here · reviewreview 3D printing 2018

Laser 3D printing of metals

DebRoy and colleagues reviewed additive manufacturing of metal parts, including laser-based processes, and how process conditions shape structure and properties.

As reported in: DebRoy, Wei, Zuback et al. (2018). Additive manufacturing of metallic components – Process, structure and properties. Progress in Materials Science. doi:10.1016/j.pmatsci.2017.10.001

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3D printing

biology

lab biology 1987

Trapping viruses and bacteria with light

Ashkin and Dziedzic trapped and moved tobacco mosaic viruses and live E. coli with laser light without apparent damage.

As reported in: Ashkin, Dziedzic (1987). Optical Trapping and Manipulation of Viruses and Bacteria. Science. doi:10.1126/science.3547653

Abstract only

biomedical

prototype biomedical 1990

LASIK

Pallikaris and colleagues developed laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in rabbits, using an excimer laser to reshape the cornea beneath a cut flap.

As reported in: Pallikaris, Papatzanaki, Stathi et al. (1990). Laser in situ keratomileusis. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. doi:10.1002/lsm.1900100511

Abstract only

physics

prototype physics 1960

The first laser

Maiman reported stimulated optical radiation in ruby.

As reported in: MAIMAN (1960). Stimulated Optical Radiation in Ruby. Nature. doi:10.1038/187493a0

Abstract only

lab physics 1986

Optical tweezers

Ashkin and colleagues demonstrated the first single-beam optical trap, holding particles from 10 µm down to about 25 nm in water.

As reported in: Ashkin, Dziedzic, Bjorkholm et al. (1986). Observation of a single-beam gradient force optical trap for dielectric particles. Optics Letters. doi:10.1364/OL.11.000288

Abstract only

lab physics 1985

Laser cooling of atoms

Chu and colleagues confined and cooled sodium atoms to about 240 µK using counter-propagating laser beams ("optical molasses").

As reported in: Chu, Hollberg, Bjorkholm et al. (1985). Three-dimensional viscous confinement and cooling of atoms by resonance radiation pressure. Physical Review Letters. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.55.48

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lab physics 1985

Chirped pulse amplification

Strickland and Mourou introduced compression of amplified chirped optical pulses.

As reported in: Strickland, Mourou (1985). Compression of amplified chirped optical pulses. Optics Communications. doi:10.1016/0030-4018(85)90120-8

Abstract only

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