Record-etting Laser May Aid Searches for Earthlike Planets
Monday, May 5, 2008 - 08:28
in Physics & Chemistry
Scientists at the University of Konstanz in Germany and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have demonstrated an ultrafast laser that offers a record combination of high speed, short pulses and high average power. The same NIST group also has shown that this type of laser could boost the sensitivity of astronomical tools searching for other Earthlike planets as much as 100 fold.