How 'random' lasers work: Natural cavities act like mirrors in light-emitting plastics

Sunday, January 24, 2010 - 18:21 in Physics & Chemistry

When scientists discovered a new kind of laser that was generated by an electrically conducting plastic or polymer, no one could explain how it worked and some doubted it was real. Now, a decade later, researchers have found these "random lasers" occur because of natural, mirror-like cavities in the polymers, and they say such lasers may prove useful for diagnosing cancer.

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