The British team has created a new laser system that can help astronomers find

Recently, researchers from Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh, UK, demonstrated a simple new laser system, which can help astronomers find new Earth like planets more easily and further enrich potential applications in astronomy, quantum systems and multiphoton microscopy.

It is reported that this laser system can emit beams at a frequency of 1 billion pulses per second. It generally consists of three parts: two mirrors and a sapphire crystal containing a small amount of titanium. Its light source is driven by a green laser, similar to the laser pen on the market, and usually sells for less than 5 pounds ($5.80). It can convert light into an infrared pulse with a peak power of 1 kilowatt.

Photo source: Heriot Watt University

Professor Derryck Reid, the head of the ultrafast optics group at Heriot University, said that this new laser reduced the cost, complexity and power consumption of typical ultrafast lasers by about 10 times, so it has great potential to enable astronomers to detect terrestrial asteroids orbiting distant stars.

In the past, astronomers usually used telescopes to find small fluctuations in the light color of stars. These fluctuations are the characteristics of orbital planets, proving the existence of a planet, and providing information about its mass and orbital period. Compared with general special telescope components, the new laser mentioned above is smaller and simpler. In 2016, scientists installed it on the 10 meter long South African telescope, and it is expected to become the core module of the special telescope system in the future.

The light produced by laser consists of thousands of optical frequencies with regular intervals, which is called frequency comb. Just as a ruler is used to accurately measure distance, a frequency comb is like a "wavelength ruler", enabling astronomers to measure accurate wavelength differences, which is exactly the principle behind the laser's ability to help discover Earth like planets.

Hanna Ostapenko, a doctoral student of Heriot University, has developed this laser and related lasers for three years. She pointed out that the uniqueness of this laser is that it can be charged with a simple laser diode, and its energy consumption is roughly equivalent to that of an iPhone in the same time. In the future, they will make it more compact and powerful, and enable it to realize turn key operation.

In addition, unlike many previous ultrafast lasers, this new laser contains few components and can generate ultrafast pulses immediately after power on. According to the research team, fewer components enable it to maintain better mechanical stability, which also enables lasers to have different uses (such as satellite navigation applications).

Source: OFweek Laser Network