Breakthrough Brings Laser Light to New Regions of the Spectrum
Researchers have created a "waveguide" that coaxes extreme-
ultraviolet light waves into forming a tightly focused laser-
like beam that will allow researchers to "see" tiny features and
carve miniature patterns. December 9, 2003 Combining concepts
from electromagnetic radiation research and fiber optics,
researchers have created an extreme-ultraviolet, laser-like beam
capable of producing tightly focused light in a region of the
electromagnetic spectrum not previously accessible to
scientists. Between 10 and 100 times shorter than visible light
waves, the extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) wavelengths will allow
researchers to "see" tiny features and carve miniature patterns,
with applications in such fields as microscopy, lithography and
nanotechnology. The achievement is based on a new structure
called a "waveguide," a hollow glass tube with internal humps
that coax light waves into traveling along at the same speed and
help the waves reinforce each other