We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Technology

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is a Nuclear Laser?

Andrew Kirmayer
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 6,305
References
Share

A nuclear laser is a device proposed by physicists in 2011 based on the stimulation of atomic nuclei to produce light, instead of electrons like other types of lasers. It may allow for extremely accurate tests of the laws of physics and properties of nature, without emitting gamma rays. The laser will emit light by exciting enough nuclei in a sample; the change in state created either by a strong magnetic field or a powerful and dense gradient in the electrical field within the device. By using a nuclear laser, researchers are working to develop a new way to analyze frequencies or make a precise nuclear clock.

For a nuclear laser to work, the atomic nuclei need to remain in an excited state for a long period of time. A substance called thorium has the properties that are sufficient to achieve this. An electric or magnetic field could interact with a compound made of lithium-calcium-aluminum-fluoride. Thorium would be added to the compound in place of some of the calcium atoms. The electric or magnetic field would be used to change the state of the atomic nuclei in a process called a population inversion.

Nuclear technology has been used to develop functional plans for how a nuclear laser would operate. In a nuclear pumped laser, the energy stored in atomic nuclei is converted into the laser beam. Specific wavelengths of light can also be produced through the generation of plasmas based on the principles of nuclear fission. Excited nuclei split to produce energy in the laser mechanism, the principle behind creating the light for the laser beam. An optical system with mirrors further modifies the light so that it is concentrated into the beam, enabling the device to be used in scientific applications.

Lasers have been used since the 1960s. The common types of gas laser use gases such as helium-neon, carbon dioxide, or argon, and combine them with electricity to generate light. Other lasers combine gas with chemicals, but a nuclear laser would theoretically use energy from the nucleus of an atom to create light. One problem is to get one nucleus to cause another to become active, so the photons that interact with them must be focused at a proper frequency. In creating any new technology, physicists need to study various atomic principles, including laws that describe how atomic particles interact in different ways, and apply the appropriate ones to their designs.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources
Andrew Kirmayer
By Andrew Kirmayer
Andrew Kirmayer, a freelance writer with his own online writing business, creates engaging content across various industries and disciplines. With a degree in Creative Writing, he is skilled at writing compelling articles, blogs, press releases, website content, web copy, and more, all with the goal of making the web a more informative and engaging place for all audiences.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Andrew Kirmayer
Andrew Kirmayer
Andrew Kirmayer, a freelance writer with his own online writing business, creates engaging content across various...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-nuclear-laser.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.