Polariton Laser

Scientists have developed a new type of laser, called a polariton laser, which can be generated using 250x less power:

[www.eurekalert.org]

Polariton beams are said to have properties of both matter and light, since polaritons are a combination of a photon and an electron-hole pair. Could these unique properties provide benefits for a laser-sintering or electron-beam melting type of device?

After all, if energy-savings are involved, then that would be one way to improve performance. Furthermore, electron-beam melting is said to be useful for its very high energy levels, which allow it to melt higher-temperature metals, and to shape parts at high-resolution, since the heavier mass of the electron means its DeBroglie wavelength is lower.

What might be the pro's and cons of applying polariton beams towards additive manufacturing applications?

"The new prototype requires 250 times less electricity to operate than its conventional counterpart made of the same material."
Not 250X less energy than lasers, 250X less than previous polariton beams.

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Realizer- One who realizes dreams by making them a reality either by possibility or by completion. Also creating or renewing hopes of dreams.
"keep in mind, even the best printer can not print with the best filament if the user is the problem." -Ohmarinus

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MrDoctorDIV
"The new prototype requires 250 times less electricity to operate than its conventional counterpart made of the same material."
Not 250X less energy than lasers, 250X less than previous polariton beams.

No, no - the polaritan laser takes 250X less energy than regular lasers to produce the same beam output. It also operates at room temperature, instead of requiring supercooling like regular lasers.

... sound interesting! - but ...

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The beam they demonstrated was ultraviolet and very low power – less than a millionth of a watt. For context, the laser in a CD player is about one-thousandth of a watt.

... they have a long way to go for powers high enough to do some materials

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Viktor
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sanman

Quote
MrDoctorDIV
"The new prototype requires 250 times less electricity to operate than its conventional counterpart made of the same material."
Not 250X less energy than lasers, 250X less than previous polariton beams.

No, no - the polaritan laser takes 250X less energy than regular lasers to produce the same beam output. It also operates at room temperature, instead of requiring supercooling like regular lasers.

Sorry, I wasn't aware disc readers and hand lasers had super cooling inside of them..
or that the batteries were so powerful

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Realizer- One who realizes dreams by making them a reality either by possibility or by completion. Also creating or renewing hopes of dreams.
"keep in mind, even the best printer can not print with the best filament if the user is the problem." -Ohmarinus

Quote
MrDoctorDIV
"The new prototype requires 250 times less electricity to operate than its conventional counterpart made of the same material."
Not 250X less energy than lasers, 250X less than previous polariton beams.

Context helps clear this up, if you read the whole line and not just the one sentance.

"A polariton is part light and part matter. Polariton lasers harness these particles to emit light. They are predicted to be more energy efficient than traditional lasers. The new prototype requires 250 times less electricity to operate than its conventional counterpart made of the same material."

So it's a new process for making coherent light without the stimulated emission of radiation. They're talking about the process itself, and comparing it to the conventional laser process (which can use gallium nitride as a gain medium, I guess.)