Any Color You Like: NIST Scientists Create ‘Any Wavelength’ Lasers in Tiny Circuits for Light
Summary
NIST reports a breakthrough in integrated photonics, enabling on-chip lasers across many colors through a multilayer material stack. The technology aims to miniaturize and cheapen laser systems, with potential impacts on AI hardware, quantum computing, optical clocks, and field applications. While not yet mass-produced, the method provides a path toward more energy-efficient, compact photonics for diverse technologies.