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Development of a microcavity fiber laser
A team of scientists from Australia developed a microcavity laser system that emits energy-saving and user-safe laser beams with low pump power. This fiber laser technology has an excellent potential for nanoscale applications, especially in biology and medicine.
Challenges of nanosized fiber lasers
It is necessary to look deep inside tissue for biosensing and bioimaging research at the intracellular level. This is the reason why nanosized fiber laser systems have several challenges for these biological applications. These fiber lasers allow for directing the luminescent emitters included in individual nanoparticles to interact with one another.
Operating principle of nanoparticle fiber lasers
Electrons are accumulated at particular energy levels, and laser systems help to overcome the limits of the generally low pump laser beam power’s insufficiency in producing nanoparticles able to lase. These nanoparticles of the new fiber laser system will emit laser beams at pretty low pump powers.
The fiber laser technology has already been tested by the researchers and showed a two orders of magnitude lower pumping threshold compared to that generally accessible. The operating principle of the laser system is based on the binding surface of the nanoparticle matrix to create a cavity surface with a uniform single layer.
Applications in biosensing and bioimaging
The researchers claim that it is possible to include the NIR microcavity fiber laser in thick tissues and single cells. Thus, the fiber laser system helps to detect environmental indicators such as temperature, pH, and refractive index. These factors play a crucial role because their change demonstrates the health status of the tissues or cells, leading to the opportunity of early-stage disease detection.
Potential for medical applications
Fiber laser technology is very promising for biological applications. The researchers could point a nanoparticle fiber laser “inside a cell and illuminate an area of interest inside the compartments of a cell.” Additionally, the opportunity to reduce pump power results in low tissue damage as the laser system penetrates the sample.
Accuracy and limitations
A narrow laser beam allows for more accurate detection. Nevertheless, interference greatly influences fluorescence-based sensing. According to test results, a single nanoparticle can operate like a fiber laser at low power with a sharp laser beam signal.