Compound changes infrared laser to white light retaining divergence

[Grix]

Came across this cool article today: New Compound Can Transform Infrared into Visible Light | Chemistry, Materials Science | Sci-News.com

tl;dr scientists have discovered a compound that can transform an infrared laser beam into broadband white light, while retaining the superior beam divergence and directionality of the laser..

A white laser-like beam without the need for careful aligning and brightness matching of individual RGB laser beams could open up a lot of doors! I think it's very interesting.

 

[Pi R Squared]

This looks promising. Maybe they will be able to make a simple lens or filter to use with an IR laser.

Alan

 

[VirtueViolater]

Wow,
Could this mean a change to infrared diodes in projectors? This would hurt our chances of better high power diodes for phosphor wheel projectors

 

[Pi R Squared]

Wow,
Could this mean a change to infrared diodes in projectors? This would hurt our chances of better high power diodes for phosphor wheel projectors

I didn't think of that! This could be bad.

Alan

 

[ElectricPlasma]

This development could open up new routes for advanced directed illumination technologies, especially since the materials used in this system are cheap, readily available, and easily scalable.

I'm throwing money at my screen but nothing's happening!

In all seriousness, this is interesting news... Who's ready for 10W+ white diodes?

 

[RedCowboy]

The thermal limit of 600F will mean spreading the beam out to drive the phosphor then re focusing the wide white output, because 10 watts in a 3mm beam would overheat it and focusing multi wavelength light into a beam is difficult, other than searchlights, but laser beams.....it would have to be able to directly convert without needing a refocusing lens afterward.

I would like to see it work with a low power laser and see what the white beam quality looks like.

Parking lot lights are going to LED but larger stadium lights could use this for long distance light projection, and I want to buy the laser diodes

 

[Benm]

Well, it doesn't exacly seem to keep the beam characteristics, but it is interesting stuff none the less.

Fulltext here: https://sci-hub.bz/10.1126/science.aaf6138

 

[shintashi]

lol you beat me to it. I should check my email more often.
Lasers transform infrared into broadband white light - physicsworld.com

I'm still not sure what the implications are, as I did one of those tl;dr skimming sessions, but it looks like we might be able to cheaply make white beam lasers? Or is this some kind of Light Fidelity (Li-Fi) breakthrough?

 

[trussmonkey25]

Would make great headlights for a bicycle or other small vehicle