Beam Bagged: "Reverse Laser" Functions as Near-Perfect Light Absorber

Friday, February 18, 2011 - 16:00 in Physics & Chemistry

Since they were invented 50 years ago, lasers have become extraordinarily commonplace. Anyone with a few dollars to spare can get themselves a laser pointer, and every CD, DVD or Blu-ray player uses a laser to read the bits encoded on discs. (It goes without saying that the same is true of those old LaserDisc players.) Just about everyone knows how lasers work, at least on the most superficial level--a concentrated beam of light comes out when energy goes in. [More]

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