Does Superman Have Laser Eyes

Superman's laser vision a step closer to reality

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Superman'due south ability to shoot laser beams from his eyes has come a pace closer to reality, with discoveries made by a inquiry team at the Academy of St Andrews.

Lasers on the eye – ocular lasers – may now be possible with the development of an ultra-sparse membrane laser using organic semiconductors. They could be harnessed for new applications in security, biophotonics and photomedicine.

Writing in Nature Communications the researchers explainthat the threshold of their membrane lasers is compatible with the requirements for safe operation in the human eye. The squad of Professors Malte Gather, Ifor Samuel and Graham Turnbull were as well able to demonstrate ocular lasing using the moo-cow eye as a model system.

The new laser approaches the cardinal limit in specific weight and thickness, as well as an exceptional mechanical flexibility, which allows to put them on a contact lens or a bank notation.

2018-05-01T16:00 gather-lasers-mainbody-2 Professor Malte Gather of the Schoolhouse of Physics and Astronomy at the University said: "In ancient Greece, Plato believed that visual perception is mediated past 'eye beams' – beams actively sent out by the optics to probe the surround.

"Plato'due south emission theory has of class long been refuted, but superheroes with lasers in their eyes live on in pop culture and comic books. Our work represents a new milestone in laser development and, in particular, points the way to how lasers can be used in inherently soft and ductile environments, be information technology in wearable sensors or as an authentication feature on banking concern notes."

Professor Samuel said: "By floating a thin plastic flick off a substrate we accept fabricated some of the earth's smallest and lightest lasers and put them on contact lenses and banking concern notes."

The team also demonstrated that the devices were flexible and mechanically robust, even when attached to another object, and that their optical properties did non change over the course of several months.

They were then able to stick these ultra-thin lasers onto banknotes and contact lenses, where they propose the devices could exist used as flexible and wear security tags.

"By varying the materials and adjusting the grating structures of the laser, the emission tin be designed to show a specific series of sharp lines on a flat background – the ones and zeros of a digital barcode," explained Markus Karl, who worked on the new lasers as role of his PhD.

Flexible organic optoelectronics – in particular for displays, photovoltaics and wearable sensors – is at the verge of large-scale commercialisation, with epitome devices already achieving staggering course factors and angle curvatures.

The newly adult membrane laser now completes this family of ultra-sparse and ultra-flexible organic optoelectronic devices.

Photograph captions

Homepage tile paradigm courtesy of © Tetra Images/Getty Images

Peak: laser on a £5 note

Bottom: laser on a contact lens on a moo-cow's eye

Additional photographs are available via Dropbox.

The paper Flexible and ultra-lightweight polymer membrane lasers by M Karl et al is published now in Nature Communications and available online.

Professor Malte Gather is available for interview via the Communications Office – contacts below.

St Andrews has an in-house ISDN line for radio and a Globelynx camera for TV interviews. To arrange an interview please contact the Communications Office in the showtime instance.

Issued by the University of St Andrews Communications Office. Contact Fiona MacLeod on 01334 462108, 07714 140 559 or fm43@st-andrews.ac.britain.

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