More Accessible Ultraviolet (UV) Lasers Open Up New Possibilities
Many laser optics applications are shifting towards using shorter UV wavelengths because it allows for improved resolution and very small and precise feature generation with minimal heating to surrounding areas. Until recently, the high cost and bulky size of continuous wave (CW) UV laser sources have traditionally prevented them from being used in many situations, especially in university research. Now, a new wave of compact, cost-effective UV lasers has broken down this barrier, resulting in an expansion of UV applications ranging from micromachining, to UV Raman spectroscopy, to disinfection for the inactivation of pathogens.