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Published online 16 August 2009 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2009.823
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World's smallest laser unveiled
The spaser promises ultrafast nanocircuits.
The world's smallest laser, contained in a silica sphere just 44 nanometres across, has been unveiled. At about 10 times smaller than the wavelength of light, however, this is no ordinary laser, it is the first ever 'spaser'.
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Apertureless techniques for NSOM (Near Field scanning Optical Microscopy) that operate at and below 10 nm have been in use since 1994. Although the spaser may offer signal to noise advantages at 44 nm it is very limited in resolution.
V.B. Kley, Berkeley, CA