Researchers from the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia have made a groundbreaking discovery, turning soap bubbles into laser sensors with the ability to detect electric fields and pressure.
To achieve this breakthrough, Matjaž Humar and Zala Poto?nik from the University of Ljubljana used regular hand soaps or child-friendly bubble mixtures. By adding a small amount of fluorescent dye to the bubble mixture, they created a medium for laser generation.
Unlike traditional lasers that depend on mirrors to construct a cavity, the researchers utilized the interior volume of bubbles, ranging from half a millimeter to a few centimeters in diameter. This provided the necessary space for light to bounce back and forth, a crucial component for lasing.
The addition of fluorescent dye to the bubble mixture served as the light-amplifying material. When illuminated, the dye emitted light, forming the third essential component for lasers. External light, directed onto the bubble through an optical fiber and a focusing lens, triggered the bubble to produce its own laser light.
In their experiments, Humar and Poto?nik also explored the use of liquid crystals as an alternative to soap to stabilize bubble lasers.
The novel bubble lasers exhibited an unprecedented level of sensitivity, capable of detecting pressure changes as minute as 0.001 per cent of atmospheric pressure. Additionally, they could sense electric fields in the atmosphere even on clear days without thunderstorms.
Miguel Bandres from the University of Central Florida commended the team for creatively combining the concept of “micro-ring lasers,” stating that they have taken these ideas to a completely new platform, opening the door to a plethora of novel applications.
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