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News From the Field

New Kind of Optical Fiber Developed


March 2, 2011

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The very first optical fiber with a core of zinc selenide has been made--a compound that can be used as a semiconductor. The new class of optical fiber allows more manipulation of light and promises to open the door to more versatile laser-radar technology, which could lead to improved surgical and medical lasers, better countermeasure lasers for the military, and superior environment-sensing lasers for measuring pollutants and bioterrorist chemical agents.Full Story

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Penn State

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