Russian Scientists Develop Hair-Thin Laser to Aid Early Cancer Detection

Scientists have utilized specially manufactured active fibers from the Institute of Applied Physics in Nizhny Novgorod as the foundation for developing an ultra-small laser that could improve cancer diagnostic methods.

Researchers at Novosibirsk State University in Russia engineered a highly precise cylindrical resonator laser approximately the size of a human hair. This laser is intended for applications in communications and photonics, with potential use in early cancer detection, according to the university's press service.

The press service quoted Natalia Makarova, a researcher involved in the project, stating that the objective was to achieve laser generation within very small cylindrical resonators with diameters comparable to a human hair. She explained that these resonators consist of fine segments of optical fibers embedded with ions of the rare earth element erbium.

Makarova clarified that the active fibers used in this innovation were specifically produced at the Institute of Applied Physics in Nizhny Novgorod, forming the basis for the miniature laser.

She added that the cylindrical design provides these resonators with advantages over the traditional spherical shape, allowing adjustments to the laser generation wavelengths and thereby broadening the range of possible applications. Makarova also noted that light inside these tiny resonators travels helically along the optical fiber wall, a phenomenon known as the "whispering gallery" effect, which makes the laser highly sensitive to temperature changes and the presence of gases.

The researcher indicated that this type of laser emits radiation within a range close to the operational bands of modern communication technologies, making it suitable for use in satellite communication and navigation systems.

Regarding medical applications, Makarova explained that the extremely narrow laser spectrum enables the detection of individual molecules rather than clusters, which could assist in tracking their movement and studying their behavior within biological systems. She added that this capability might open the way for very early detection of molecules associated with cancerous tumors, even at stages before current technologies can identify them.