2018 Nobel Prize for physics goes to tools made from light beams - a particle physicist explains

Oct 3, 2018

A combination picture shows the Nobel Prize for Physics 2018 award winners (L-R) Arthur Ashkin of the U.S., Gerard Mourou of France and Donna Strickland of Canada, October 2, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/Charles Platiau/Peter Power

Donna Strickland is only the third woman to win the Nobel Prize in physics. Image: REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/Charles Platiau/Peter Power

Todd Adams

Professor of Physics, Florida State University

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The Optical Cell Rotator uses laser beams from optical fibers to hold living cells in place. The beams can be used to rotate the cells for detailed imaging.

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The chirped pulse amplification technique creates extremely intense pulses of light by stretching in time short pulses of light before amplifying them up to a million times. When the pulse is compressed again, it results in pulses that are a million times more intense than the original light

Image: NobelPrize.org, CC BY-SA

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