Chip-Based Ultrafast Laser Breakthrough Could Shrink Laboratory Technology to the Size of a Match Head

Chip-Based Ultrafast Laser Breakthrough Could Shrink Laboratory Technology to the Size of a Match Head

For decades, ultrafast lasers have been among the most powerful tools in modern science and engineering. They enable precision eye surgeries, advanced manufacturing processes, and some of the world’s most accurate timekeeping systems. But there has been one major limitation: size. These lasers typically require large, expensive laboratory setups filled with optical components spread across entire tables. Now, researchers at EPFL have achieved wh…