This is one laser that behaves as if it were two, emitting light at different wavelengths depending on whether the applied voltage is negative or positive. It might also have applications as a communications laser if it were re-designed to emit at the shorter wavelengths used in lightwave communications. The transmission capacity of an optical link could be doubled if binary information were encoded on both streams of pulses emitted at different wavelengths in different time slots. The bidirectional laser research team includes Gmachl, Alessandro Tredicucci, Deborah Sivco, Albert Hutchinson, Capasso and Cho. Their work is described in the current issue of the journal Science.
Semiconductor lasers are now the most widely used and versatile class of lasers.
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