Today, researchers have developed a new type of laser that utilizes thorium-229, a radioactive isotope of thorium, to produce light in the visible spectrum. This new type of laser, called a thorium nuclear transition laser (TNTR), has the potential to revolutionize the laser industry, as it is much more efficient than current lasers and has the potential to be used in a number of applications. The TNTR laser produces light by utilizing the energy from thorium-229’s decay, which releases a gamma ray that excites electrons in the laser medium, which then produces light. This new laser technology has the potential to be used in medical imaging, telecommunications, and even military applications.

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source: Phys.org