New 'Vacuum Ultraviolet' Laser Breaks Efficiency Records

Researchers develop a compact VUV laser 100 to 1,000 times more efficient than existing technologies.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 7:08am

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Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have developed a breakthrough vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) laser that is 100 to 1,000 times more efficient than existing technologies. The new laser, utilizing a novel 'revolver barrel' design, overcomes the long-standing challenge of VUV light absorption, opening up a range of potential applications across fields like combustion chemistry, nanotechnology, semiconductor manufacturing, and even the development of nuclear clocks.

Why it matters

This VUV laser represents a major advancement, unlocking a previously inaccessible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Its compact size and high efficiency could enable VUV technology to move out of specialized facilities and into more accessible settings, revolutionizing research and industrial applications that require detailed observation of atomic and molecular interactions.

The details

At the heart of the new laser is an anti-resonant hollow core fiber, described as a hollow tube surrounded by seven smaller tubes resembling a revolver barrel. Two laser beams, red and blue, are passed through this fiber and interact with xenon gas, causing the xenon atoms to emit VUV light. This innovative design overcomes the core challenge of VUV light absorption that has long hindered the development of practical VUV lasers.

  • The research was led by Dr. Henry Kapteyn and Dr. Margaret Murnane of JILA, a research institute jointly operated by the University of Colorado Boulder and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

The players

Dr. Henry Kapteyn

A researcher at the University of Colorado Boulder who led the development of the new VUV laser.

Dr. Margaret Murnane

A researcher at the University of Colorado Boulder who led the development of the new VUV laser.

JILA

A research institute jointly operated by the University of Colorado Boulder and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, where the new VUV laser was developed.

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What they’re saying

“This breakthrough isn't just an incremental improvement; it unlocks a range of possibilities across diverse fields.”

— Dr. Margaret Murnane (newsy-today.com)

What’s next

Researchers will continue to work on maintaining the laser's performance efficiency while reducing its size, as well as improving its long-term reliability, tuning capabilities, and further miniaturization.

The takeaway

The development of this compact and efficient VUV laser represents a significant breakthrough, opening up new frontiers in scientific exploration and enabling advancements across a wide range of disciplines, from combustion chemistry to semiconductor manufacturing and nuclear timekeeping.