New Laser Breakthrough Boosts Nanotech and Nuclear Clocks

Compact VUV laser developed at University of Colorado Boulder could enable advanced microscopy and ultraprecise timekeeping

Mar. 12, 2026 at 1:18am

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Physicists at the University of Colorado Boulder have demonstrated a new kind of vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) laser that is 100 to 1,000 times more efficient than existing technologies. The researchers say the device could enable powerful new microscopy techniques and practical nuclear clocks that rely on thorium atoms.

Why it matters

This new VUV laser could open up a range of applications that have long been out of reach, from observing fuel combustion at the molecular level to spotting tiny defects in nanoelectronics. It could also lead to the development of portable, ultraprecise nuclear clocks that could revolutionize navigation and timekeeping without relying on GPS.

The details

The laser, developed by a team led by physicists Henry Kapteyn and Margaret Murnane, combines ordinary beams of red and blue laser light in a specialized chamber filled with xenon gas. This process transforms the visible light into VUV light, which has a wavelength between 100 and 200 nanometers. The researchers say their approach is more compact and efficient than previous VUV laser designs.

  • The team will present their preliminary findings at the American Physical Society's Global Physics Summit in Denver, Colorado on March 17 and March 19, 2026.

The players

Henry Kapteyn

A professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder and a fellow of JILA, a joint research institute between CU Boulder and the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Margaret Murnane

A distinguished professor of physics at the University of Colorado Boulder and a fellow of JILA.

Jeremy Thurston

A physicist who earned his doctorate from CU Boulder in 2024 and spearheaded the work on the new VUV laser.

Jun Ye

A physicist leading a separate effort to develop a nuclear-referenced atomic clock at JILA and NIST.

University of Colorado Boulder

The institution where the new VUV laser was developed.

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What they’re saying

“Scientists have been working toward vacuum ultraviolet lasers for decades. We think we might have finally found a great route that can be scaled in power, and that is compact in size—two essential requirements for challenging applications.”

— Henry Kapteyn, Professor, Department of Physics (Mirage News)

“Shorter wavelengths matter because you can use them to make higher resolution microscopes. If a chemical reaction is happening, you can see what molecules are there—to see, for example, how they ablate the tiles on a space capsule as it reenters the atmosphere.”

— Margaret Murnane, Distinguished Professor of Physics (Mirage News)

“To our knowledge, no other approach, either at big or small facilities, has the VUV power levels, tuning ranges and coherence that our new approach has shown.”

— Margaret Murnane, Distinguished Professor of Physics (Mirage News)

What’s next

The researchers are experimenting with ways to make their VUV laser even smaller and more efficient, an important engineering challenge to overcome before the technology can be widely deployed.

The takeaway

This breakthrough in VUV laser technology could unlock a new frontier in microscopy, nanoelectronics, and ultraprecise timekeeping, demonstrating the power of fundamental physics research to drive transformative innovations.